Pregnant women require a very specific amount of vitamins and mineral daily to increase their health and the health of the baby. Anything that goes into a woman's body during pregnancy will set up the baby's health in the future. For this reason, women may choose to eat organic foods during pregnancy. Organic foods do not contain growth hormones, pesticides or insecticides.
Green Vegetables
During pregnancy, a woman should increase her daily folic acid intake from 400 micrograms to between 600 and 800. The levels are increased to keep the baby from developing neurological defects or spina bifida. It is suggested to take folic acid as a supplement, but it can be increased via food as well. Eating organic vegetables that contain a large amount of folate such as spinach, lentils, garbanzo beans, asparagus and broccoli will ensure you are getting the nutrition you need while avoiding harmful chemicals, pesticides or insecticides.
Fruits
When a woman becomes pregnant. her immune system is compromised because of the baby. Although the immune system may not be compromised in such a way it causes an influx of diseases, it may cause a woman to get a few more colds than she's used to. Fruits that contain antioxidants, which are naturally occurring in vitamins C, E and A, are used to stop free-radical production and protect cells, which can help to boost the immune system. Since pregnant women are told to steer clear of high amounts of vitamin A, they can give their immune systems a boost with vitamin C. Organic fruits that contain high levels of vitamin C are strawberries, oranges, grapefruit, kiwi fruit, pineapple, papaya and tomatoes. To obtain the amount of vitamin C that you need for a good immune boost, you may have to drink organic fruit juice instead of eating the fruit whole.
Meat
According to James A Riddle, endowed chair in Agricultural Systems, University of Minnesota, there are definite differences in organic meat compared with nonorganic meat. Dr. Alan Green of Just the Facts Baby suggests eating organic beef for its extra lean meat and retained omega-3s, in addition to avoiding antibiotics and hormones that may be in nonorganic beef. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown, according to a study published at Just the Facts Baby, to be an important part of fetal development.
Member Comments