Pregnancy: Dietary Precautions

1· Iron is required by the body to keep up a healthy production of red blood cells. A shortage of red blood cells could lead to anemia. Some of the food items that are rich in iron are spinach, lean red meat and of course, iron-fortified cereals and grains.

2· Proteins help the body in cell growth and in blood production. Some excellent sources of protein are fish, poultry, beans, peanut butter, egg whites and tofu.

3· Carbohydrates are what provide us with the energy we require to go about our daily tasks. Good sources of carbohydrates are breads, rice, potatoes, pasta, fruits and vegetables.

4· Calcium strengthens our bones and teeth, aids in muscle contraction and helps in the proper functioning of our nervous system. Milk, yogurt, cheese, spinach, sardines or salmon should provide you with enough calcium,

5· Folic Acid is another essential nutrient that a woman needs during pregnancy. Though one can find many folic acid-fortified foods and breakfast cereals, your doctor may still suggest that you take folic acid supplements before and during your pregnancy.

While these are some of the more important nutrients your body needs there are many other vitamins like Vitamin A, C, D, B12, B6, which contribute equally to your well being and to the proper development of your baby. Consult your doctor or a dietary expert on what an adequate diet should contain during pregnancy.

There are also certain foods and drinks that you should avoid during pregnancy. For example, even a limited amount of alcohol consumption is considered to be dangerous during pregnancy and should be completely avoided. Also, it is best that you consult with your doctor before you take any herbal remedies or vitamins not prescribed by your doctor, when you are pregnant. Some of these could be very harmful to the growing baby. Though some doctors feel that very limited intake of tea, coffee or soda with caffeine content should be allright, many others believe that there are indications that caffeine could harm the baby and recommend that you avoid caffeinated products completely. Certain foods can give rise to illnesses such as toxoplasmosis, which has been known to cause birth defects in the unborn child and at times even proved fatal. Some of the foods suspected of giving rise to such illnesses and thus to be avoided are – raw eggs and even foods containing raw eggs like tiramisu or mousse, raw or undercooked fish or meat and fish that contain high levels of mercury like swordfish or king mackerel.

By taking adequate precautions with your food, you can ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy not only for yourself but also for your baby.