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Tag Archives: Vitamins
Sep 4 2010

Vitamins and Minerals Help to Get Pregnant!

by Charlotte

Vitamins and Minerals Help to Get Pregnant!

If you are seeking help to get pregnant you may be feeling a little overwhelmed and confused by the amount of information available on which vitamins and minerals to take. That they are vital in achieving our goal of a heathy baby however, there is no doubt. In many of the books giving advice on how to get pregnant a high quality "preconception care" product is recommended that contains higher than normal dosages of "certain minerals". But which product should be chosen?

Zinc deficiency is cited as being strongly linked to infertility and so checking you have the right levels of zinc is also recommended by many pregnancy experts to help to get pregnant. Pyrroloquinoline quinone or (PPQ), a recently discovered vitamin, has been linked to having a role in fertility. The research however was carried out on PPQ-deprived mice and, since humans and mice have vastly different pregnancy mechanisms,it is thought now that there is no definitive evidence that PPQ can help to get pregnant.

It is my opinion however that the vitmains and minerals needed not only to help to get pregnant but to have a healthy pregnancy are mainly found in adequate supply in a balanced diet.

Eating a balanced diet before pregnancy means that your body has all the stores of vitamins and minerals it needs to help to get pregnant, carry a baby to full term and produce a beautiful baby. A nutritious, well-balanced diet that will help to get pregnant includes:

-plenty of fruit and vegetables (at least five portions per day), which provide vitamins and fibre.
-starchy foods such as potatoes and whole grain cereals, bread and pasta-protein such as lean meat, fish and pulses
-dairy foods such as milk and yoghurt, which supply calcium.

It is best to limit your intake of sugary, salty and fatty foods.

There are certain foods that you should not eat pre-pregnancy because they may make you ill or harm the baby if you were to fall pregnant. This includes unpasteurised dairy products, liver and large quantites of vitamin A such as fish liver oils, unpasteurised dairy products, raw or soft cooked eggs, pates, soft cheeses such as Brie or Camembert, blue cheeses such as stilton or roquefort, swordfish, marlin or shark, any more than two tuna steaks (170g raw) or four tins of tuna (140g drained) per week.

Folic acid, although it will not directly help to get pregnant, is the ONLY pre-pregnancy vitamin I would recommend for women who are eating a balanced diet. You need adeaquate amounts of folic acid to reduce the risk of your baby being born with a neural tube defect such as spina bifida. It is important that you start to take folic as soon as you start trying for a baby. The recommended dose is 400 micrograms (0.4 mg) daily in addition to the recommended intake of 200 micrograms (0.2mg) in your diet. Good sources of folic acid include dark green, fresh vegetables such as broccoli, peas, brussels sprouts and chick peas. Many breakfast cereals are fortified with folic acid and it is also found in wholemeal bread.

The aim of this article has ben to show that the vitamins and minerals that help to get pregnant and make for a healthy pregnancy are found in a balanced diet. This has hopefully taken away the confusion surrounding which vitamins and minerals to take. The only pre-pregnancy supplement needed is folic acid, not so much for it's help to get pregnant but for the reduction in neural tube deficiencies it affords to the babies of those who take it.

Read on for more help to get pregnant and click here

Categories: Getting Pregnant | No Comments »

Sep 2 2010

Top Prenatal Vitamins For Getting Pregnant After 40

by Charlotte

Top Prenatal Vitamins For Getting Pregnant After 40

Increasing chances of getting pregnant can be important, especially for women over 40. Taking the top prenatal vitamins is one of the best tricks to getting pregnant fast. Below you'll find a recommended prenatal vitamin for every situation, plus some additional help on your quest in trying to conceive a baby.

The good news is that pregnancy after 40 isn't as difficult as it used to be. A getting pregnant calendar should be your first step: make sure you carefully mark the days of your cycle in order to maximize your chances. Knowing your ovulation date is the single most important factor when it comes to conceiving a child, so make sure you and your partner are aware of when these days are.

The best pregnancy food to eat includes anything that will help you stay energized. Balance proteins such as meats, fish, eggs and poultry against healthy carbohydrates like fruit, nuts, and whole grains or cereals. Drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated, and try to increase your physical activity so that you're getting at least 30 minutes of exercise each day. Getting pregnant after 40 requires your body to be in the best possible shape, both for you and your future baby.

The best pregnancy vitamins include supplements that your body may no longer be getting enough of. As a woman advances in age her metabolism decreases, and the breaking down of food and nutrients isn't as efficient as it used to be. Trying to conceive a baby while your body is deficient of essential minerals can be an uphill battle, which is why the following recommended prenatal vitamin regimen should be considered:

* Folic Acid - This supplement is a must have. It's the number one pre-pregnancy vitamin prescribed to women of any age, and it's an important part of early fetal development. You should make sure Folic Acid is at the top of your list.

* Iron - Getting enough iron can be a problem as you get older. For women who are anemic, iron is especially important. Make sure you're getting your daily recommended allowance.

