Now I’m pregnant - what foods do I avoid and what can I eat?
Does that sound familiar?
Let’s start with foods that may have caused digestive issues before pregnancy...
If there are foods that you know you are highly allergic to, always seek medical advice, especially now you are pregnant.
If you feel there are foods that cause your bowels to swing from diarrhoea to constipation and/or create inflammation and pain - then keep them to a bare minimum and seek nutritional advice.
Most of us know that alcohol, drugs and coffee are three things that come up in discussions are are generally thought of as best avoided. If you have issues with any of these substances, make sure you seek assistance and support, especially at this time.
Just to give an example in regard to how our bodies are highly influenced by what we ingest... let’s look at how our nutrients are assimilated.
When food has been broken down into nutrients, vitamins, proteins etc. from the stomach to the small intestine, the villi that line the intestine (picture small finger-like projections of tissue which increase the surface area of the intestine) these contain specialized cells that absorb and assimilate the nutrients and vitamins and transport these substances into the bloodstream to be utilised by the body.
Many substances reduce the effectiveness in supporting nutrient assimilation, which also causes a deficiency in calcium, iron, folic acid and zinc, the major nutrients required during pregnancy.
What to avoid ingesting, especially in the first trimester -
include intoxicants as discussed above, unnecessary medicines or vitamins, some bitter herbs, seaweeds, refined foods, sugar and canned products.
Other foods that are best avoided are green or sprouting potatoes, margarines, raw eggs, unpasteurised milk and cheese, processed fruit juice (better to have freshly squeezed), caffeine, raw sprouts, unwashed produce, as well as processed and junk food.
Be careful with ingesting fish that is known to be high in mercury (ie shark and swordfish), undercooked or raw fish, meat (especially pork), organ and processed meats. Find out whether the meats you buy are treated with chemicals, additives and hormones (including sausage, preserved meats).
After hearing all that, you’re probably thinking there’s not much left to eat...
What everyone is after is a nutrition that will form well balanced bodies, minds and babies; this is where quality is much more important than quantity. Ingesting plenty of green as well as a colourful array of vegetables, whole grains, nuts such as almonds and walnuts and seeds like sunflower and pumpkin. Cold pressed oils, organically fed (chemical, additive and hormone free) meats, chicken and eggs. Deep-dwelling, cold-water, ocean fish. Yoghurt, additive and sugar free and hard cheeses in small quantities, will all help to support you and your baby’s daily nutrition.
We know that it is important to keep up good nutrition through pregnancy as the developing foetus takes first pick of the nutrients and the mother will always come second.
You may feel hungrier at times, however as pregnancy progresses you may find that eating little and often, especially in the last trimester, will prevent digestive problems and increase nutrient absorption.
