Five super foods that every pregnant woman should eat!

PSM News /

Article contributed by one of our Subscriber: Dr. Shreya, Gynecologist, Bangalore

Every pregnant woman should eat the healthiest and best foods as it is the main source of nutrition for their baby. Having a healthy and balanced diet keep expectant mothers healthy to face all the stress, strains of pregnancy, labor and further boosts their baby's growth. A pregnant woman will need about 300 additional calories in their diet every day from the second trimester.

 

Here are five super foods that every pregnant woman should include in their diet that benefit their child:

 

Broccoli

 

Pregnant women should include broccoli in their daily diet as it is rich in calcium, manganese potassium, fiber and antioxidant that contributes towards stronger bone development in the fetus, while their fiber can help prevent constipation, which is a common problem in pregnant women.

 

Leafy green vegetables

 

Expectant mothers should consume lots of leafy green vegetables like spinach, kale and fenugreek, as they are rich sources of fiber, iron, folic acid or folate. Folic acid is an important nutrient for your unborn baby.

 

Tofu

 

Tofu, also known as bean curd, being an excellent source of amino acids, iron, calcium, manganese, and other micro-nutrients, tofu can be an excellent snack or a salad ingredient for an expectant mommy. One cannot deny the fact that too much of nothing is good for anyone and this does not spare tofu as well. One should avoid tofu in pregnancy if they have thyroid.

 

Fruits and Berries

 

Pregnant women should eat lots of fruits and berries every day. Fruits like apples, musk melons, oranges, grapes and berries such as strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, cherries and raspberries, contain beneficial phytochemicals, which act as antioxidants that rid the body of cell-damaging free radicals. While apples helps to relieve constipation a common pregnancy woe, being fiber-rich.

 

Eggs

 

Being the best source of first class proteins, fat and packed with high-quality omega-3 fatty acids, eggs are also a good source of folic acid, including choline and the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin and iron and helps to keep the amniotic membranes strong and prevents birth defects in the fetus.