A Healthy Diet For A Healthy Baby

Maintaining a healthy and well balanced diet all through your pregnancy is vital for the well being of both the mother and the baby. You must eat the right foods for adding the right nutrients to your diet. A pregnancy health guide can help you choose the right food. It can also help in determining the appropriate lifestyle to be followed while you are pregnant, the exercises you must do, schedule of doctor's visits, etc.

The Right Diet during Pregnancy

Don’t eat for two! Just consume an extra 300 calories a day during the second and third trimesters. Your pregnancy diet should contain proteins, fruits and vegetables, dairy products, breads and grains.

• Dairy products are essential for your baby since he uses your calcium stores to grow. Calcium is particularly important during the last trimester. Dairy products help in maintaining your bone density. Avoid soft cheeses since these may cause a bacterial infection called Listeria which is harmful for the baby. Cottage cheese, yogurt, and processed cheeses are safe to eat during pregnancy.

• Proteins help in tissue growth. Add at least three servings of proteins in a day to your diet. For vegetarians, protein sources could be beans, tofu, and soy products.

• Vegetables and fruits contain vitamin C in plenty. The would-be mum must consume approximately three to five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Broccoli, tomatoes, oranges, and honeydew melon are rich in vitamin C. Fruits and vegetables also contain a lot of fiber, which is vital during pregnancy.

• Breads and grains too contain a lot of fiber. These prevent diseases such as kidney stones, cancer, and heart diseases. Pregnant women should try to consume six to 11 servings a day.

Things To Avoid During Pregnancy

A good pregnancy health guide informs you of foods to avoid during pregnancy.

• Fish: Certain fish contain high levels of mercury which is harmful for the nervous system in developing babies. Shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish have high mercury content and should be avoided.

• Caffeine can decrease the blood flow to the placenta, which in turn, may harm the baby. Caffeine intake during pregnancy should be 300 mg or less in a day. Sodas, brewed coffee, and chocolate also contain caffeine- so go easy on those.

• Artificial sweeteners: the effect of saccharine on developing fetuses is still unknown. Avoid artificial sweeteners that contain saccharine during pregnancy.

• Alcohol and tobacco are extremely harmful for the unborn and could lead to complications such as premature growth, mental retardation, and other birth defects. These toxins should be avoided completely during pregnancy.

Remember that a doctor may not always be available. Always keep a good Pregnancy health guide with you so that you can refer to it for information whenever the need arises.