| The whole nine
yards for the whole nine months
There is nothing more important to a woman
when she’s expecting a new baby than issues of
good health. You are dedicated to the health and fitness
of the pregnant and postpartum “you” as
well as your baby - before, during and after your pregnancy.
Safe workouts, nutrition guidance, the latest medical
news, and overall pregnancy “do’s and don’ts”
are of utmost importance to you. Being pregnant requires
you to look after yourself even more than usual –
no smoking and drinking, healthy foods, regular rest
and moderate exercise.
Calcium is an important nutrient for pregnant women
to meet the needs of a growing fetus and during lactation
to compensate for calcium secreted in breast milk. Because
your baby's calcium demands are high, you should increase
your calcium consumption to prevent a loss of calcium
from your own bones. Your body’s entire skeletal
system and your teeth are composed of calcium. If your
body isn’t getting enough calcium through your
diet, your body and your baby will take what it needs
from your bones to make up for it. Other research shows
that calcium deficiencies can also lead to preeclampsia,
a condition during pregnancy characterized by high blood
pressure, swelling, and weight gain greater than one
pound per day. Studies show the risk of preeclampsia
is between 45% and 74% lower for women who received
calcium supplementation. (Article>>)
Besides bones, calcium is needed by every cell in the
body. Calcium encourages a strong, steady heartbeat,
keeps blood pumping efficiently and maintains nerves
and muscles. In addition, new studies suggest that diets
higher in foods containing calcium can help promote
healthy blood pressure and help maintain ideal body
weight. Calcium pretty much helps keep your whole body
working the way it should! According to the American
Dietetic Association (ADA), however, most women do not
get adequate calcium. High intakes of caffeine, alcohol,
sodium and protein compound the problem. (Article>>)
To ensure you’re getting all the calcium you need
everyday to keep your body strong and healthy, there’s
Adora. Adora™ calcium supplements are made with
premium, all-natural milk or dark chocolate to satisfy
those powerful chocolate cravings. Because Adora’s
unique formulation includes Vitamins D2 and K1, which
are not from animal sources, Adora is a wonderful option
for vegetarians. Vitamins D2 and K1 also enhance your
body’s ability to use the extra calcium Adora
provides.
Chocolate in pregnancy keeps baby happy
10:55
07 April 2004
Exclusive from New Scientist Print Edition
James Randerson
Expectant mothers can take heart this Easter. Tucking
into chocolate eggs is good for the baby, according to
a study of over 300 women - especially if you are feeling
a bit on edge.
Katri Raikkonen at the University of Helsinki, Finland,
and her colleagues asked pregnant women to rate their
stress levels and chocolate consumption.
After the babies were born, they looked for an association
between the amount of chocolate their mothers had eaten
and the babies' behaviour. Six months after birth, the
researchers asked mothers to rate their infants' behaviour
in various categories, including fear, soothability, smiling
and laughter.
The babies born to women who had been eating chocolate
daily during pregnancy were more active and "positively
reactive" - a measure that encompasses traits such
as smiling and laughter.
And the babies of stressed women who had regularly consumed
chocolate showed less fear of new situations than babies
of stressed women who abstained.
The researchers point out that they cannot rule out the
possibility that chocolate consumption and baby behaviour
are both linked with some other factor.
But they speculate that the effects they observed could
result from chemicals in chocolate associated with positive
mood being passed on to the baby in the womb.
Journal reference: Early Human Development (vol
76, p 139)
|
|
|
Calcium is an essential mineral the body
needs for strong bones and teeth. Calcium
also promotes a steady, strong heartbeat,
keeps blood pumping efficiently and maintains
nerves and muscles.
|
|
 |
|
