)
Bun in the oven?
To ensure you and your baby are as healthy as possible during pregnancy, it's a good idea to review your diet and any food supplements you might be taking. Great Earth's product specialist, Rebecca, answers your questions about supplements and pregnancy.
Pregnancy is perhaps one of life's greatest events. It's also a time when you might start asking yourself many questions – about life, the future, and what kind of parent you'll be. Whether you're planning your pregnancy well in advance or are already pregnant, there are a few things to be extra mindful of, as your body's needs change completely.
Besides eating a healthy, balanced diet, getting enough sleep, reducing stress, and exercising regularly, it's important to pay extra attention to what you consume. For example, a supplement of folic acid is important for the development of the foetus.
– If you're planning to become pregnant, you should start taking a folic acid supplement now. It's a B vitamin that plays an important role in cell division and helps prevent neural tube defects in the baby. Folic acid should ideally be taken before you become pregnant and then up until the twelfth week, says Rebecca.
Folic acid, or folate as it's known in its natural form, is also found in foods like legumes, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, rocket, strawberries, and whole grain products, to name a few.
)
Rebecca also recommends omega-3 for both pregnant and breastfeeding women. Studies show a link between the mother's intake of omega-3 (the fatty acid DHA) and the baby's brain and vision development.
– Great Earth's Omega 3 is also vegan, making it suitable for everyone, says Rebecca. It comes from microalgae grown on land in a pure and controlled environment, which means it's completely free from heavy metals and other unwanted substances.
– Over the years, we've received many questions about which supplements are safe to take during pregnancy, says Rebecca. So, it was a natural step for us to develop a product specifically for pregnant women, and the result was Multi Gravid. It's a multivitamin designed to meet the specific nutritional needs of pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Products in the Great Earth range suitable for pregnant women:
Multi Gravid – a complete product
Substances to avoid during pregnancy:
Herbal extracts - Herbal extracts should be avoided mainly because there is insufficient research to know if they affect the baby.
Some herbs can also be directly unsuitable and harmful to the foetus. Examples of herbal extracts include rhodiola rosea, ashwagandha, and ginseng.Excessive levels of iodine (found in salt and kelp, among other things). During pregnancy, an excess of iodine in the mother can affect the foetus's mental and physical development, without affecting the mother's health. This is because the foetus is more sensitive.
Excess iodine increases the amount of iodine in breast milk. It is therefore important to avoid an excessive iodine intake during both pregnancy and breastfeeding.Very high-dose vitamin and mineral products. Prioritise products specifically designed for pregnancy.
)
)
)
)