The extra food that you eat while pregnant should not just be extra calories or even empty calories.
Calories such as those that vegetables such as celery and lettuce have are virtually void of nutrients.
While pregnant, an expectant mother should follow guidelines on how to eat enough food, as well as the right foods.
These foods must contain the proper nutrition for your baby.
For example: foods that are high in calcium are good for your own body, and you will need additional calcium for the strength and health of your own baby.
Therefore, the food does not have to be simply enough for a mother to gain the recommended weight - it must also contain the correct amount of nutrients appropriate for your baby.
You will, of course, require more of all of the essential vitamins and other nutrients than you do when you are pregnant.
The guidelines you can follow to make sure that your growing baby receives the proper nutrients that he or she needs are as follows: oA healthy diet includes carbohydrates, of course, proteins are very important, as well as fats, vitamins, minerals, and something else to remember, plenty of water and other non-diuretic fluids are important.
oOf course, food labels in the U.
S.
are required on virtually all containers of food.
This will make getting the proper portions of certain nutrients a lot more easily.
oFolic Acid is very important for proteins, effective function of enzymes.
When you take folic acid supplements or eat green leafy vegetables, dark yellow vegetables such as yellow corn or yellow bell peppers, beans, peas and even nuts have certain percentages of folic acid in them.
Nonetheless, even if an expecting mother eats many kinds of foods with folic acid in them - doctor's still recommend that she take an additional folic acid supplement in pill form, especially in early pregnancy.
oCalcium is also an essential nutrient for pregnant women.
Many people need to increase their calcium intake significantly, when pregnant most women increase their calcium intake right away.
In addition, your doctor will likely prescribe some prenatal vitamins containing extra calcium.
There are plenty of dairy products rich in calcium.
However, there are also many lactose intolerant women.
In such cases, your doctor may have other suggestions for you - depending on your individual condition.
Calcium will promote strong teeth and strong bones.
Calcium also helps muscular contraction, strength, and nerve function.
oSome of the common nutrients you will need include nutrients that will promote cell growth in your growing baby for blood production.
For these nutrients you will want to be sure to have the appropriate amount of lean meat, fish, poultry, egg whites, beans, nuts (many woman prefer peanut butter), and in tofu.
oYou can find the essential carbohydrates that produce energy in breads, cereals, rice, potatoes, pasta, fruits, and some vegetables.
oYou can get the calcium you need in milk and cheeses, yogurt, sardines, or salmon with bones, and spinach.
oIron promotes red blood cell production - this is a very important part of a prenatal diet because it helps prevent anemia.
Spinach is also one of the very best sources of iron.
You can find iron in lean red meat and iron-fortified wholegrain cereals, pastas and breads as well.
oVitamin A is another good vitamin to remember to consume enough of while you are pregnant.
Vitamin A promotes healthy skin, vision, and it can also help build stronger bones.
You can find vitamin A in carrots, dark leafy green vegetables, and even sweet potatoes.
oVitamin C is very important, obviously, it prevents infection, promotes healthy gums, teeth, bones and the body's ability to absorb iron.
Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits, broccoli, tomatoes, and certain fortified juice drinks.
oVitamin B6 helps form red blood cells.
Proteins, fats and carbohydrates, pork, ham, wholegrain cereals, and bananas are great sources of B6.
oVitamin B12 assists in the formation of red blood cells as well, it will also help maintain the health of your baby's nervous system.
B12 is in typically found in foods such as meats, fish, poultry and milk.
It is very common for vegetarians to take B12 supplements oVitamin D can be found in any dairy products, as well as in cereals and breads.
Vitamin D promotes strong bones and teeth.
Determine how much and how often you should eat your proper portions of food.
Be sure to inform your doctor of your diet right away, as soon as you know you are pregnant Remember, you have to have certain types of nutrition for your unborn child.
As a matter of fact, many doctors do not recommend any diet specifically high in vegetables.
There are guidelines you can follow to make sure that your growing baby receives the proper nutrients that he or she needs.
Provide the very best nutrition for your baby.