Pregnancy Nutrition: Natural Foods Diet Benefit You And Your Baby

Pregnancy nutrition differs a lot from regular nutrition. A woman who is used to eating healthy natural food, will usually understand pregnancy nutrition better and she will make the right food choices. Yet, for other women the nine months of pregnancy may be a fight against junk food or a surrender to it. By natural nutrition we refer to those foods that have not passed through a too complex manufacturing process and which do not contain chemicals like additives, preservers or colorants.

A pregnant woman' s body needs are special. She uses a lot more calories per day, a larger amount of nutrients, and these can only be taken from a balanced diet that includes plenty of dairy products, protein, fruit and vegetables, pasta and breads and healthy fat from seeds, cold - pressed oil, nuts, almonds or hazelnuts. There are many guides available for pregnancy nutrition, because you have to be careful not to eat some foods too. We can call these the dos and don'ts of pregnancy nutrition.

Raw eggs as prepared in mayonnaise or eggnog are dangerous because they can contain salmonella, a bacterium that can cause digestive infections.

Ocean fish accumulates mercury in the tissues, and this mineral is highly toxic for both you and your baby.

Raw fish like in sushi dishes is one other example of foods that can make you ill.

Junk food, sweets, soft drinks, alcohol and coffee are also far from what we call healthy pregnancy nutrition.

Keep a middle course for your diet and there will not be any problems. You can have an ice - cream or a bar of chocolate when you crave for it, but these are not substitutes for healthy meals. Your baby needs quality nutrients to grow and it cannot find them in such pseudo - foods. Thus, even if the caloric needs are higher, you have to consume calories in the form of nutritious foods.

Junk food is full of calories, yet it will do you no good at all, on the contrary. The specificity of pregnancy nutrition may differ depending on the different stages of pregnancy. While you are nauseous during the first four months, the food choices will usually be limited to those that your body tolerates.

Pregnancy nutrition improves with the second trimester, when you will feel a lot of energy and you will eat heartily. This is the perfect time to give your body plenty of quality nutrients to grow your baby well.