- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- recipes today articles
- recipes today q&a
- message boards
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
 |
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Supplements During Pregnancy
Are They Really Needed?
Part Two
By Allison Gamble, Nutritionist
Supplements are generally recommended for those who suffer from lactose intolerance, vegetarians, smokers, and women having twins. As a nutritionist, I have to state that watching what you eat and living a healthy lifestyle are by far the most effective steps in preventing birth defects. I also suggest learning as much as you can about nutrition's role in pregnancy. The more you know, the better your food choices will be.
In the end, after reading articles from the Journal of the American Medical Association, the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, and four other books on nutrition, I could not find any one article that said supplements are not recommended. However, they did stress supplements should never replace good eating habits. Supplements will never fix your nutrient deficiencies, only help you get back on your feet. By getting the proper nutrients, your body will have an easier time adjusting to the demands placed on it, and you will reduce the risk of your baby being born with birth defects.
| |
Eating for two (or more!) is not about consuming as many calories as possible, it's about the vitamins and minerals found in those calories! My new theory is supplements are okay for pregnant women. In a perfect world everyone would have wonderful eating habits and would exercise four times a week, but I know how hard it is to get to the gym on some days. I have to be realistic - it is difficult for people to change their habits. I still don't believe that one little pill will solve all our health problems, but I do believe it can be a viable step in helping us get the vitamins and minerals we need.
Comments
There are no comments for this article yet.Be the first to 
|
Post As:
|
||
| Enter your comment below: | ||
| Title | ||
| Comment Text | ||
| CAPTCHA | ||
| Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection. | ||
