Acupunctureby DoctorJulee
Nutrition During Pregnancy According To Chinese Medicine
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Choosing what to eat while you’re pregnant can be a challenge. At this stage, eating healthy isn't just about eating the right things, it also involves the foods to avoid and maintaining optimal health for you and your little one.
GENERAL GUIDELINES:
During pregnancy, it is very important not to “start a diet”, but to eat from all the food groups in a balanced and varied way. Try to achieve a healthy balance of nourishing foods including:- Lean meat or fish making sure to avoid farmed fish selections and choosing only wild caught to reduce the risk of mercury poisoning
- Fresh fruits and vegetables, especially citrus fruits and dark green vegetables, which contain folic acid
- Carbohydrates such as bread, pasta, grains, potatoes, and cereals
- Milk and other dairy products such as yogurt and cheese noting any food sensitivities and avoiding cow’s milk when appropriate (there’s tons of delicious non-dairy milk to choose from!)
- Plenty of water, as pregnancy can cause dehydration easily
TOP FOODS FOR PREGNANCY
As we mentioned above, eat a diet mainly of cooked easy to digest foods. Avoid cold food & drinks. This is the single most important recommendation I have for all my pregnant mothers!- Try to eat protein with most of your meals! Every single one of your baby’s tissues depends on protein for healthy growth: bones, muscles, skin, blood, hair, nails, organs, and connective tissue. It is the single most important macronutrient to include during this most precious time.
- Eat meat, fish (my personal favorite is salmon), poultry, lamb and eggs. If you’re vegetarian, consider adding some kind of animal protein in your diet such as bone broth or fish oil (comes in capsules).
- Bone Broth – chicken/beef. This is excellent in nourishing blood, benefiting digestion & the immune system.
- Avocados, dark green leafy vegetables, carrots, nuts (especially walnuts), spinach
- Congee: nourishes the spleen. Is a great breakfast meal but can be also eaten all day long in small amounts to keep the mother staying nourished through the entire day. There are tons of delicious recipes online!
- Sweet potatoes and yams
- Goji Berries
- Eat a warm breakfast high in protein & low in sugar
- Radishes high in folic acid & help prevent anemia
- Sesame seeds & black sesame seeds
- Sip on ginger tea throughout the day if you’re battling morning sickness
OTHER TIPS FOR PREGNANCY SUPPORT
- Add regular acupuncture treatments to help alleviate the discomforts of pregnancy safely, support a healthy pregnancy and prepare for your baby’s arrival. Read more on the benefits of Prenatal Acupuncture here
- Keep your lower back and soles of feet warm, and lower abdomen covered
- Get plenty of sleep
- Avoid excessive exercise in the first trimester, especially if you have miscarried in the past. Avoid excessive sweating.
- Drink plenty of water as pregnancy can be dehydrating
- Try to be happy, joyful and stress-free as much as you can during your pregnancy.