SMART FOODS TO EAT DURING PREGNANCY

RESEARCH CONTRIBUTED BY DR. JENNIFER MOSS

The nurturing of your baby starts even before baby’s conception. Think of your body as the soil from which your child will grow from a seed into the beautiful being they are destined to become. A garden well fertilized and mulched is ready to sprout the seeds of spring flowers and summer harvests. A body full to the brim with vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients will also be ready to grow a beautiful healthy baby. Treat your body with the love and care and unconditional acceptance that you will your child. Your health (physical, emotional and spiritual) is as important for your well being and journey on this planet as it is for the well being of your child. The start of nurturing yourself and your baby comes from all that you feed your being - the foods, thoughts, emotions, experiences all become a part of every cell of your body as it moves through our ever changing growing life.

Here are a few nutritious foods for boosting the wellness of your body, mind and spirit. Nurture your body with whole, natural, unprocessed foods which your body understands and uses to keep the soil of your body healthy and full of life. The foods that we choose to support the growth of our physical energetic body must also resonate the life and energy that we wish for ourselves and our family.

ORGANIC
Choose certified organic foods when possible. If you can only choose some organic foods it is best to choose organic meats and oils as pesticides and other toxins concentrate in the oils of plants and animals.

The Atlantic Canadian Organic Regional Network explains what certified organic means to the quality of our foods and environment:

Certified Organic’ assures the consumer that the product has been produced according to regulated standards, which include, production without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, sewage sludge, irradiation to preserve food or genetically modified organisms or genetically engineered seed/stock. Livestock are not subjected to intensive feedlots, nor to antibiotics, medicated feed or growth hormones. Farmers also judiciously employ management techniques such as well-designed crop rotations, replenishment of organic matter, use of green manures and composting.
http://www.acornorganic.org/certification.html

AMARANTH
Amaranth is an ancient grain used originally by the Aztecs for its valuable nutritive value. Amaranth looks like tiny yellow, brown, and black seeds. Containing high levels of protein and calcium, amaranth is an excellent grain to choose for those with higher nutrient requirements such as pregnant and nursing moms. In fact, amaranth contains more calcium, and the supporting calcium cofactor magnesium, than milk.

Although amaranth is a very nutritious grain it us unfortunately not very tasty. The flavor is like graham crackers without the sweetness. Amaranth tastes best when used in recipes - mixed with other grains; as flour mixed with other flours; or as puffed cereal.

IRON
Keep your iron stores high and help to boost them up to prevent iron deficiency anemia and to ensure you have lots of energy for the go-go-go world of parenting with these iron rich foods:
◦ Dried fruits like raisins, apricots and prunes
◦ Seaweeds
◦ Molasses
◦ Dark leafy green vegetables like kale, collard greens, Swiss chard
◦ Free range Eggs
◦ Lean meats
◦ Kidney, lima and soy beans

OILS
Healthy oils are very important for optimum reproduction and infant brain development. Particularly the essential fatty acids – omega 3 and 6 found in flax and fish oils which promote healthy blood, nerves and arteries; boost immunity and are required for normal growth and energy. Choose cold pressed unrefined vegetable oils to ensure the sensitive essential fatty acids are not destroyed. Choose organic oils when possible and avoid trans fatty acids (ie margarine) as they lower the essential fatty acid status of both mothers and babies.

FOLIC ACID
Folic acid is a very important nutrient for women during childbearing years, as well as before and during pregnancy. During the first 13 weeks of pregnancy it prevents birth defects of the spine and brain such as spina bifida. Folic acid rich foods are the dark leafy greens such as:
◦ Kale
◦ Swiss chard
◦ Collard greens
◦ Spinach
◦ Turnip greens
◦ Mustard greens
◦ Beet greens
◦ Bok choy.

CALCIUM
When you think of calcium what is the first word that comes to mind? Milk? Milk does contain calcium but so do many other foods containing other important nutrients such as iron, fiber, folic acid and vitamin C. Here are a few calcium rich foods to keep in mind when you are thinking of boosting your calcium stores.
◦ Blackberries
◦ Currents, dried
◦ Dates, Figs, Raisins
◦ Papaya
◦ Beans sprouts
◦ Almonds
◦ Sardines, anchovies, salmon
◦ Leafy greens: beet greens (boiled), bok choy, collard greens, dandelion greens, kale, mustard greens, spinach, turnip greens
◦ Broccoli
◦ Butternut squash
◦ Chickpeas, lentils, fava beans, adzuki beans