Prepping the Body for Optimal Pregnancy Conditions - Page 4

[JaneS]

I tried and I just cannot find it! It literally lists all the bodies of water near you and how you shouldn't fish there...

[Katana]

JaneS, is this what you were looking for?

It's a fish and seafood advisory that I got by following some links through the Whole Foods website.

You just look up the state, and punch in what you want to know.

http://map1.epa.gov/scripts/.esrimap...Cmd=StContacts

I'm not sure there's any "perfect" waters, but some seem to be less polluted than others.

[Katana]

On another fish note, I asked about the fish they sell at Whole Foods and a lot of them are farm raised.

They have guidelines of how much you should be eating per week/month, you just have to ask.

The big ones to stay away from, especially if pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant are mackeral, shark, tuna, and most shellfish.

They do have amounts that are "okay" for each of those fish, and the brands that are better than others, if you absolutely must have, say, a tuna sandwich.

Again, just ask.

[stayathomecristi]

MamaV--- what's EFT????

[p1gg1e]

Interesting.....

:

[JaneS]

Yes! that's it Katana thank you.

One interesting thing about farm raised fish... they do not have the beneficial fatty acids that wild fish do. Because they are feed grains, soy and such, not their natural diet.

http://www.mercola.com/2003/may/10/farmed_salmon.htm

Another example of how not eating one's natural diet changes the body!

[Mommymama]

Originally Posted by Momtezuma Tuatara

When we were looking at whether or not to do functional orthodontistry on David (we didn't need to in the end.. the problem resolved as he grew) the orthodontist asked me an interesting question.

MT, my dentist is also considering functional jaw orthodontics and craniosacral theraphy for my 5 1/2 dd who needs an extra 4mm space for her (big) permanent teeth. Were you able to correct your son's problem with diet alone?

[Mommymama]

Some thoughts on dark chocolate - even the best organic dark chocolates have soy lecithin as an ingredient and that troubles me. However, chocolate is a rich source of magnesium. Most of the time I have Dagoba made with non-GMO soy lecithin.


Published on Sunday, January 8, 2006 by the lndependent/UK
GM: New Study Shows Unborn Babies Could Be Harmed
Mortality rate for new-born rats six times higher when mother was fed on a diet
of modified soya
by Geoffrey Lean

Women who eat GM foods while pregnant risk endangering their unborn babies,
startling new research suggests.

The World Trade Organization is expected next month to support a bid by the
Bush administration to force European countries to accept GM foods.

The study - carried out by a leading scientist at the Russian Academy of
Sciences - found that more than half of the offspring of rats fed on modified
soya died in the first three weeks of life, six times as many as those born to
mothers with normal diets. Six times as many were also severely underweight.

The research - which is being prepared for publication - is just one of a
clutch of recent studies that are reviving fears that GM food damages human
health. Italian research has found that modified soya affected the liver and
pancreas of mice. Australia had to abandon a decade-long attempt to develop
modified peas when an official study found they caused lung damage.

And last May this newspaper revealed a secret report by the biotech giant
Monsanto, which showed that rats fed a diet rich in GM corn had smaller kidneys
and higher blood cell counts, suggesting possible damage to their immune
systems, than those that ate a similar conventional one.

The United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization held a workshop on the
safety of genetically modified foods at its Rome headquarters late last
year. The workshop was addressed by scientists whose research had raised
concerns about health dangers. But the World Trade Organization is expected
next month to support a bid by the Bush administration to force European
countries to accept GM foods.

Remainder at:

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0108-01.htm

[lavanda]

what do you think about brewers yeast as a source of folic acid?
i read it somewhere some great things about it but what do you think?
i am little scared because of candida/yeast thing.

[chlobo]

The Bush Administration is truly the evil empire.

[JaneS]

Fatty Acid Requirements for Women

http://www.westonaprice.org/knowyour...atty_acid.html

Recent research demonstrates that the quality of a woman's EFA status is critical for her successful reproduction and lactation...

During pregnancy, elongated EFAs play important biochemical and structural roles. They are precursors to the prostaglandins important for maintaining pregnancy and they serve as important structural elements in the cell membranes of both mother and fetus.4 Some researchers report that both the omega-6 and the omega-3 elongated EFAs decrease significantly during pregnancy and that pregnant women have difficulty coping with the high demand, especially for DHA, the elongated omega-3. One such study of Korean women showed that pregnancy reduces both omega-6 arachidonic acid and omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in plasma triglycerides.5 Other researchers6 reported that serum levels of elongated omega-3s did not decrease during pregnancy but became lower afterwards. All the researchers, however, were in agreement that the EFA status following pregnancy was definitely compromised, and also was very slow to recover unless extra DHA supplementation was given...

The same critical requirements for EFAs are seen during lactation as during pregnancy. Elongated omega-3 fatty acids are necessary for optimal development of the infant's visual and nervous systems, and avoidance of the trans fatty acids by the lactating mother is known to be equally important in preventing decreased visual acuity in her infant...

Vegetarian women do not usually have adequate sources of elongated omega-3 EFAs since their diets do not contain fish. When there are high intakes of omega-6 fatty acids from vegetable oils and inadequate intake of saturates, as is typical in vegetarian diets, there is decreased conversion of plant omega-3 to the elongated EFAs. Lower levels of DHA have been reported in infants born to vegetarian mothers.8

Very interesting article, but I would caution against the use of the modern oils canola and soybean.

