Focus on Organic, Whole Foods
Pregnancy is an optimal time to become educated about health and nutrition and to commit to eating well. Superior nutrition during pregnancy is about more than simply following recommended daily allowances or avoiding alcohol or caffeine, but also about reducing chemical exposures for mom and baby and creating nourishment for mind, body and spirit. Expecting mothers need to become informed about whole foods and nutrition, and to take the time to create meals that will soothe and energize.
Begin by avoiding processed foods and focusing on whole, organic choices. Processed foods are more likely to contain artificial ingredients and other chemicals that will increase toxin exposure. Additionally, simple, refined sugars are plentiful in processed foods and may contribute to fatigue, irritability, and depression during pregnancy. Eat healthy with a diet rich in whole grains, dried beans, orange juice, and green leafy vegetables to keep iron and folate levels high and to avoid unnecessary contaminants.
Why organic? Conventional produce found in your local supermarket is sprayed with pesticides and herbicides that cannot be removed by simple washing. Pesticides found on conventional produce make their way to the womb and into the blood of newborns, according to the Environmental Working Group’s study Body Burden: The Pollution in Newborns (see http://archive.ewg.org/reports/bodyburden2/execsumm.php ). The chemicals found in the blood of infants (as well as their mothers) are linked to cancer, birth defects, developmental delays, and immune system issues, among others. In addition, a 1993 study in the Journal of Applied Nutrition has shown that organically grown fruits and vegetables have a higher nutritive content that those that are grown with traditional farming methods. Organically grown apples, wheat, sweet corn, potatoes and pears were examined over a 2 year period and were 63% higher in calcium, 73% higher in iron, 118% higher in magnesium, 178% higher in molybdenum, 91% higher in phosphorus, 125% higher in potassium and 60% higher in zinc than conventionally grown produce. The organic produce was also 29% lower in mercury. Selecting fresh, organic produce will help to reduce the chemical load and the potential risk factors associated with these toxins, while also providing healthy nutrition for mom and baby.
Mothers should also be aware of chemical exposure from common household and personal care products that can also pass to their babies (see, for example, http://www.bio-medicine.org/medicine-news/Toxic-chemicals-found-in-domes... ).
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The idea that food contains poisons if it is not organic denies the recent spate of food poisonings that occurred from tomatoes (organic) and other fruits and vegetables that came in contact with samonella or other bacteria. The assumption that if it is organic it is good for you doesn't always correlate with what comes from the field. You have to assume that no avian flu bird passed over the field, that no farm worker peed or defecated on the produce while being paid to pick the produce. That no farm animal wandered in from outside nor that a polluted stream didn't bring contaminated water to grow the product. This kind of scare mongering is the worst kind. Many foods are safe if washed properly and if they are stored properly. Arbitrarly removing foods from your diet because you can't find an organic source is harmful because you would be removing needed nutrients from the growing fetus. Preganant women should eat a balanced diet that is based upon your biology. If you can tolerate milk then drink milk, if you can eat meat then eat meat. If you can't eat carbs because you can't tolerate grain as 1 out 5 adults cannot digest grain protein then don't eat it but eat a wide range of foods to ensure that you are not limiting or elminating some important food source. Any one who tells you we know all the necessary nutrients to growing a healthy body put your sensors up as we do not. We know what we know because several people fell ill when that nutrient was removed from their diet. But for the rest we don't know. However , we do know we are ominvores which means our bodies work best when we eat both meat, fruit and vegetables. But if peanuts give you have hives then don't eat them no matter who says peanuts are a high source of protein. Also, don't fall for the political push for vegan diets especially the strict vegan diets. The children with the most unhealthy bodies suffering from lack of mental development are found in the poor countries where meat protein is scarce. To think that anyone would advocate not using one of the best sources of protein biologically for brain development is immoral.