Pregnancy is a beautiful time in a woman's life. Her body is showing its ability to create a whole new being inside her, and allowing her this magical moment in time. Most pregnant women realize that it's important to really amp up their nutrition during this monumental time in their lives, which is why we've put together a list of appropriate supplements for pregnancy. It's more important now than ever to take your health seriously, especially when you have a little one growing inside you.
Appropriate Supplements for Pregnancy
Some of the key nutrients that your body will need during this time is extra calcium, folic acid, protein, and iron. Each one offers several benefits to your baby, which is why it's so important to have these in your diet during this time.
Folic acid is essentially important for helping to prevent birth defects in the baby's brain and spinal cord. Folic acid is a B vitamin, and while it seems like it would be simple enough to have in your diet, most women need it in supplemental form. Even if you're on a raw food diet, it is never a bad thing to take some additional folic acid, though raw fruits and veggies are high in folic acid. You'll find it in leafy greens, citrus fruits, and beans.
Calcium is a big necessity for pregnant women, and some may struggle to find that in a vegan raw food diet, as milk and dairy products offer these in large amounts. Like in adults, calcium is necessary to build strong bones and teeth in your baby, which is why it's important expecting mothers get this in a supplemental form if they don't get enough calcium in their diets. Vitamin D works with calcium to help fortify the baby's bones, however, if there is not enough in the mother's diet, the baby will take it from the mother's supply, which will cause her to have weakened bones and teeth. You can get some calcium from leafy greens, however, mothers need a large amount each day, at least 1,000 milligrams, so a supplement is likely necessary for most expectant mothers.
Protein is a building block for our bodies, so it's no surprise it's a necessity for babies too. Generally, you'll find larger amounts of protein in meats and beans, so when living a vegan lifestyle you'll want to focus on the areas you can find it, which are beans, chickpeas, peas, nuts, and tofu. Protein powder may be a good addition to your daily smoothie, though be sure to check with your doctor first before adding any protein powder or supplements to your diet.
The last supplemental thing you may need is iron. Pregnancy can already make you more tired than normal, and anemia will only add to that, so it's important to keep your iron levels up during this time. However, with iron, it's not just a matter of eating enough of it, you also need to ensure it's absorbed, so you'll want to eat foods rich in iron with foods that are rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C is easily found in citrus fruits, and iron is found in dark leafy greens, so a citrus smoothie is a wonderful way to combine the two and ensure that you get a delicious smoothie and the necessary nutrition.
We offer several supplements that may help pregnant women get all the necessary vitamins and nutrients, however, be sure to consult your doctor before adding any of them to your diet. The same rule applies for protein powder, always confirm with your doctor that everything will be safe for your baby. Everyone is different, as is every pregnancy, so it never hurts to discuss all dietary changes with your doctor first.
