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Pregnancy and Dietary Supplements – Why taking dietary supplements during pregnancy and their safety
All the necessary nutrients for healthy development of your baby can be obtained through food and if eating diversified and nutrient-rich foods you probably do not need any dietary supplements. However, if you do not like particular foods which contain essential nutrients for healthy development of the baby or if you believe you might be short on certain vitamins and minerals it might be wise to consider taking vitamin or dietary supplements to provide your baby optimal conditions for healthy growth and development.
Vitamin supplements can be bought over-the-counter in every pharmacy but before choosing one you are highly recommended to consult with your health provider. Developing baby requires increased intake of vitamins B1, B2, B9 (folic acid), C and D, folic acid, iron and iodine, and the recommended daily dosage of the other essential nutrients such as calcium, essential fatty acids, magnesium, etc. All mentioned nutrients are highly important for healthy development of your baby but you should keep in mind that too much of vitamins can be harmful as well. For example, high vitamin A intake may result in toxicity and cause birth defects. Pregnant women are widely recommended to avoid or reduce consumption of foods high in vitamin A such as liver which means you probably should not use vitamin supplements containing high amounts of vitamin A. You should also keep in mind that dietary supplement are not regulated by the FDA . Consult with your health provider about safety and which type and brand of dietary supplement would be the best for you before starting to take anything.
Zinc: its immunity thanks!
Zinc is a trace element present in some foods and is working to dimunuição of colds, flu and other diseases so common in winter. In addition, zinc helps with important functions in our body such as reproduction, participates in some chemical reactions, among other functions.
It is important, then, consume some sources of this mineral every day. Want to know what are they?
So here goes: meat, and the red is much, whole grains, seeds (Brazil nut, cashew, walnuts, almonds), seeds, legumes (beans, chickpeas, peas) are foods rich in zinc and very important for our food.
Just a tip: consume in moderation food rich in zinc as they can increase appetite.
What are phytochemicals?
These substances as strange name, nowadays there is much spoken today by being powerful in preventing some diseases. But, after all, what are phytochemicals? Are biologically active compounds, nutrients or non-nutrients, naturally occurring in plant foods. They can be ingested in certain quantities and show potential to modify the human metabolism in a way favorable to the prevention of cancer and other degenerative diseases. The average intake of photochemical is approximately 1 g to 1.5 g / day in a diet that includes fruits, vegetables, tea and red wine. As protection against cancer, chemicals plant-based form of detoxification drugs, toxins, carcinogens and mutagens, neutralizing free radicals, inhibiting enzymes that activate and induce enzymes that detoxify carcinogens. It also seems to reduce the risk of heart disease by its antioxidant effect, reducing the synthesis or absorption of cholesterol and affecting blood pressure and clotting. The major classes of phytochemicals are:
- Terpenes: They are found in a wide variety of plant foods, act as powerful antioxidants and are a major class of phytonutrients. A subclass of terpenes are the carotenoids, which are plant pigments color yellow, orange and red. The most prevalent carotenoids: alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, betacriptoxantina, lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin, are found in apricots, papaya, sweet potatoes, mangoes, corn, strawberries, carrots, tomatoes, parsley, orange and spinach.
- Phenols: They have as a subclass of the flavonoids, which are plant pigments of blue, red and violet blue, anthocyanins, the pigments that give red to blue blueberries (blueberries blue), cherries, grapes, grape bunch, currant, red cabbage and raspberries, quercetin, an antioxidant flavonoid found in foods such as apples and onions and the famous isoflavones, a subclass of phenol found in beans and other legumes, especially soy foods and soy. Isoflavones act against cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, cognitive impairment, cardiovascular disease and effects of menopause, including the reduction of risk of heart disease.
- Thiol: Phytonutrient that contains sulfur, is found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale and cabbage. Studies have found an inverse relationship between the consumption of broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage and cancer risk, and this combination is most consistent for lung, stomach, colon and rectum. Organossulforados compounds are also found in the family of garlic or onion, like garlic and leeks. Garlic is considered protective against cardiovascular disease by reducing the concentration of serum cholesterol and blood pressure.