Right food, balance diet

 When I was in my early 20s, I read Adele Daviss book, Lets Eat Right To Keep fit. I learned from her that you are what you eat. I also learned that our babies are what we eat while we are pregnant, and then are what they eat once they are born. When you breastfeed your infants, they remain your primary source of nutrition. My bible during my first pregnancy over 38 years ago was Lets Have Healthy Children, also by Adele Davis. Knowing that my health had a significant impact on the health of my baby, I began following her recommendations a long time before I became pregnant. There is much more information about good nutrition available today, and I want to encourage anyone who wants to have healthy children to start early in learning about and implementing a healthy way of eating. Educating yourself regarding good nutrition is a major part of good parenting. However, a good rule of thumb is, if they didnt eat it 200 years ago, dont eat it now! This means no fast food, no packaged food – including sodas, cakes and candies – no preservatives, no fruits and vegetables grown with pesticides or artificial fertilizers, or animals grown with hormones and fed food grown with pesticides. Additionally, it means no drinking or smoking. It means no caffeine. If you want healthy children, you need to put pure, clean organic food into your body before you get pregnant and continue throughout your pregnancy. Naturally, after your children are born, you want to continue providing healthy food for yourself and your family. If you are pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant, you have a wonderful opportunity to lay a strong foundation of health for your child. Why not start now feeding yourself well and learning all you can about creating healthy children? You will raise a family for the rest of your life. By taking charge of your own mental and physical health prior to becoming pregnant, you can greatly enhance your parenting experience. If you have not been disciplined enough to eat well before getting pregnant, perhaps the idea of eating well for your child will be enough to motivate you. Its not as hard as you might think. Eating well doesn't really take much longer than eating junk food. And the payoff is huge. Not only were my three babies healthy, they were calm. They had good nights' sleep, were happy kids who learned quickly and did well in school. The only time they were hyperactive actually bouncing off walls! was after returning from birthday parties where they had ice cream, cake and sodas. In my many years of counseling, Ive often worked with parents who were struggling with their childrens behavior problems. Of course not all behavior problems are nutritional, but you might be surprised how many problems have their cause in poor nutrition. I've often wondered why so many people make sure their gas tank has the right octane but put the wrong fuel in their bodies, then wonder why so many people get sick or have learning disabilities. I want to tell you a little story about the power of food. We had a 6 month old golden retriever puppy who was dying of irritable bowel syndrome. He had constant diarrhea and was getting thinner and thinner by the day. We had been giving him the very best quality kibble and it wasnt working. We were fortunate to learn about raw dog food. He was completely healthy after eating raw food for only two meals! Here I had been studying nutrition for so many years and it had never occurred to me that a dogs natural diet is raw food! Wow, what a lesson!

Controlling what you eat is crucial. You are eating for two which doesnt mean that you eat more (so say goodbye to that second slice of cake), but that you eat smart. You are the only source of nutrients for your baby, so you need the right balance of proteins, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, and fiber. That being said, most prenatal dieticians strongly advise against adhering to a strict no-carb diet. Without sufficient carbs, your body will produce a by-product called ketones during your blood stream, which can put your baby at risk for brain damage. What about, however, low-carb diets? Aside from the risk of mental retardation, there are some aspects of low carb diets that can worsen the discomforts of pregnancy. For instance, low-carb diets typically lack fiber, which exacerbates the constipation that many pregnant women experience as a result of taking iron supplements. Also, most prenatal dieticians recommend taking a lot of fruit because of its rich vitamin content, but most of the items youll find in a typical shake are banned by Atkins and South Beach because of the sugars. But some doctors may recommend taking modified low-carb diets, especially if you are obese, suffer from gestational diabetes or low blood sugar. All three conditions have been proven to have adverse affects on the baby (including prematurity, birth defects, and early rupture of the membranes) so losing weight or controlling intake may actually be the best thing for your baby. If you are asked to go on a low-carb diet during pregnancy, you will probably be told to go on the maintenance phase of the Atkins Diet, or the second phase of the South Beach Diet. Here, you are allowed a controlled number of carbohydrates, usually from whole grains and fruits, while minimizing white bread, white rice, and pasta. That is fine, as you are still giving your baby the adequate nutrients, while removing processed foods. If you are not allowed to go low-carb, but still need to control your weight, there are some options open to you. First of all, eat small but frequent meals. Take salads, fruits, nuts, and crackers for a snack instead of junk food or processed meats, which are high in calories but low in nutrients. Reduce the amount of salt and sauces that are too thick when cooking lean cuts of meat. And while you do need carbohydrates, take in moderation. Three servings of pasta covered in white sauce are not as good as one plate of pasta. However, the most crucial thing to remember is to consult your obstetrician-gynecologist before beginning any diet while pregnant. She or he can properly determine the best course of action given your particular medical history and the condition of your baby. Do not go on any weight management program without the advice and the approval of your doctor. Whether its low carb or Zone or the Mediterranean Diet, the point is that there is a proven link between prenatal nutrition and the babys health. Low birth weight, birth defects, and an early delivery are all possible complications.

You probably already know how important it is to eat a healthy diet, but when you're pregnant, it's even more important. Remember that you are now eating for two. The baby consumes everything you consume. You need to eat enough for both of you because the baby actually eats your food. Pregnancy and you both benefit from eating healthier. When you are pregnant, you should never skip a meal, especially breakfast. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and your baby has probably been waiting since he/she woke up in the middle of the night. You may learn that if you wait so long before eating you start to feel sick, this is your body telling you to eat. Do it! Check to see that you get enough of the food you need each day. It takes 4-6 servings of dairy produce a day for a healthy pregnancy, this can include some cheeses, milk, yogurt. The baby will get the calcium it needs to grow healthy bones from this. Adding extra calcium to your diet wouldnt hurt you either, especially your teeth and bones. Keep in mind how many fruits and vegetables you should be eating. Sweet potatoes and a lot of green are always good choices. Not only will you be giving your body what it needs but you'll start to have more energy. Try laying off the sweets for a week and replace them with healthier items and see how alive you feel. Avoidable Foods Not all foods are safe during your pregnancy, there are a few things you should avoid eating: – unpasteurized products- brie and other soft cheeses if Unpateurized. – Certain fish- exotic, shark, swordfish, anything potentially high in mercury – Eggs that are still raw – Undercooked meats- lunch meats. If you are buying a deli sandwich you can ask for them to heat the meat up a little. – Caffeine- soda, chocolate. If you find this difficult you can wean yourself off, but the less caffeine in your system the better it is for the baby. You can ask your doctor for a list of foods to avoid while pregnant if you are unsure of what you can eat. They'll be more than happy to share this with you. You may also learn that your stomach wont handle certain foods that it would before. Some of those foods may include foods that contain grease, fast foods, meat, and certain foods that have a strong odor. You don't have to give up all the fun in your life to eat healthy; you can still treat yourself from time to time. Go out and get a frozen yogurt or a smoothie. Even though you should ensure that you consume enough food throughout the day, you shouldn't skip drinking fluids. You'll need lots of water and juices from here on out. The baby will thank you later. It's possible that once you're pregnant, you'll find that you really enjoy eating healthier foods and stick with it.