If there’s ever a time to take control and focus on a healthy diet, pregnancy is the time. What a woman eats while pregnant is the main source of nourishment for her growing baby so it’s important to focus on eating nutrient dense foods and drinking lots of clean, filtered water. While there’s no magic formula for what to eat while pregnant, there are a few nutrients that a mom-to-be needs to make sure she gets enough of: calcium, folate, iron and protein.1
Calcium is needed for strong bones as well as for important body systems like circulatory, muscular and nervous systems. If a pregnant woman does not get enough calcium, it will be leached from her bones. Calcium is found in high levels in many dairy products but is also found in non-dairy foods such as seeds and nuts, beans and lentils, and leafy greens.2
Folic acid (folate) is a crucial B vitamin necessary to help prevent birth defects in the baby’s brain and spinal cord. Though folic acid is found in foods such as leafy greens, fortified cereals, beans, and citrus fruits, it may be hard to get enough from diet alone. Folate is added into pre-natal vitamins which should ideally be taken daily starting three months before conception.
Along with supplementing with a pre-natal multivitamin, Hawaiian Spirulina is a safe supplement to take during pregnancy to help with protein and iron intake. The nutrients found in spirulina are easy to digest since spirulina doesn’t contain a cell wall. This means that when you eat spirulina, your body will absorb many of the nutrients instead of being processed out of your body too quickly.
The protein found in Hawaiian Spirulina is a complete protein, containing all essential and non-essential amino acids. A 3-gram serving (just a teaspoon) of Hawaiian Spirulina provides 2 grams of protein. While 2 grams may seem like a small amount, consuming a daily serving of spirulina in a smoothie is an easy way to up your protein intake as a pregnant woman needs around 71 grams of protein per day to help support baby’s growth.3
Iron deficiency is common in pregnancy, especially in the later half. When a woman is pregnant, her blood volume increases significantly, about a whopping 50%4! In order for the body to support more blood production, iron intake needs to be increased since it is a key component in blood composition. The extra blood in a pregnant woman’s body is needed to help supply the baby with oxygen. Hawaiian Spirulina contains 3 milligrams of iron per a 3-gram serving. The daily recommendation for iron during pregnancy is 27 grams. While prenatal vitamins contain iron, spirulina is a great plant-based option for vegetarians and vegans to get an extra few grams. To help maximize iron absorption, take with fruits that contain vitamin C.
A healthy diet and a quality multi-vitamin are vital during pregnancy. For more added nutrition, include Hawaiian Spirulina, nature’s superfood supplement, to help support a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby.
Be a Safe and Informed Consumer: Work with your health care professional to determine how best to achieve optimal health. And as always, please consult with your health care professional before taking any supplements.
References:
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/pregnancy-nutrition/art-20045082
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/15-calcium-rich-foods#section16
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/pregnancy-nutrition/art-20045082
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/4075604/