There is a fascinating and growing body of science supporting that what a mother eats during pregnancy can have a significant impact on the risk of her child developing various diseases. A “first of its kind” study from the University of Netherlands looked at how eating different foods during pregnancy affected the risk of eczema and asthma in childhood. Curiously, apples and fish stood out prominently as protective foods. Specifically, children of women who ate fish once or more a week were 43% less likely to experience eczema than those who never ate fish. (Please note that pregnant women should strictly avoid shark, marlin, king mackerel, tile fish, and swordfish). Those whose mothers consumed 4 or more apples a week were 53% less likely to be diagnosed with asthma vs. those whose mothers ate one or less apples a week (American Thoracic Society’s International Conference, San Francisco May 2007). More on what to eat when you are pregnant can be found at my website along with many other free articles.
There is perhaps no other time in the lifespan of a human where nutrition has a greater impact than during fetal development. As such, I created my Dr. Ann’s Healthy Pregnancy Grocery List to empower and guide future and expectant mothers toward nutritional excellence.
In addition to eating healthy, exercise is also an important aspect of a healthy pregnancy. See the guidelines set forth by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (October 2008) below:
Healthy Pregnant Women – At least 2.5 hours of moderate aerobic activity a week through the time of delivery. Women who habitually engage in vigorous aerobic activity prior to pregnancy can continue this level of activity through delivery as long as they remain healthy and discuss with their healthcare provider the need for possible adjustments over time.
Having been blessed with four healthy children, Dr. Ann has plenty of personal experience with pregnancy and doing everything possible to maximize her nutrition and health throughout this important process. For her personal exercise regimen check out Dr. Ann’s profile and advice for the The Mommy MD Guides!
