Alan Murray is the editor of a baby health website. Many different topics are covered including, Whooping cough , Meningitis and much more.
Which Food Should Pregnant Women Say Yes to?
Eating well for a pregnant woman means a lot more than increasing her food intake; it means she must also consider what she should eat and how much. For example, a pregnant woman would need about 300 extra calories each day during the last stage of her pregnancy.
This doesn’t mean that she can eat anything that provides those extra calories. Calcium is yet another important nutrient for a pregnant woman and her developing baby. This means having extra calcium for the fetus to consume. What a pregnant woman is supposed to do then is to look for nutritious sources of calories so that these can contribute to her baby’s growth and development.
The baby inside the womb depends greatly on the food that his mother provides for him. Therefore, it is important to eat only what is good. Here is a basic list of great nutrition for expectant moms:
• Lean meat, poultry, egg whites, fish (except tuna, mackerel and shark which are all loaded with mercury), tofu, beans and peanut butter. These are rich in protein which is needed for cell growth and production of blood.
• Milk, yoghurt, cheese, salmon, sardines, and spinach. These are rich in calcium for stronger bones, teeth, better nerve function, and muscle contraction.
• Bread, rice, potatoes, cereals, fruits, vegetables, and pasta. These are rich in carbohydrates which help provide energy.
• Green, leafy vegetables; carrots, and sweet potatoes are rich in Vitamin A. These foods can give good eyesight, healthy skin, and strong bones.
• Lean red meat, whole-grain breads (preferably those that are fortified with iron), and spinach are all rich in iron for healthy red blood cells. And since pregnant women are more prone to anemia, iron is a must to their daily diet.
• Broccoli, tomatoes, citrus fruits, and juices are all rich in Vitamin C. This vitamin is essential to having healthy gums and teeth; healthy bones; and it also aids in iron absorption.
• Pork, bananas, whole-grain cereals which are rich in Vitamin B6 (great for the production of red blood cells).
• Other essential vitamins and minerals include Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, fat and folic acid.
Remember to eat in moderation each time and you should be able to attain the doctor-recommended weight for pregnant women (about 25-35 pounds more than your prior to pregnancy weight).
Note: This article is posted by our Guest Blogger (Alan Murray)