How to Maintain a Healthy Diet During Pregnancy

Expectant mothers can benefit from maintaining a healthy diet during pregnancy. There is a range of nutrients and supplements pregnant women can incorporate into their diets to maximise their health and the health of their baby. Iron is a very important nutrient when it comes to diet during pregnancy. Expectant mothers should have a least 27 to 30mg of iron every day. Iron can be round in a number of foods, especially meats but also in plant sources. Iron rich foods include:

Red meat
Dark poultry
salmon
Eggs
Tofu
Enriched grains
dried beans and peas
Dried fruits L
eafy green vegetables
Iron-fortified breakfast cereals

It should be noted that the body absorbs iron from meat sources more easily than it does from plant foods, but a combination of both will guarantee healthy diet during pregnancy.

Another important nutrient for a woman’s diet during pregnancy is folic acid. Folic acid supplements should ideally be taken at least one month prior to and throughout the first three months of pregnancy. This will decrease the risk of neural tube defects by up to 70 per cent and promote an overall healthy diet during pregnancy. The neural tube forms within the first 28 days of pregnancy and goes on to become the baby’s developing brain and spinal cord. This can result in spina bifida.