Pregnancy is one of the most exciting moments in a woman’s life and it’s a time when she needs to pay attention to everything – such as nutrition – that can affect the development of the young life inside her.
From the very early stages of pregnancy, the nutritional needs of the expectant mother change, less in terms of calories and more in terms of vitamins and minerals that the fetus also needs during this period. One of the most important things to take, especially at the beginning and even before conception, is folic acid. It’s best to take this in its active form (vitamin B9), which is natural and immediately bioavailable, and is essential for the healthy development of the central nervous system of the fetus. In order for the bodies of the mother and child to accurately use active folate, it’s important to properly integrate other vitamins and minerals (micronutrients), such as Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, Vitamin A and vitamin D. Important minerals include Zinc, Calcium, Magnesium and Iodine. Iron supplementation is also very important. This need increases during pregnancy, but the quantity introduced by daily diet alone may not be sufficient and may result in deficiency. Always ask your gynecologist for advice before buying a supplement.
Making sure to properly integrate the most essential micronutrients during this delicate period goes hand in hand with paying greater attention to food quality. Be careful what you choose: your baby’s health also depends on what you bring to the table. It is often pregnancy that makes a woman more aware of her present and future food choices. This is the right opportunity for you too!
