4 Foods That Can Influence Your Baby During And After Pregnancy
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During pregnancy, your diet needs change to a good extent. While you need more nutrition and you are also recommended to take in more iron and folate, you are also advised to cut down on caffeine and sugars. Not to forget alcohol, which is soon replaced by sparkling water. While you might be thriving on the eating habits as recommended by experienced mothers, scientists are continuing to investigate the link between nutrition of mothers and the health of their newborns. It also includes many new findings that would make you rethink what you should eat or skip. Here are four surprising recommendations that you might want to consider both before and after pregnancy:
1. Probiotics and PUFAs Are Good For You
Polyunsaturated fatty acids or PUFAs and probiotics have been shown to reduce the risk of allergies. Meghan Azad, assistant professor of pediatrics and child health at the University of Manitoba says that a newborn must first derive the microbial flora in its gut during birth. It is like a little ecosystem that contains microorganisms to strengthen our immune system. Probiotics help to build good bacteria within you to fight the bad pathogens. The PUFAs help improve the response of certain cells to foreign elements. The good sources of PUFAs are flaxseeds and walnut oil. Kefir and yogurt make good sources of probiotics as these sources contain active and live cultures.
2. Shelve Up Artificial Sweeteners
A recent study published in the JAMA Pediatrics says that women who consume at least one artificially sweetened beverage a day during pregnancy are twice as likely to have an overweight child by its first birthday in comparison to women who totally skipped such beverages. Azad says that our metabolism is conditioned right in the uterus. The regular exposure to artificial sweeteners could bring changes to the way your body reacts to real sugar and therefore leads to weight gain. The study, which is part of THE Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development Study, did not display any correlation of artificial sweeteners with babies much later in life.
3. Indulge In Spices
If you have been deprived of eating your favorite spices because you have been told that it will deter your baby from feeding well, then here is some good news for you. Emerging studies have shown that newborns have a tendency to feed longer when their mothers consume foods that contain aromatic flavors such as vanilla or garlic. Julie Mennella, a biopsychologist at the Monell Chemical Senses Center has to say that babies’ brain development is driven by the smell of such flavors as they want to learn about new foods. The more diverse the spread of food, the more likely is your baby to acquire new concepts of taste and flavor.
4. Don’t Ignore Choline
You might have been recommended foods that are rich in iron, calcium and folate. Some supplements for these nutrients are recommended either to make up for lost nutrition or to add the extra nutritional value. But recently it was revealed that most women, especially those in high-income countries, are deprived of adequate choline levels. Choline is one of the key nutrients for the development of fetal brain, according to Linda Sebelia, an adjunct professor at the University of Rhode Island. So if you are looking at sources rich in choline, think about tofu, lean beef, eggs and Brussels sprouts. Have at least 450mg per day during your pregnancy and 550mg a day during your nursing days.
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