It is long believed that pregnant women should eat for two but nutrition experts said that it’s what they eat even before conception that matters.
While some pregnant women think eating for two can make their unborn babies healthy, experts said that planning what you eat before pregnancy can make a difference in your child’s life.
The new advice suggests the food women eat could put the lives of their unborn babies at risk of disease.
Early Life Nutrition Coalition’s Melanie McGrice said that hard-working pregnant mums are amazing, but it’s still important to eat healthy during pregnancy. “A lot of women I see are working full time as well as being pregnant which is fantastic. It’s taxing and tiring but unless you plan ahead it can be really hard to eat healthy during pregnancy,” she said.
She added that it would be more beneficial for women to eat healthy even before getting pregnant. “If ever there is a time for someone to eat healthy it is in the lead up to conception and throughout during pregnancy. It just makes such a difference it’s worth prioritising everything else,” she said.
The new guidelines suggest expectant mums should be eating two pieces of fruit and at least two and half cups of cooked green and orange vegetables every day.
Whole grain alternatives should replace white bread and pregnant women should stay away from sugary food such as cakes and soft drinks.
Neonatologist Dr Adrienne Gordon said pregnant women should not eat too many calories. “It’s important to know the extra calories you need are actually not very much,” he said. “It’s not eating for two.”
Around 1 million Australians have type 2 diabetes and the number of children suffering from asthma and food allergies is increasing.
Source: Au.news.yahoo.com
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