The Whole Food Blog

The best pregnancy nutrition should be comprised of a lot of high fiber, low fat whole foods for a sound, balanced diet. Hopeful mothers need to monitor their nutritional needs carefully. When seeking the healthiest pregnancy nutrition, know that it is more effective to consume vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that come from whole foods, not isolated supplements. Whole foods are much easier for the body to absorb, whereas isolated vitamins and minerals are often flushed out before the body can process them to use for fuel.

Calcium is a valuable mineral for flawless pregnancy nutrition. Still, it is challenging to get enough calcium from whole foods like fruits and vegetables. Some of the more typical sources of calcium are broccoli, yogurt, cheese, milk, and beans.

For those about to take a calcium supplement, not only is it important for pregnancy nutrition that the calcium originates from whole foods, it is similarly important that Vitamin D2 is present. Vitamin D2 is central to assist the body in absorbing calcium and is a crucial component for healthier bone strength and density.

Folate, also called Folic Acid and Vitamin B9 is another basic nutrient for total pregnancy nutrition. Folic acid is a B vitamin that helps the body to generate healthy new cells. That is why folate is indispensable for pregnancy nutrition as hopeful mothers create new life. Moms who add enough folic acid in their diets are taking the right actions toward preventing birth defects, especially of the baby’s brain.

For appropriate pregnancy nutrition, a woman needs roughly 800 mcg of folic acid daily. Nursing mothers only require about 500 mcg. This quantity may not be easy for some to get to, as it requires up to six servings of whole foods such as spinach, beans or asparagus, every day. If a pregnant woman is not getting plenty of folate from whole foods, then whole food multi-vitamins should be investigated.