Perfect Pregnancy Nutrition Begins With Whole Foods

by Cliff Smith

What Is Perfect Pregnancy Nutrition?

Perfect pregnancy nutrition requires a very safe, balanced diet.  Expectant mothers need to monitor their nutritional needs carefully. According to many doctors and nutritionists, a good rule of thumb is sticking to a diet of whole foods, high fiber foods and low fat foods. 

The added stress of pregnancy can create an increased demand for vitamins in the mother's body.  When in stress mode, more adrenal hormones are produced, which speeds up metabolism.  This can cause a rapid depletion in nutrients stored in the mother's body, thus robbing the mother and the fetus of valuable vitamins and minerals.

When searching for the best pregnancy nutrition, be aware that it is better to consume vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that are attached to whole foods, not isolated.  Whole food nutrients are much easier for the body to absorb, whereas isolated vitamins and minerals are often flushed out before the body can break them down to use for fuel.  Also, there are some excellent, all-natural low carb foods that provide perfect pregnancy nutrition in whole food form.

Pregnancy nutrition and the most valuable elements required:

• 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.

It is a nutrition fact that Calcium is an important mineral for everyone, especially children, adolescents, nursing mothers and expectant mothers who need perfect pregnancy nutrition.  It's not easy to consume enough calcium every day without a health food vitamin or calcium supplement of some kind. It is especially challenging to get enough calcium from whole foods like fruits and vegetables.

Some of the more familiar sources of calcium in whole foods are:

• Broccoli
• Yogurt
• Cheese
• Milk
• Beans

Dandelion is a natural source of calcium from whole food and alfalfa has a high level of calcium with natural enzymes and chlorophyll, but these are a little harder to include in a daily diet for proper pregnancy nutrition.  However, you can find a natural whole food calcium supplement that includes dandelion and alfalfa along with other whole food calcium sources.

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 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.  That is why folate is very important for pregnancy nutrition as hopeful mothers create new life.  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.

Everyone has heard the stories about pregnant women who can't control their mood swings.  Plenty of medical research points to a deficiency of folic acid for fostering depression and other psychiatric disorders.  In the book, "Food, Your Miracle Medicine" (Copyright 1993), Jean Carper states, "That folic acid can act as an antidepressant is no secret among scientists."  The book goes on to point out that McGill University's Dr. Young found "accumulating evidence that folic acid deficiency can contribute to depressed mood", and that eliminating the deficiency often cures the depression.

For proper pregnancy nutrition, a woman needs about 800 mcg of folic acid daily.  Nursing mothers can back that down to about 500 mcg.  This level may not be easy for some to reach, as it requires up to six servings of foods such as spinach, beans or asparagus, every day.  If a pregnant woman is not getting enough folate from whole foods, then a whole food vitamin should be investigated.

Foods with folic acid in them include:

• Leafy, green vegetables
• Fruit
• Beans
• Peas
• Nuts

Some enriched breads, cereals and other grain products also contain folic acid.    Again, it is important to be sure that the folate is attached to a natural whole food complex of B vitamins.  You can find very effective whole foods, health drink concentrates and other pregnancy nutrition on the Internet that you will not find in retail stores.  Just be sure to search for natural whole food vitamins for pregnancy nutrition.   When you search, you will find folic acid along with other essential vitamins and minerals for perfect pregnancy nutrition.

Author Profile-Cliff Smith and his wife, Jane Wakefield are constantly researching the latest nutrition facts.  The Alkaline Food Test they devised is a must for anyone who wants to know if they are eating enough alkaline foods.  Their personal success stories are highlighted by Cliff's natural weight loss achievements and Jane's recovery from breast cancer with a combination of alkaline foods, concentrated health drinks, calcium supplements and all natural foods discussed here.

For more information:

Healthy Pregnancy Nutrition Requires Nutrition Facts About Whole Foods

Why Whole Food Vitamins are Important for Pregnancy Nutrition

Calcium Supplements and Healthy Pregnancy Nutrition

The Whole Foods Guide