Nutrients in focus during pregnancy

It is important to maintain a balanced diet during pregnancy because the nutrients we consume are the main source for baby’s nutrition also. Many women do not get enough iron, protein, fat, folate, calcium, Vitamin D and others, hence it becomes important to follow a healthy balanced diet during this critical phase of life.

Many pregnant women can meet their increased need with a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grain and green leafy vegetables.

According to ACOG a pregnant women should consume regular healthy foods rich in calcium, iron, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin B6 , vitamin B12 , folic acid etc

PROTEIN:

A pregnant woman should eat three servings of protein per day like beans, chicken, nuts, peanut butter etc

CALCIUM:

We know that calcium helps to build bones and regulate our body’s use to fluid so pregnant women need at least 3 servings of calcium per day like milk, yogurt, cheese, eggs, puddings etc.

FOLATE:

Folate, also known as folic acid is an important part in reducing the risk of neural tube defects. Pregnant women need to take 600 to 800 mg of folate every day. Foods like nuts, vegetables, eggs, peanut butter etc have good amount of this nutrient.

IRON:

Iron works with sodium, potassium & water to increase the blood flow. Pregnant women are advised to consume 27 mg of iron per day, good sources of iron are dark green vegetables, citrus fruits, dried fruits etc