On Pregnancy Nutrition, Part 1

Jan 17, 2020

The first 1000 days of life - from conception to age two - are the most CRITICAL nutritional period to prevent health issues and diseases that may arise later in a human’s life.

Dr. Pastore shares his two+ decades of experience treating pregnant women and optimizing their nutrition for a safe, healthy pregnancy.

 

Information discussed:

 

Ask your doctor to be tested for the:

• MTHFR gene variance - affects folate utilization and can cause folic acid deficiency which can cause the infant to be born with spina bifida or cleft pallet 

 

• BCMO1 - T allele - unable to convert beta-carotene into the bioavailable from of vitamin A, which can lead to deficiency - affecting fetus growth and eye development

 

Blood work to be run for:

• Iron status - (anemia)
• Vitamin D level
• Magnesium
• Lipid levels
• Fasting glucose & insulin - warning sign for developing gestational  diabetes

 

Average caloric increase required for pregnant women:

+300 cal/day, +2100/week

 

Healthy weight gain should be an average of 25lb total gain for pregnancy (most weight gained in the last trimester) for woman with a healthy BMI. Weight gain should be less for overweight women.

 

Foods to avoid while pregnant, even if you crave them:

ANY & ALL alcohol

• Artificial sweeteners, flavors and colors in foods
• Fast food & highly processed foods
• Trans fats
• Unpasteurized foods/drinks like kombucha
• Refrigerated/smoked: sea food, white fish, seafood, deli meats, hot dogs, meat spreads
• Pre-made salads
• Raw sprouts such as broccoli sprouts, bean sprouts, alfalfa sprouts
• Caffeine (ideally none, but under 200mg a day)
• Fish high in mercury & other heavy metals -
• • https://www.ewg.org/research/ewgs-good-seafood-guide/executive-summary

 

Food cravings:

• PICA: cravings for clay/dirt - warning sign of a nutrient/iron deficiency
• Ice cube cravings - warning sign of an iron deficiency