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Snacking during pregnancy, nutritionists warn of mistakes millions of pregnant mothers make

Occasionally snacking on a piece of chocolate or pizza won’t harm a pregnant woman, although it’s still a good idea to limit your consumption of these foods as much as possible.

Pregnant with her first child, Lan Anh craves sweets and gets hungry very quickly. Although she had just finished her lunch, at 2pm she felt her stomach boil from hunger. Even once busy with work, Lan Anh was only an hour late to eat, but when he stood up, he was dizzy, his limbs were weak. She had to hastily suck on a candy to wake her up before continuing to go out to lunch.

So every time she comes back from lunch, she usually buys a cup of milk tea, or a spare box of cakes. In the desk drawer, she also regularly stores cakes, candies, and chocolates in case she is hungry.

Snacking during pregnancy, nutritionists warn of mistakes millions of pregnant mothers make
Snacking during pregnancy, nutritionists warn of mistakes millions of pregnant mothers make

Lan Anh’s snacking needs are the same as many other pregnant women. Some people crave salty, fried, and fried foods (fried spring rolls, dried chicken, beef jerky, pizza, snacks, etc.), but some pregnant women only like to eat sweets (candies, chocolates, milk teas, etc.) …)

However, BS. Hoai Thu, of the Vietnam Institute of Applied Medicine emphasized that eating junk food may not be a good choice because pregnant women need nutrient-rich foods for themselves and their developing fetus.

Why should you limit junk food during pregnancy?

Explaining this, Dr. Hoai Thu said that pregnant women and children at this stage need good nutrition during pregnancy for the mother to gain healthy weight and provide for the development of the brain, bones, organs and systems. immunity in children.

Junk foods have low nutritional value, so they don’t provide all the nutrients needed during pregnancy. If you eat a lot of junk food, you will likely feel full and will no longer want to eat the nutritious foods you need. Many junk foods are high in sugar, salt, fat and cholesterol, and should not be eaten in excess during pregnancy.

Accordingly, an animal study is thought to be able to explain how a mother’s diet can influence a child’s eating preferences. Research shows that rats that eat high-fat food during pregnancy have heavier pups, preferring fatty foods. However, a balanced diet showed that the pups had less cravings for fatty foods.

In addition, pregnant women crave sweets with high sugar content in their diet which can lead to allergies and asthma. According to a child study of women who ate a lot of foods with added sugars in the form of sucrose, high-fructose corn syrup, fruit juices or honey in their diets during pregnancy, increased risk of allergic reactions. allergies and asthma between the ages of 7 and 9.

“One study concluded that maternal high fat or sugar consumption leads to impaired peripheral insulin signaling due to mitochondrial dysfunction in offspring. And this can be passed on to the next three generations,” said Dr. Hoai Thu.

Notably, eating too much junk food during pregnancy can lead to excessive weight gain, which can put both mother and baby at risk of various complications such as preeclampsia, low birth weight babies. excessive weight, premature labor, gestational diabetes, sleep apnea, increased risk of birth defects, miscarriage and stillbirth.

In addition, eating too much fried food can upset your stomach, causing bloating, gas and indigestion. Meanwhile, many junk foods lack fiber content, which is necessary for bowel movements.

Junk food is often high in sugar and calories. Studies have revealed that junk food consumption increases the risk of gestational diabetes.

How to control junk food cravings?

First, you need to understand that you should eat healthy foods during pregnancy to promote the health of you and your unborn baby.

You can avoid unhealthy junk food by adding healthy healthy snacks to your kitchen counter. Grilled food is healthier than fried food. So you can bake some at home and enjoy your snacks without any additives and preservatives.

Also, whenever you feel like chewing, opt for nuts or dried or fresh fruit. These foods will help you satisfy your hunger as well as provide you with the nutrients you need.

“What you eat is what your child gets. Make a list of the foods you eat and determine their nutritional content. This can help you become more aware of the nutritional content of foods.

Occasionally snacking on a piece of chocolate or pizza won’t harm you or your baby; However, you should still limit the consumption of these foods as much as possible.

Junk foods often have attractive flavors and colors that make you crave them often. However, eating junk food too often during pregnancy is not a good choice. Pregnant women need foods rich in nutrients to provide for themselves and their unborn baby,” emphasized Dr. Hoai Thu.

In addition, the dietitian emphasized that junk food is low in nutrients and can increase the risk of problems such as gestational diabetes and digestive problems.

Fruits, nuts and yogurt are good choices for your snack. However, eating a burger or pizza every once in a while won’t do you any harm. Enjoy your pregnancy, pamper yourself from time to time and remember to take care of your health.

N. Huyen

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