| Every woman dreams of having a healthy and happy | | | | processed foods, frozen foods, and tinned foods, as |
| baby. To ensure this, it's important that the pregnancy | | | | more often than not, are of little nutritional value and |
| runs smoothly and without complication. One of the | | | | can be high in artificial preservatives. |
| main ways to make sure of a healthy pregnancy is by | | | | Essential elements to be consumed to ensure a |
| focusing on a healthy balanced diet throughout the | | | | healthy pregnancy are as follows: |
| pregnancy period. | | | | Iron: Good sources are poultry, fish and eggs. Both you |
| The first thing for any expectant mother to realise is | | | | and your baby require iron, especially in the early |
| that she is now eating for two. The food that you as | | | | months. Often, expectant mothers become anaemic |
| an expectant mother now consume has a direct | | | | during the latter months of pregnancy, as the baby has |
| bearing on the health of the child developing within you. | | | | depleted the mothers iron reserves. |
| Eat healthy and wholesome foods, as part of a well | | | | Vitamin D and calcium: Good sources are cheese, milk, |
| balanced pregnancy diet, and your pregnancy has | | | | and yogurt. Doctors recommend at least 5 servings |
| every chance of going full term. Leave your | | | | per day for a healthy pregnancy, as calcium is |
| pregnancy diet to chance, and you are also leaving the | | | | excellent for development of baby's teeth and bones, |
| health and well-being of both you and your baby to | | | | and vitamin D is necessary for its absorption into the |
| chance. It really is that simple! Also remember that a | | | | baby's system. Also, if the baby cannot source calcium |
| healthy pregnancy will ensure that you are fit and | | | | from the mother's food, it will source it from her body, |
| strong when the time comes to deliver your baby. | | | | which can create bone problems such as |
| Now that you are eating for two, your calorific intake | | | | osteoporosis for the mother later in life. |
| has to increase by approximately 300 calories per day. | | | | Proteins: Ensure adequate levels of protein in your diet |
| Also, now is not the time to be concerned about your | | | | as it will ensure healthier uterine and breast tissue for |
| waistline! Putting on weight while pregnant is healthy | | | | the mother. |
| and is expected, and is a sign of a growing child within | | | | Water: Can be sourced directly from the tap! It's very |
| you. However, too much weight gain can harm your | | | | important for the mother to stay hydrated during |
| baby, as can minimum or no weight gain. Your doctor | | | | pregnancy as this ensures that all toxins are excreted |
| will guide you in this aspect with expected weight gains | | | | in a timely fashion. Plenty water also ensures that |
| at pre-determined periods. | | | | there is a reduced risk of bladder infections, |
| A healthy balanced diet ensures that both you and | | | | constipation, and haemorrhoids. |
| your baby receive all your required vitamins, minerals, | | | | Eat well to ensure a healthy pregnancy and both you |
| carbohydrates, and fatty acids. These elements are | | | | and your child will thrive. After all, isn't this all you really |
| sourced from natural fresh healthy foods. Sounds | | | | want? |
| simple doesn't it? It is! Steer clear of fast foods, | | | | |