If you’re a pregnant woman and you’re not sure what to eat to remain healthy throughout your pregnancy, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. We know what it takes to produce a healthy baby, and we’re here to share some pointers about diet and nutrition with you. Providing you with this information from the start of your pregnancy allows you to eat well from the very first trimester. It also helps you prevent birth defects and unnecessary vitamin deficiencies from occurring in your baby as they grow and develop.
Why Folate is Essential
Getting enough folate into your diet is essential to the growth and development of your baby. It prevents birth defects such as spina bifida from occurring. The B vitamin helps you become stronger and increases your overall wellness, too, making it a win-win for you and baby. Even if you’re taking a prenatal vitamin as suggested by Dr. Ahmadinia, it’s important that you eat foods rich with folate as often as you possibly can.
Foods to Put on Your Shopping List Today
The next time you go shopping, you’ll likely have some extra items to pick up from the grocery store. Each offers excellent amounts of folate. They’re all easy to prepare and digest, too.
Some high-folate foods for pregnant women to include in their diet are:
- Cereal fortified with folate. A good source of fiber, too, some cereals provide up to 400 mg of folate for every half cup you eat. You’ll stay regular and give plenty of the B vitamin to your growing fetus.
- Spinach. The leafy green vegetable also contains cancer-fighting phytochemicals. Use it as a substitute for lettuce in salads as well as in soups, casseroles, and even smoothies.
- Great Northern Beans. Known as white beans, they’re packed with fiber which helps you stay full longer. You can eat them cooked on their own or add them to existing recipes for a good source of protein, too.
This is just a sample of the foods you can eat to increase the amount of folate your body gets during pregnancy. Don’t forget broccoli, lentils, and even cantaloupe. You’ll have a great base of foods to work with that you can include in your current meal planning and meal-prep practices.
Learn About Good Nutrition from Your OBGYN
Dr. Ahmadinia helps women have healthy pregnancies through the inclusion of folate in the diet. If you have any questions or concerns that need to be addressed, schedule an appointment to visit OBGYN High Desert. That way, you get the time and attention needed to become informed of the benefits of good nutrition.
