Pregnancy Nutrition
It is a simple nutrition fact that the fetus takes nutrients from the mother; therefore if the mother does not eat properly, both may suffer the consequences. Expectant mothers should be free to gain weight, within reason, on a balanced diet including protein, fiber, complex carbohydrates and vitamins and minerals from whole foods.
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According to the Institute of Medicine, "the average active woman needs between 2,200 and 2,400 calories per day before pregnancy, bringing total calorie needs to about 2,500 to 2,700 calories per day in the second trimester and 2,650 to 2,850 calories per day in the third trimester. Inactive women will require fewer calories."
Consequently, proper pregnancy nutrition is an important focus. Women need to choose their meals wisely to make sure they’re getting the vitamins and minerals they need without packing on the calories. It’s important to eat foods that are high in fiber with whole food nutrients including complex carbohydrates, but not high in fat or simple carbs from too much sugar.
A whole food diet filled with phytonutrients from fruits and vegetables is a healthful choice for pregnant women. Optimum pregnancy nutrition can be assured when consuming the highest quality nutrients from sources such as leafy green vegetables, apples, broccoli, carrots, berries, and other all natural foods.
Expectant mothers need to be aware of their special needs for vitamins and minerals. Some of the most valuable elements of perfect pregnancy nutrition include:
- calcium
- protein
- phosphorus
- potassium
- folic acid (folate) *Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate that is found in supplements
- Vitamins A, D, C, E and the entire B complex.
Read this valuable article:
Healthy Pregnancy Nutrition Requires Nutrition Facts About Whole Foods
If you are inclined to take a calcium supplement, not only is it important for perfect pregnancy nutrition that the calcium originates from whole food sources, it is equally important that Vitamin D2 is present. Vitamin D2 is crucial to aid the body in absorbing calcium. Vitamin D2 is a necessary component to work with the calcium for improved bone strength and density. In one particular natural whole food calcium supplement, 3 types of calcium are included with different absorption characteristics, and Vitamin D2 is present to enhance the absorption of calcium.
Folate, also called Folic Acid and Vitamin B9 is another essential nutrient for perfect pregnancy nutrition. Folic acid is a B vitamin that helps the body create healthy new cells. Moms who include sufficient folic acid in their diets are taking positive steps toward preventing birth defects, especially of the baby's brain or spine.
- MetaBalance 44 provides the necessary pregnancy nutrition for healthy fetal development, including folic acid, Vitamins C, A, and E, Vitamin D, the full range of B Vitamins, calcium, iron and other essential minerals with whole food ingredients for better absorption.
pH Balance
The pH balance or acid/alkaline ratio of our internal fluids affects every cell in our bodies. The body will go to such great lengths to maintain a blood pH of 7.365 that it will even create stress on other tissues or body systems to do so. Many experts agree that chronic, overly acidic pH levels cause interruptions to cellular activities and functions. This can lead to disease, fatigue, poor weight management, and aches and pains, especially in the joints. To maintain proper pH balance in our blood, experts suggest we consume 80% alkaline foods and beverages and only 20% acid forming. Take the Alkaline Food Test to measure your dietary intake. Plus, you'll get a full list of alkaline foods to consume and acid foods to avoid. Please visit our alkaline foods page for more nutrition facts regarding pH balance.
Calli is herbal tea with alkaline food properties
All natural food is considered to be food that has been minimally processed and does not contain artificial ingredients listed on the nutrition fact label.
Usually more nutritious than refined foods, all natural foods do not include ingredients such as refined sugars, refined flours, milled grains, hydrogenated oils, artificial sweetener, artificial food colors, or artificial flavorings. Proponents of natural food diets argue that refined ingredients promote obesity, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. Ideally, all-natural foods have not been subjected to irradiation, contain no GMO (genetically modified organisms), have not been sterilized, and do not contain animal products that have been subjected to steroids, antibiotics or drugs. The belief being, the closer to nature, the more benefit the consumer receives by eating all natural whole foods.
The term “whole food” indicates that it does not contain parts of foods or synthetic or isolated vitamins. Our nutrition fact labels include these examples of whole food ingredients found in BestHealthFoodStore.net products: cinnamon, berries, pineapple, bananas, peach juice, lemon extract, Chinese yam, coix fruit, sprouted soybeans, other legumes, nuts, asparagus root, and food grade herbs, not medicinal herbs. The combinations of nutrients in whole plant foods act synergistically to protect us from disease.
It is a nutrition fact that a diet based on fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes left in as natural a state as possible has many health advantages:
- Whole foods are rich in phytochemicals—powerful nutrients found in plant foods.
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Compared with processed foods, whole food contains more complex carbohydrates, natural antioxidants, and vitamins and minerals.
- More fiber and beneficial fats are found in whole food.
Healthy Snacks for a child
Nutrition and exercise are two of the most important factors in determining
the healthy growth and development of a child. For children, whole food from
a variety of sources is recommended to forge a balanced diet.
It is a nutrition fact that hunger can alter behavior and academic performance. The brain runs on glucose and cannot work efficiently if there is no fuel. Kids eating empty calorie foods will have less room in their stomachs for nutrient-rich foods. That is why it is important for a child to eat healthy snacks with complex carbohydrates and other nutrients from whole foods, including fruits and vegetables, rather than junk foods.
It's not always easy to find healthy snacks for a child to enjoy that are made from whole food sources such as fruits and vegetables. Fortunately, you can find these types of whole food healthy snacks at BestHealthFoodStore.net. Our healthy snacks are not loaded with sodium, preservatives, artificial sweetener, added sugars or strange chemicals listed on the nutrition fact label. We only carry nutritious, healthy snacks that build a body up! Portion sizes may increase with age, but empty calories don't have to increase.
"All Natural" Soft Drinks, Who Cares?
Why anyone would consume soft drinks these days is a mystery. Whether it's "all natural" or not, the nutrition facts point out that soda is still full of empty calories and offers nothing to build the body up, only tear it down. The phosphates in soda are overly acidic to the body while the sugars, or artificial sweeteners in diet sodas, create other health challenges.
Some thoughtful companies, who only sell their products online or by word of mouth, have created great tasting health drink replacements for sodas, sugary fruit juices and high fructose energy drinks. Kids who try them say it is a nutrition fact that these healthy drinks taste as good as soda. Parents who try them love the fact that they are filled with antioxidants and complex carbohydrates, not simple carbs like sugar or caffeine and artifical ingredients that do more harm than good.
To find better nutrition, many people are changing their shopping habits, getting out of the stores and onto the net for truly all natural foods and health drinks that are not available at the retail level.
Get our online health food Starter Pack and shop from a catalog with over 400 of the best natural health foods and drinks, fitness, anti-aging, household and personal care products that are not sold in retail stores.