* Calcium - As you probably already know, calcium breakdown can be a common female problem as age increases. Ovulation and getting pregnant requires that you get more than enough of this vital element.

* DHA - Many top prenatal vitamins include docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). This is an omega-3 fatty acid normally found in fish that is important for brain and heart development and health. Because women trying to become pregnant often limit their intake of fish due to concerns about mercury, they sometimes miss out on getting enough DHA in their diet. Make up for it here.

* Alpha Lipoic Acid - Essential to producing energy at a cellular level, C0Q10 and alpha lipoic acid are fairly expensive and not commonly found in most prenatal supplements... but these nutrients can have incredibly powerful effects on your body's function. If you can work these into your budget, they're certainly worth it.

* Zinc - Want to really boost fertility? Zinc has been shown to do just that, in numerous studies. It can be taken while trying to get pregnant in order to stimulate fertility and you should continue to take it while pregnant to help in the development in your baby's tissues.

* Vitamin B6 - Not only do the B-complex vitamins help give you an energy boost, but this particular supplement has been proven to decrease symptoms of morning sickness. By increasing chances of getting pregnant with this mineral, you're also helping out with how you'll feel once you've already conceived.

No matter how old you are, it's never a bad idea to be on the best pregnancy vitamin plan possible. It's also important to realize that there are foods that you should avoid while trying to get pregnant, and over the counter medications and herbal remedies that could be counterproductive to having a baby. On the flip side of the coin, there are many that can actually help in Getting pregnant after 40.

For more information, check out these tricks to getting pregnant. And for the best baby and pregnancy advice, be sure to visit Baby Pregnancy Guide!

Categories: Getting Pregnant | No Comments »

Aug 28 2010

The Right Pregnancy Vitamins For You & Your Baby

by Charlotte

The Right Pregnancy Vitamins For You & Your Baby

A well-balanced supplementation program helps ensure optimum health among pregnant women. In today's hectic schedule, pregnant women depend on prenatal vitamins to complete the nutritional requirements of a healthy pregnancy. With the correct prenatal vitamins, both mother and baby reduce their risk of suffering the consequences of vitamin and mineral deficiency, which can impede the development of the foetus inside the womb. For women who are tuned into nutrition and are in the habit of eating a broad range of foods, their diet will deliver most of the essential nutrients needed for a healthy pregnancy. However, realistically, healthy diet alone cannot provide everything that the body needs. This is especially true among pregnant women who are carrying multiples such as twins or triplets. Hence, pregnancy vitamins serve as the insurance policy that ensures that pregnant women gets the nutrition that they need.

Pregnancy vitamins work in a similar way to any other multi-vitamins. However, pregnancy supplements have special requirements. They are usually focused on three essential nutrients: folic acid, calcium, and iron. Getting enough folic acid helps prevent or significantly reduces the risk of birth defect, particularly on the brain and spinal cord or neural tube. This minimizes the risk of leaving the child with varying degrees of paralysis, incontinence and mental disability or cognitive disorders. Calcium is an essential nutrient that helps to maintain normal bone density in the mother, while the foetus uses her calcium 'reserves' for bone growth. Iron is what ensures that both the mother and the baby have enough oxygen in the blood. Therefore, deficiencies of these 3 essential nutrients pose serious health risks for both the mother and the baby.

Pregnancy vitamins also contain a combination of these other helpful nutrients. Vitamin C supports the normal growth of the baby, aids tissue repair and healing, and builds strong bones and teeth. It also plays an important role in the absorption of iron. B vitamins are recommended in increasing B6 levels, which helps boost the immune system and prevents neural tube defects especially during the first trimester, which is a crucial developmental phase for the baby. Vitamins B1 and B2 hastens the body's ability to process carbohydrates, fat, and protein. They are important in compensating for the mothers bodys increased demand for energy.

Also, vitamin B5 is essential in regulating the body's adrenal activity and antibody production. Lack of it may slow down the development of the baby in the womb. Vitamin B6 is vital for the foetus' brain development and vitamin B12 helps maintain normal nerve functions of the baby. Biotin helps lower the risk of birth defects, zinc boosts immunity and defence against free radicals, and magnesium promotes healthy bones and optimum blood pressure.

While pregnancy vitamins provide all the needed nutrients, vitamins alone will do no good. It has to go with a well-balanced diet. Pregnancy supplements do not contain any essential fatty acids. DHA and Omega 3 fatty acids play crucial roles in the development of your baby's brain, nerve and eye tissue. These nutrients can only be sourced from foods such as trout, salmon, and other cold-water fish as well as dairy products. If you are taking medications, these vitamins may interact with the drugs you are taking and might cause serious health concerns. It would be best to consult your primary care physician or obstetrician before starting a prenatal vitamin supplement.

For the health of your unborn child, make sure you get the right information on pregnancy vitamins pregnancy nutrition advice!

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