Healthy advice for pregnant women
Every mother and father naturally wants the best for their children and health is always the number one priority. Parents should also make sure their own health is in the best possible condition before conception, for the sake of their newborn.
Thankfully, many mothers continue to look after their health throughout their pregnancy, to make sure their child has the best chance of being born healthy and happy.
Experts say that this kind of vigilance and proactive responsibility has a dramatic affect on the baby's health.
Robert Beson, the CEO of Microbioflora, which produces Progurt (a probiotic food), is a strong advocate of healthy eating for pregnant women because of the impact these eating habits can have on the baby.
“When a woman becomes pregnant she needs to adopt a new attitude to everything she consumes. She needs to see that everything she eats and drinks become building blocks of cells for the new infant. The quality/functionality of the seven trillion cells, or more, that make up the new infant will have been affected by the ingredients ingested and digested by the mother during pregnancy.
“Plus, during pregnancy and after the birth of the baby, women should also adopt an extreme attitude towards hygiene. For example, all fruit and vegetables should be washed prior to consumption to remove any toxins that could be harmful to the child. Throughout their pregnancy, women should stay away from any chemicals and sprays of any kind that may cause harm to the developing child.”
Beson recommends that when women are pregnant they should avoid processed foods in preference to fresh foods. “If it has a barcode, think twice. Try to eat as much fresh food as possible, such as fruits, vegetables (all washed), green leafy salads, as well as ocean fish from Australian waters and grains. Enjoy as much, or as little, quality sea salt as preferred. (The Japanese consume 20 to 25 grams/4 to 5 teaspoons daily).
“Women should also minimally consume meat (grass fed is recommended), chicken (free range/ biodynamic only) bread and pasta. Avoid all alcohol and tobacco products. These should be considered as toxic to your developing baby.
Always think and behave responsibly towards your unborn child.”
He adds that the lifestyle of women during pregnancy should be calm and happy. Beson says that listening to calming sounds can be very relaxing, such as your favourite classical music or environmental music; the sounds of birds; the surf or other preferred sounds.
“Walk and breathe fresh air and enjoy abundant sunlight. Eating probiotics is also a good idea for pregnant women because it improves digestion, nutrition and absorption; which are all the fundamentals of good health. Progurt is an exceptional example of a functional probiotic food that can be consumed in large amounts during pregnancy to improve hydration, digestion and absorption.”
When the baby is born, Beson also advises the new mother to continue her healthy prenatal diet. He says she should also make sure she carries on ingesting higher levels of electrolytes, such as quality sea salt in cooking and on foods.
“Additionally, I would recommend that she consumes fermented vegetables, such as sauerkraut, Kim chi and Japanese type pickles. A
bove all, she should enjoy and spend time with the wonderful miracle of God that is her newborn baby.
“But no food is superior to breast milk. Breastfeed your baby for as long as possible, and more than the mandatory recommended 12 months, if possible (24 to 36 months). The benefits of breast milk cannot be overstated. This God-given source of nourishment for your baby will help him/her thrive throughout infancy and its beneficial affects to the immune system will contribute towards a lifetime of good health.
“Breastfeeding is a source of continued hydration for the infant and may help save the infant's life in the event of a gastro-intestinal infection such as gastro-enteritis. It also makes for much happier babies. But my best advice for new mothers and fathers is to give your baby ‘lots of love’. Provide your infant with as much love and tenderness as you can, and as much attention and time as possible. You can never ‘overdo’ it. This time together should never be a chore, but a source of great joy instead."
In regard to Progurt, Beson says that if the mother consumes it whilst she is pregnant, the baby will benefit indirectly.
“There is no substitute for breast milk; not even Progurt. After the child is weaned off it, or from three to five years of age, they may begin direct consumption of Progurt. Children are one of life’s greatest blessings. To be able to influence their health and happiness is a privilege and a responsibility that can bring a lifetime of joy.”
If you would like to ask us anymore questions about how pregnant women can keep their health optimised during pregnancy, please email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
It is very important to the health of pregnant women.