Nutrition in Pregnancy

Should I eat Walnuts when I am pregnant?

Walnuts are edible, delicious nuts that resembles a brain and is very useful for the development and proper functioning of the brain. Walnuts have a significant amount of proteins, vitamins, fibre, essential fatty acids. magnesium, copper, and manganese. They are also loaded with calcium, iron, zinc, and selenium. These nutrients add to the numerous advantages of walnuts. It is the richest source of antioxidants.

Walnuts can be consumed raw as it is, or it can be added to various dishes in the chopped grated form. Walnuts should be consumed fully including the skin. They should be consumed in moderation. 4 to 5 walnuts a day is good enough. Too many walnuts may cause diarrhoea in pregnancy. Women who have proven nut allergy should avoid eating nuts.

Health Benefits of Eating Walnuts During Pregnancy

Walnuts help in reducing the inflammation of blood vessels and thereby help in controlling high blood pressure during pregnancy. They help in maintaining the lipid profile during pregnancy. The antioxidants help in increasing the immunity in pregnancy. The antioxidants present in walnuts are unique as they are not found anywhere else and the skin contains 90% of the antioxidants. The omega 3 fats play an important role in the development of eyes and brain of foetus.

Walnuts can be safely consumed during pregnancy and have a lot of benefits on both the mother and the baby.

Folic Acid and Pregnancy

Every parent would like to have a healthy baby. In fact if one could design one’s baby, I am sure there would be many takers for the idea. Healthy baby requires a healthy mother. Good nutrition is the foundation to good health. In special situations such as pregnancy there is need of special supplements.

There is enough scientific evidence to show that folic acid supplementation can help to prevent serious birth defects in your baby, especially before conception and during early pregnancy. It is crucial in the development of DNA i.e. the nuclear material of the cell. Folic acid plays an important role in cell growth and development as well as tissue formation.

Folic acid, also called folate, is a B vitamin (B9) found mostly in leafy green vegetables like spinach, vegetables like cabbage and cauliflower, orange juice, and enriched grains. There is large volume of robust scientific proof that, women who gets 400 micrograms (0.4 milligrams) daily prior to conception and during early pregnancy reduce the risk that their baby will be born with a neural tube defect (a birth defect involving incomplete development of the brain and spinal cord) by up to 70%.

The most common neural tube defects are spina bifida (an incomplete closure of the spinal cord and spinal column), anencephaly (severe underdevelopment of the brain), and encephalocele (when brain tissue protrudes out to the skin from an abnormal opening in the skull).