A Healthy Diet Before Pregnancy Minimises Risks of Birth Defects - By: Danny King

Between 17 and 56 days the embryo is most susceptible to influences such as drugs and disease, which can interfere with normal growth.

Women in their child-bearing years who ate a diet rich in fruits and vegetables during the year before pregnancy have a lower risk of having babies with certain birth defects, a new research has found.

As compared to those who had a diet rich in unhealthy fats and sugars, those who ate healthy saw the lowering of these risks:

Up to a one-third lower risk of cleft lip

One-quarter lower risk of cleft palate

One-half lower risk of anencephaly, a neural-tube defect that interferes with brain development and often results in miscarriage

One-fifth lower risk of spina bifida, another neural-tube defect

Nutrients For Pregnant Women and Women of Child-Bearing Age

Vitamin B
- Folic acid
  
  It is best to get your source of folate from these food sources:
  
  green leafy vegetables (raw spinach, broccoli, endive, Romaine lettuce, raw mustard greens), liver, citrus fruits, mushrooms, nuts, peas and dried beans.
  
  Alternatively, folic acid in the form of methylfolate should be the better choice for supplementation. Many are aware of folic acid's role in preventing birth defects such as spina bifida, however the folic acid found in prenatal supplements is a synthetic form and needs to be converted into the a usable form 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (L-5-MTHF). This conversion involves a number of enzymes and the majority of the human population seems to have difficulty in this conversion.
- Vitamin B12
  
  B12 is essential for normal neurological development and maintenance, and a lack of it during pregnancy is related to insulin resistance, and hence the risk of type 2 diabetes.
  
  Vitamin B12 is present in eggs, meat, poultry, milk, and dairy products.

Omega-3 Fats
Omega-3 fatty acids come in two main forms: DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). While both have benefits for the brain, DHA appears to be particularly important to a growing fetus and its only source of omega-3 fats comes from the mother.

DHA is essential to a child's full development of the nervous system and immune system.

DHA makes up 15 to 20% of the cerebral cortex and 30 to 60% of the retina so it is absolutely necessary for normal development of the fetus and your new baby.

A majority of women around the world seem to have a deficiency of animal-based omega-3 fats. Sufficient levels of omega-3 fats are linked to:
- A reduction of the incidence of childhood allergies
- A positive effect on visual development
- Optimize the child's cognitive development
- Prevention of pre-term labour and deliveries
- A lower the risk of pre-eclampsia (pregnancy-related high blood pressure)
- Lower the chance of depression after delivery
Sources of animal-based omega-3 fats are: krill oil and toxin-free oily fishes such as sardines and salmon.

Probiotics For Healthy Pregnancy
Probiotics, or good bacteria, help maintain an optimal gut flora which almost everyone can benefit from. In addition, research has pointed out that taking quality probiotics has also benefits for both mother and new baby.

For mommy:
- Helps regain your figure after pregnancy
- Reduce your risk of premature labor
For baby:
- Prevent eczema (atopic dermatitis) in childhood