Due to our increased knowledge with regard to health, many women have become informed with regard to the importance of prenatal vitamins and their role in preventing birth defects. It is important to know that both mother and child do have increased nutritional needs during pregnancy.Although many women are prescribed prenatal vitamins by their doctors during their pregnancy, it is becoming more common in some areas that even women who are planning to conceive begin taking prenatal vitamins. Thus many women begin protecting their body's early.
Most Prenatal vitamins are specially formulated to make up for nutritional deficiencies in a mother's diet, and contain supplements such as vitamins, zinc, iron, and calcium. Perhaps most important, they contain folic acid, which reduces the risk of serious birth defects of the brain and spinal cord. Prenatal vitamins could very well prove to play a vital role in a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby, due in large part to the great defiencies now found in most of our food. However, prenatal vitamins are not meant to be your sole source of nutrients. They are meant to supplement, or prevent certain nutrient deficiencies. Eating a healthy, varied and balanced diet will go a long way toward ensuring the health of both mother and infant.
IMPORTANT NUTRIENTS FOR MOTHER AND CHILD:
DHA
DHA is a fatty acid belonging to the omega- 3 family, and it is very important for brain development. This nutrient is crucial for the baby from the very beginning of pregnancy through the time of breast feeding. It is essential to the body, but much more so during pregnancy.
IRON
The mineral iron is drawn upon heavily by the baby in the third trimester of pregnancy; it draws its supply from the stored supply of the mother. Iron is very important, and will be found in most prenatal vitamins.
FOLIC ACID
Folic Acid is very essential for a healthy pregnancy and healthy fetal development. It has been shown to decrease the risk of birth defects like spine bifida or other neural tube defects. Folic acid is naturally found in dark, leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, dried beans, and whole grain breads and cereals. Most cereals are also fortified with many other vitamins and can be a good dietary choice for the pregnant woman who cannot tolerate vitamins. Folic acid is an essential nutrient that can help prevent birth defects in newborns.
Folic acid has been found to be necessary to the neural tube development of the baby. This takes place during the first trimester of a woman's pregnancy. Some women even begin taking folic acid or folate 30 days or more before attempting pregnancy.
CALCIUM
Calcium as most women are aware is extremely important, it is more so important in the development of a baby. Calcium, along with magnesium, help protects the mother's bones. The recommended amount of 1200 mg. per day of is not found in most prenatal supplements. It should be remembered, however, that you will obtain some of your calcium from food.
Not all prenatal vitamins are of the same quality of course. They all tend to have all of the basic nutrients in them that are necessary at such a crucial time for a woman's body. However, the best prenatal will provide what mother and child needs, at just the right amounts, as well as avoiding amounts that tend to toxicity.
Most Prenatal vitamins are specially formulated to make up for nutritional deficiencies in a mother's diet, and contain supplements such as vitamins, zinc, iron, and calcium. Perhaps most important, they contain folic acid, which reduces the risk of serious birth defects of the brain and spinal cord. Prenatal vitamins could very well prove to play a vital role in a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby, due in large part to the great defiencies now found in most of our food. However, prenatal vitamins are not meant to be your sole source of nutrients. They are meant to supplement, or prevent certain nutrient deficiencies. Eating a healthy, varied and balanced diet will go a long way toward ensuring the health of both mother and infant.
IMPORTANT NUTRIENTS FOR MOTHER AND CHILD:
DHA
DHA is a fatty acid belonging to the omega- 3 family, and it is very important for brain development. This nutrient is crucial for the baby from the very beginning of pregnancy through the time of breast feeding. It is essential to the body, but much more so during pregnancy.
IRON
The mineral iron is drawn upon heavily by the baby in the third trimester of pregnancy; it draws its supply from the stored supply of the mother. Iron is very important, and will be found in most prenatal vitamins.
FOLIC ACID
Folic Acid is very essential for a healthy pregnancy and healthy fetal development. It has been shown to decrease the risk of birth defects like spine bifida or other neural tube defects. Folic acid is naturally found in dark, leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, dried beans, and whole grain breads and cereals. Most cereals are also fortified with many other vitamins and can be a good dietary choice for the pregnant woman who cannot tolerate vitamins. Folic acid is an essential nutrient that can help prevent birth defects in newborns.
Folic acid has been found to be necessary to the neural tube development of the baby. This takes place during the first trimester of a woman's pregnancy. Some women even begin taking folic acid or folate 30 days or more before attempting pregnancy.
CALCIUM
Calcium as most women are aware is extremely important, it is more so important in the development of a baby. Calcium, along with magnesium, help protects the mother's bones. The recommended amount of 1200 mg. per day of is not found in most prenatal supplements. It should be remembered, however, that you will obtain some of your calcium from food.
Not all prenatal vitamins are of the same quality of course. They all tend to have all of the basic nutrients in them that are necessary at such a crucial time for a woman's body. However, the best prenatal will provide what mother and child needs, at just the right amounts, as well as avoiding amounts that tend to toxicity.
About the Author:
Keith Henry is a Medical Missionary Herbalist, and Naturopatheic Doctor Candidate.Check out Prenatal Vitamins for the Prenatal Vitamin He recommends. These Prenatal Vitamins even include prenatal herbs and vitamins.
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