Pregnant women cannot afford reckless eating because babies they incubate depend on them for their nutrition, health and growth. Doctors advice them to observe utmost caution in choices of foods they eat. According to experts, for pregnant women dry or juicy food elements need to constitute major chunk of their dietary picks.
They must shun unhealthy foods irrespective of seasons. They must have utmost control on their cravings. Unhealthy foods taken by pregnant women may even predispose babies for later life style diseases.
Maintaining a healthy diet regimen is always essential whether it is summer or winter especially when it comes to pregnant women. They must follow dos and don’ts despite their cravings otherwise. Unhealthy or wrong diet can cause health issues like gastric problems, malnutrition, weakness, stomach upsets, cold and cough etc. From conception till the time of delivery, women must pay attention towards their diet and make healthy choices. Healthy foods are central to right development of the foetus.
Dr Archana Dhawan Bajaj, Gynaecologist and Obstetrician, Nurture IVF Centre, advises, “During winters, pregnant women need to increase in-take of dry fruits as they contain more essential nutrients like folate, potassium and iron. Prunes, dates, almonds and walnuts are some of the dry fruits which pregnant women is advised to include in their diets. Intake of winter fruits like oranges, kinnow, as they contain high vitamin and fibre content are also advised. Avoid intake of too much fried food, too much sweets and ghee”.
Tanu Arora, Head of Department, Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Aakash Healthcare advises, “Mother has to nurture the fetus health of the newborn. Additional energy is required to support the fetus, development of placenta and maternal tissues and to meet the needs for increased BMR. Good sources of energy are cereal and fats. Healthy and balanced diet is recommended for a good pregnancy outcome which is based on balanced diet. Choose food from all the sections to make it balanced, such as:-
1. Grains – Bread, pasta, oatmeal, cereal and tortillas.
2. Fruits – Fruits can be fresh, canned, frozen or dried. Juice that is 100% fruit juice also counts.
3. Vegetables – Vegetables can be raw or cooked, frozen, canned, dried or 100% vegetable juice.
4. Protein foods – Protein foods include meat, poultry, seafood, beans and peas, eggs, processed soy products, nuts and seeds.
5. Dairy – Milk and products made from milk, such as cheese, yogurt, and ice cream.”
According to fertility experts, pregnant women should avoid some foods and beverages that include alcohol and high-mercury fish, soft cheeses, cold deli meats and unpasteurized foods and intake of caffeine.
Most importantly junk foods should be avoided as high amounts of fats and sugars during pregnancy may predispose offspring to diabetes. Drinking adequate amount of water should always be on priority list of pregnant women.