Global Courant
Every mother wants an easy, uncomplicated pregnancy and a healthy child. Unfortunately, more and more women are experiencing pregnancy complications such as anemia, high blood pressure, thyroid problems, diabetes, premature birth and low birth weight.
More children are being born with birth defects, and many of those who appear normal at birth develop health problems later in life.
One in ten children develops ADHD, one in 150 becomes autistic. Children are affected by anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder. Children develop type 2 diabetes, which was unheard of just 20 years ago.
Experts agree that most of these problems can be reduced and even prevented through proper nutrition during pregnancy.
The mother’s nutrition not only affects the child’s pregnancy and birth weight, but even the risk of birth defects, pregnancy complications, maternal disease and future illnesses as the child matures.
Nutrients reduce pregnancy complications and birth defects
Studies show that proper nutrition and dietary supplements, such as fish oil, vitamins C and E, can prevent maternal disease during pregnancy and premature birth. Vitamin A and beta-carotene, together with magnesium, fish oil and zinc, can reduce maternal mortality. Iron and folic acid reduce anemia. Calcium reduces the incidence of preeclampsia and high blood pressure.
According to the Journal of Nutrition:
“Numerous studies support the concept that a major cause of pregnancy complications may be suboptimal nutrition.”
“Frequency and severity of pregnancy complications can be reduced by improving the mother’s nutritional status.”
“Maternal nutritional deficiencies … may be a major contributor to the occurrence of birth defects.”
The mother’s nutrition affects the rest of the child’s life
Medical research shows that good nutrition during pregnancy and childhood can reduce a baby’s risk of future cancer.
Proper nutritional supplementation by the mother can reduce the risk of diabetes later in the child’s life.
Certain specific deficiencies (magnesium, for example) may also increase the risk of future diabetes.
Even the risk of future osteoporosis (in a baby when he or she reaches adulthood) is determined by “the nutritional status of the mother during pregnancy” and especially by vitamin D deficiency, which is very common.
Most pregnant women are deficient
Unfortunately, most pregnant women are deficient in vitamins, minerals, amino acids and omega 3 fatty acids.
Omega 3 fatty acids, especially DHA, are part of the brain, central nervous system and retina. A baby needs them for normal brain and eye development.
Premature babies are more likely to suffer from ADHD, depression and schizophrenia because their brains haven’t had a chance to fully develop and absorb all the DHA they needed. On the other hand, children of mothers who eat large amounts of oily fish have better intellectual development and higher IQs.
The problem is that almost 90% of women don’t even get the minimum amount of DHA. Many women are deficient in folic acid, despite food fortification. Deficiencies in magnesium, calcium, iron, vitamins C, D, E and many other nutrients are very common and can put the health of both mother and baby at risk.
Don’t count on prenatal multivitamin – it won’t work
The sad truth is that a typical prescription prenatal vitamin does not correct most deficiencies, which are very common in pregnant women.
Prenatal multivitamin is a poor source of nutrients. All ingredients are synthetic, so your body cannot use them the way it uses natural nutrients from food.
Plus, it’s loaded with chemicals, such as crospovidone, FD&C Red No. 40 aluminum lake, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, lactose, magnesium stearate, light mineral oil, polysorbate 80, sodium lauryl sulfate, stearic acid, syloid, titanium dioxide and triethyl citrate. Neither you nor your baby need these chemicals. They don’t help, they can only do harm.
How can you be sure that you are getting the most optimal nutrition
Eat a good diet. This means eating natural foods. Oatmeal is natural, but breakfast cereals made from oats that look like little donuts are not. Steak is, of course, but luncheon meat is not. Eggs are natural, egg beaters are synthetic unnatural junk.
In other words, eat food as it was produced naturally and avoid processed, man-made foods. This usually means avoiding anything that comes in boxes, cans, and plastic containers and anything that has an expiration date months from today. Real food spoils, junk food is loaded with preservatives so it can stay good for a long time.
Eat fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, berries, meat, chicken, lamb, eggs, cheese, butter, and any other natural foods you enjoy. Seafood and fish are usually OK, but eat large fish (salmon, tuna, etc.) in moderation due to potentially high mercury levels.
Try to keep soda, ice cream, cookies, white bread and white rice, most cereals, and other processed foods to a minimum.
But even if you follow a good diet, you can become deficient in important nutrients. That’s why I recommend nutritional supplements.
Like I said, prenatal vitamins your doctor prescribed are nothing but junk. It is a combination of synthetic chemicals, some of which can even be harmful to the developing baby.
Only take supplements made from real food. There is a company called Standard Process that has been manufacturing nutritional supplements since 1920. They grow fruits and vegetables on their own certified organic farm. They dehydrate them using a patented low heat, high vacuum process that locks in all the nutrients. Think of it like turning a grape into a raisin. Raisins have all the same nutrients as grapes, except for water.
They also use organ meats (liver, kidney, etc.) from organic cows because they have a very high nutrient content. They combine different ingredients to create different nutritional supplements. There is nothing artificial, no preservatives, no chemicals, just real food with real nutrients.
It’s never too early or too late to start. Whether you are just planning your pregnancy or are in the third trimester, you need good nutrition at every stage.
This is the program I recommend to my patients:
Catalyn – a natural multivitamin/multimineral made from 12 different foods
· Folic acid B12 – for extra folic acid and B12
Ferrofood – natural organic iron
Calcium Lactate – natural calcium and magnesium from beats
TunaOmega Oil – naturally pure source of DHA and EPA, guaranteed free of mercury, PCBs and other chemicals
All of these are from Standard Process. They are only available through health professionals, so go to their website and find a doctor near you. Or you can call my office at 718-769-0997 if you can’t find anyone locally.
The important point is this. If you want to have a healthy, uncomplicated pregnancy and a healthy, well-developed baby, eat real food and take food-based supplements.
Breastfeeding is the secret to a healthy pregnancy and a healthy, well-developed baby
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