Pregnancy and diet
Pregnancy and diet
You’re most likely thinking more than usual about what you can and can’t eat. The good news is current healthy eating advice applies during pregnancy so continue to aim for a balanced diet which includes five portions of fruit and vegetables each day. Below is a quick guide to the nutrition dos and don’ts:
- Eating for two is a myth. Although it may be tempting to double your calorie intake, you don’t need to increase the amount you eat until the last three months of your pregnancy. Eat about 200 extra calories (the equivalent to an extra two slices of toast with margarine or butter) each day to support your growing baby. More than 1 in 10 women are unsure if calorie intake during pregnancy should be doubled to support the growing foetus.
- You can continue to eat meat, eggs and dairy products but avoid mould-ripened cheese such as brie and camembert. You should also refrain from eating liver and liver products as they have a high vitamin A content (which can harm your baby) and all types of pâté (including vegetable pate) as they can contain listeria. There is no need to avoid starchy foods such as potatoes and pasta, and wholegrain varieties are rich in folate (the natural form of folic acid important for baby’s spinal development).
- Recent research found that 1 in 4 women are unsure whether it is safe to eat nuts during pregnancy. Current advice recommends eating nuts as part of a healthy diet during pregnancy. Whilst there’s been conflicting advice in the past, the latest guidelines conclude that if you want to eat peanuts (or foods containing peanuts such as peanut butter) during your pregnancy, you can do so unless you’re allergic to them or a health professional advises you otherwise.
- There are a few things to consider when eating fish and fish products. Current guidelines say you shouldn’t eat marlin, shark or swordfish or more than two portions of oily fish a week (for example, mackerel, trout or fresh tuna) or more than four cans of tuna (around 140g per can). This is because they contain high levels of mercury that can harm your baby’s developing nervous system. You should also avoid raw shellfish.
Dulcobalance is the product in our range suitable for pregnant and breast-feeding women however you should always speak to your doctor before taking any medicines in pregnancy.
Be gentle!