Do you think the very best nutrition for pregnancy can be found on the FDA’s food pyramid? Think again. The Federal Food and Drug Administration designed–and redesigned and then redesigned again–the now famous pyramid food guide based on the nutrition needs of average adults.
Since when has pregnancy ever been considered an “average” or “normal” state? Movies, television shows and comedians alike have made big money poking fun at the dramatics of hormonally driven pregnant women.
Food diet during pregnancy is not really that different. Pregnancy and diet needs change right along with normal mood regulation, food cravings, sleep patterns and waste line circumference.
Restricted Foods during Pregnancy
One of the most important changes to note is that a whole slew of everyday foods suddenly become restricted or denied for healthy pregnancy functions and fetal development.
Alcohol, all kinds of medication, tobacco products and coffee are just a few of the most well known no-no options. Diet drinks and pregnancy also don’t go well together. Not only do diet colas contain caffeine, they also contain artificial sweeteners that pose known threats to healthy gestation.
Other lesser-known forbidden foods include:
- Predatory fish like tuna, shark and salmon. High levels of mercury have been found in these top tier predator fishes.
- Soft cheeses can contain higher levels of bacteria, which can cause expectant mothers to feel ill.
- Soy products and their natural hormones are not a good source of nutrition for pregnancy.
Recommended Amount of Protein for Expectant Moms
Protein recommendations for food diet during pregnancy differ from the FDA’s food pyramid recommendations. It makes logical sense that the building of a new and healthy human body would require plenty of raw building material.
Proteins, or more specifically the amino acids they contain, are the basic building blocks of human life. Expectant mothers need to carefully increase their intake of protein. This is true for the entire pregnancy, but of critical importance during the first trimester when all body systems are formed and again during the eighth month when the fetus’ brain undergoes a rapid spurt of development.
Where to Get Necessary Vitamins and Minerals during Pregnancy
Getting the vitamins and minerals needed to keep all of mom’s body systems running at optimum levels is not a job that prenatal vitamins can take care of alone. The best sources of the vital nutrition for pregnancy like vitamins and minerals, is from the fruit and vegetables mom eats.
Getting those all-important fruits and veggies on a daily basis and in large amounts is a task few Americans take seriously. Mothers-to-be should change this lackadaisical attitude for the sake of their babies and eat their greens!
Getting educated and really knowing what foods combine to create the best diet for pregnancy will result in healthier, happier mothers and babies.