Iron is very important during pregnancy and most pregnant women develop iron-deficiency anaemia. This is the reason why many doctors prescribe daily iron supplements to pregnant women to ensure that they have enough iron in their blood during pregnancy. Aside from iron supplements, there are foods to eat when pregnant that are rich in iron and in effect can prevent and fight anaemia during pregnancy.
A pregnant woman must have enough iron in her blood needed for her increasing blood supply. Known as an "oxygen optimizer", this mineral helps in transporting oxygen to the baby's growing cells and organs. Hence, to ensure a healthy baby and a healthy pregnancy, expectant mothers must consume adequate amounts of this essential mineral in their daily diet.
A pregnant woman can get her iron requirements from the kind of food that she eats. Iron-rich foods can be found in both plants and animals though animals are better sources of this mineral. Meat contains heme-iron, a type of iron that is readily absorbed by the body. Consume meat, especially red meat and liver as well as poultry and eggs. To prevent bacterial infection, meat needs to be cooked well. Plant sources which are ideal for vegetarians include spinach, kale, legumes and pumpkins. For iron-rich snacks, reach out for dried fruits like raisins, prunes, apricots and dates. Fruits like raspberries and other kinds of berries also contain iron, as well as grains like oatmeal.
Aside from iron, Vitamin C is important in preventing and fighting anemia as this vitamin helps the body in absorbing iron. There are many fruits and juices that are good sources of Vitamin C like oranges, strawberries, pineapple, grapefruit and tomatoes. Sweet bell peppers, especially the yellow ones are good sources of Vitamin C. As much as possible, eat fresh fruits rather than processed and canned for they only contain empty calories in a form of sugar.
Aside from the iron-rich foods to eat when pregnant, it is advisable that pregnant women shy away from drinking caffeinated drinks. These drinks can cause low-birth weight for the baby and can hamper iron absorption in the body. On the other hand, calcium which is very important during pregnancy can also hinder iron absorption. But this doesn't mean that a pregnant woman should not drink her milk or have yoghurt for snacks. To deal with this, it is advisable that a pregnant woman should consume calcium (via milk for example) inbetween meals to give the body ample time to absorb iron consumed during mealtime.
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In order to have a healthy baby, it is essential that you know the full facts about the proper foods to eat when pregnant. <= = Click this link NOW! Also make sure you check out this excellent article on foods to eat when pregnant.
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