The Whole Nine Months: Low Carb Diets and Pregnancy
It's very important to watch what you eat. You are eating fortwo-which doesn't mean that you eat more (so say goodbye to thatsecond slice of cake), but that you eat smart. You are your baby'sonly source of nutrients, and you need the proper balance ofproteins,vitamins, minerals, fiber andcarbohydrates.
That being said, most prenatal dieticians strongly adviseagainst adhering to a strict no-carbdiet. Without sufficient carbs,your body will produce a by-product called ketones during yourblood stream, which can put your baby at risk for brain damage.
But what about low carb diets? Aside from the risk of mentalretardation, there are some aspects of low carbdiets that can worsen thediscomforts of pregnancy. For example,low carbdiets tend to have low levels of dietary fiber, whichexacerbate the constipation that many pregnant moms suffer becauseof the required iron supplements. Also, most prenatal dieticiansrecommend taking a lot of fruit because of its richvitamin content, but most of theitems you'll find in a typical shake are banned by Atkins and SouthBeach because of the sugars.
But some doctors may recommend taking modifiedlow-carbdiets, especially if you are obese, suffer from gestationaldiabetes or low blood sugar. All three conditions have been provento have adverse affects on the baby (including prematurity, birthdefects, and early rupture of the membranes) so losing weight orcontrolling intake may actually be the best thing for yourbaby.
If you are asked to go on a low-carbdiet during pregnancy, you willprobably be told to go on the maintenance phase of the Atkins Diet,or the second phase of the South Beach Diet. Here, you are alloweda controlled number of carbohydrates, usually from whole grains andfruits, while minimizing white bread, white rice, and pasta. Thatis fine, as you are still giving your baby the adequate nutrients,while removing processed foods.
If you are not allowed to go low-carb, but still need to controlyour weight, there are some options open to you. First of all, eatsmall but frequent meals. If you want a snack, instead of takingjunk food or processed meats (which have a lot of calories, butsignificantly less nutrients), take salads, fruits, nuts andcrackers. Choose lean cuts of meat, and minimize salt and richsauces
during cooking. And while you do need carbohydrates, take inmoderation. One plate of pasta is good, three servings of itsmothered in white sauce is not.
But the most important thing to remember is that before you goon any diet during pregnancy consult yourobstetrician-gynaecologist. She or he can properly determine thebest course of action given your particular medical history and thecondition of your baby. Do not go on any weight management programwithout the advice and the approval of your doctor. Whether it'slow carb or Zone or the Mediterranean Diet, the point is that thereis a proven link between prenatal nutrition and the baby'shealth. Complications can include low birth weight, birth defects, and early delivery.
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