The significance of Diversified Nutritious Diet in Pregnancy

Intake of a nutritious diet during pregnancy is quite Important. Why so, various scientific publications on the concerned subject reported that if the mother's diet is deficient in nutrients it will impact both mother and infant's nutritional status. The mother may suffer from child loss, Gestational Diabetes, Pre-eclampsia during pregnancy, and in the case of children there is the impact on cognitive development, Insulin resistance later life, and adiposities'. 

Neural Tube defect chances are increased in infants born to mothers who are suffering from a folic acid deficiency at the time of conception and severe anemia during pregnancy leads to poor birth outcomes. So, it's critical for women of reproductive age groups to keep a check on iron and folic acid levels. If the diet is deficient in these two micronutrients. supplement of iron and folic acid are to be taken on regular bases as per recommendations. In the case of pregnancy iron and folic acid supplement as recommended by gynecologists. 

What are key considerations when we talk about diet in pregnancy is both the quality and quantity of diet an individual is taking during that period to provide wholesome nourishment to both fetus and mother in due Course.

Key points of concern for diet during Pregnancy

• Eat a diversified diet to fulfill the body's nutritional requirements.
• Prefer the locally grown food, Fruits and Vegetable.
• Try to incorporate milk and milk products like curd, chach, panner, whey water, and sesame seeds into your diet. They are a dietary source of calcium.
• Seasonal fruits and vegetables to be included in the daily diet.
• Always eat cereal with a combination of pulse to improve the nutritional quality of the diet.
• Green leafy vegetables like methi, spinach, colocasia leaves, mint, and coriander leaves to be included in the diet as they are sources of dietary iron.
•  Two servings of dal in the daily diet. If you are a vegetarian. 
• Incorporate Egg, Chicken Fish in your diet if Non-Vegetarian
• Nuts to be included in diet like almonds, Walnuts, and Peanuts.
• Avoid excess intake of tea and coffee during pregnancy.
• Say no to intake of nicotine, and alcohol during the duration of pregnancy and lactation.
• Give preference to home-cooked food that is freshly prepared.
• Try two incorporate three main meals and three snack meals into your daily diet.
• Proper hand hygiene is a key concern while preparation of meals and at eating time to avoid illness.
• Give preference to fortified cereals with iron, Folic acid, Vitamin B12, and Milk and Milk products fortified with Vitamin A and D as per FSSAI guidelines.

In summary, a diversified balanced diet including all food groups should be preferred to provide your body with all micronutrients and macronutrients that are essential in pregnancy and for women's overall health. Such as  Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Vitamin C, Niacin, Folic acid, Zinc, copper, Iron, Selenium, Calcium, and Iodine.

I would suggest consulting a qualified Dietitian to plan a healthy eating plan for pregnant mothers will be fruitful. She will consider her body weight, nutritional status, medical history, medicine intake history, food allergies and intolerance, food availability, affordability, accessibility, taste preference, and meal combinations that enhance nutrient absorption, likes, and dislikes to plan a healthy eating regime.