Obtaining the best pregnancy nutrition today demands reliable nutrition facts from a doctor as well as additional sources, including the Internet.  While medical practitioners provide essential nutrition facts, pregnant women help themselves greatly when they learn more about including plenty of whole foods in a plan for proper pregnancy nutrition.

Whether expecting or not, the need for a balanced diet that includes vitamins and minerals from whole foods is a basic nutrition fact.  This is even more significant when pregnancy nutrition is involved. Sticking to a healthy diet that includes plenty of whole foods is a wonderful way to help your baby develop to its full potential.

Since weight gain is always a consideration for pregnancy nutrition, women are aware of every pound they put on during the baby’s growth.  It’s a good idea to know in advance how much weight gain can be expected.  A doctor will know the anticipated amount for individual situations.  One way to avoid any lack of proper pregnancy nutrition is to eat enough of the healthiest foods available.  Get all the nutrition facts you can and choose the best whole foods that will not cause excess weight gain.  Then you will be on the right track.

The mom-to-be will need to balance her increasing needs for calories with choosing the proper sources for those calories.  Just because the recommended caloric intake goes up does not mean that these should be empty calories.  Gaining weight while following some basic nutrition facts can ultimately benefit both the mother and the baby. This means that instead of simply consuming more calories, the proper pregnancy nutrition plan will comprise mostly whole foods.

Eating fresh fruits and vegetables is the surest way to obtain excellent pregnancy nutrition that is so vital.  However, many expectant mothers will also benefit from all natural whole food concentrates and supplements.  For example, a pregnant woman may need additional calcium for the baby’s teeth and bones.  Well-documented nutrition facts show that supplements made with whole food ingredients are absorbed by the body more efficiently than those formulated from isolated vitamins and minerals.

Of course, nutrition facts clearly point to the need for an expectant mother to boost her calcium intake and proper pregnancy nutrition also calls for folic acid in the diet.  These essential nutrients may best be obtained from whole food supplements.  Folic acid or “folate,” is absolutely necessary for fetal development.  Expectant mothers need about 800 mcg of folic acid daily while nursing mothers may only need 500 mcg. Whole food sources of folate are beans, leafy, green vegetables, nuts and some fruits.  Enriched breads, cereals, and other products with whole grains may also include good sources of folic acid.

While supplements can play an important role in pregnancy nutrition, it’s equally important to pay attention to basic nutrition facts.  Fruits and vegetables are a perfect source for the nutrients that both mother and baby require. For example, fresh, organic produce will have vastly more benefits than frozen or canned fruits and vegetables.  By making the right whole foods a part of any pregnancy nutrition routine, the mother and the baby have the best opportunities for excellent health.

Author Profile - Cliff Smith and his wife Jane Wakefield provide valuable nutrition facts as well as free nutrition coaching at their online health food store.  The store features uniquely formulated pregnancy nutrition not available in typical retail health food stores or supermarkets.

***Feel free to reprint any of our original articles authored by Cliff Smith, but please include a link to our online health food store in return. Thank you!