The benefits of supplements are a reality that cannot be ignored. There is a higher rate of birth defects among underfed mothers during periods of famine. Even today, after all the advances that man- kind has made, the average American diet is not healthy. This is because, it is high on sugars, fatty foods and salt and low on complex carbohydrates. A balanced diet consists of fresh fruits, freshly cooked green leafy vegetables, legumes and pulses, grains and milk and milk products.
A pregnant woman has a growing fetus inside her and to be able to sustain the baby’s growth, the mother must eat a nutritious diet. She may not get all her nutrition from the food she eats, especially because her requirement for folate(folic acid) and calcium doubles during pregnancy. She will have to take nutritional supplements.
Folic Acid Supplements
Folic acid is usually prescribed in dosages of 400mcg to pregnant mothers or even during the pregnancy planning stages. This prepares the mother for a healthy baby. A baby, who lacks folic acid, may develop severe abnormalities of the spine and brain. Two disorders are spina bifida and neural tube defect (NTD). Folic acid intake also prevents spontaneous abortion, placental abruption, premature babies and low infant birth weight. Folic acid is present in natural form in green leafy vegetables, whole grains, and nuts.
Calcium Supplements
Another important requirement for a pregnant mother is calcium. Calcium helps in building strong bones, teeth, and muscles. It also helps prevent pre eclampsia, hypertension, premature babies and low birth weight.
Foods rich in calcium are milk, yoghurt, and cheese. Avoid having any milk product, which is not made from pasteurized milk.
1 comment:
Calcium supplements are a very health concious choice when done properly. A proper calcium supplemenet should contain other such minerals like magnesium, boron, strontium, vitamin d and vitamin k and that is only naming a few. The point is you need to look into was is actually going in your calcium supplement and make sure you are making the right choice because a proper calcium supplement can be very beneficial to your health.
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