The Best Supplements for Pregnant Women
If you’ve been taking natural supplements for awhile, is it safe for you to keep taking them while you’re pregnant?
The common answer is yes—but only if those supplements contain vitamins and minerals and not herbs. Many women take prenatal vitamins under the advice of their doctors to get extra folic acid into their systems. Folic acid (also known as folate) has been shown to decrease the risk of birth defects, in particular spina bifida.
Pregnant women need more nutrients than non-pregnant women. Their bodies are sustaining the healthy development of a new life, and they will need to consume more protein, calories and other nutrients than normal. But remember, although you may be eating for two, you’re not eating for two fully-grown adults! Dieticians advise that a woman only needs to eat an additional 200 calories a day (roughly the amount of calories in a low-fat cup of yogurt, for example) to keep her baby healthy.
Other nutritional supplements that a pregnant woman may need to consider are:
Iron. Pregnant women can become anemic if they aren’t getting enough iron through their diets, so an...
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