[JaneS]

Originally Posted by chlobo

The Bush Administration is truly the evil empire.

but is this the correct thread for this?

[Mommymama]

Originally Posted by JaneS

but is this the correct thread for this?

Jane,

My intention in posting the article was just to tell the mamas who crave for chocolate during pregnancy and lactation that I believe Dagoba dark chocolates may be a better option for them. It uses GMO-free soy lecithin and the chocolate is of a very high quality. Most organic chocolates and other processed organic foods use soy lecithin as an emulsifier as well as organic canola and soybean oils instead of expensive organic butter and cream.

[chlobo]

but is this the correct thread for this?

Sorry, this was in response to the labeling issue. I guess it is the wrong thread. Sorry.

[JaneS]

The importance of probiotics during pregnancy:

Bacterial vaginosis, a condition in which lactobacilli are displaced from the vagina by inflammation-causing pathogens,7 has been suggested as a factor that increases risk of preterm labour,8 although there is controversy about this. Daily use of oral gelatin capsules containing dried viable L rhamnosus GR-1 and L reuteri RC-14 has been shown to decrease risk of bacterial vaginosis and maintain normal lactobacilli vaginal flora.9,10 In animal studies, these strains were found to be safe during pregnancy and to enhance the health of mothers and newborns.11 Studies are under way in Toronto, Ont, to test the effects of these strains on bacterial vaginosis in pregnant women at risk of preterm labour.

These lactobacilli might also have a role in preventing vaginal colonization by group B streptococci, organisms that can cause serious illness and even death in newborns. Certain lactobacilli can inhibit growth and adhesion of streptococci in vitro,12,13 but whether they can do this in vivo is untested.

The second promising area of research is use of probiotics to prevent allergic reactions. Studies using L rhamnosus GG and B lactis BB12 have shown that atopic dermatitis, a condition that causes severe skin rashes in up to 15% of babies, can be prevented in 50% of cases if mothers ingest probiotics during pregnancy and newborns ingest them during the first 6 months of life.14,15 This is believed to be due to a reprogramming of the newborn’s immune system or altered proportions of plasma-neutral lipids and alpha-linolenic acid.15

http://www.motherisk.org/updates/index.php?id=740

L rhamnosus GG is Culturelle:
www.culturelle.com available in many drugstores on shelf or you can order at pharmacy.

The only Reuteri I know of in the states is Nature's Way:
http://www.naturesway.com/products%5..._id=-510554367

[JaneS]

Originally Posted by Mommymama

Jane,

My intention in posting the article was just to tell the mamas who crave for chocolate during pregnancy and lactation that I believe Dagoba dark chocolates may be a better option for them. It uses GMO-free soy lecithin and the chocolate is of a very high quality. Most organic chocolates and other processed organic foods use soy lecithin as an emulsifier as well as organic canola and soybean oils instead of expensive organic butter and cream.

, no I was talking about the Bush administration comment!

[AutumnMama]

*Bump* This is a good thread

[chasmyn]

:

[Devaskyla]

I'm finding this thread really interesting. Just one problem. All of these things cost money. We don't have any. After paying the bills, we're lucky to have $300, usually less, for "food" (this is actually all necesseties, not just food) for the month. How can I improve our nutrition/health with such a limited budget. I know we don't eat well, it's hard to afford to. Processed stuff is cheaper, obviously not for nutrients, but on a fill my family so they aren't hungry all the time basis, you get a lot more food buying processed stuff (and don't get me started on how stupid and unfair that is). So, does anyone have some ways that we can eat better/get more of the things we're obviously not getting enough of that won't cost way more money than we have? We're considering ttc again in 6-12 months.

[MyLittleWonders]

Originally Posted by Devaskyla

I'm finding this thread really interesting. Just one problem. All of these things cost money. We don't have any. After paying the bills, we're lucky to have $300, usually less, for "food" (this is actually all necesseties, not just food) for the month. How can I improve our nutrition/health with such a limited budget. I know we don't eat well, it's hard to afford to. Processed stuff is cheaper, obviously not for nutrients, but on a fill my family so they aren't hungry all the time basis, you get a lot more food buying processed stuff (and don't get me started on how stupid and unfair that is). So, does anyone have some ways that we can eat better/get more of the things we're obviously not getting enough of that won't cost way more money than we have? We're considering ttc again in 6-12 months.

My first recommendation would be to make a price list the next time you go to the store - how much is each item that you are buying - how much would it be to stock the fridge with fresh veggies (even celery and carrot sticks, some red or green peppers, a couple heads of lettuce), fruits (bananas, apples, pears, oranges - start with the basic ones), 1-2 dozen eggs, a block of cheese and maybe some chicken. Also, what about a big thing of the store-brand oats, a small thing of basalmic vinegar and olive oil for salad dressing ... make a big list (and while you are there maybe just buy what you would normall buy this time), take it home, and see what you can substitute from your normal items for a raw/whole/fresh item. I think once you break it down and change your shopping list (as well as your munchies/meal list), it might be doable ...
You could soak the oats the night before and make oatmeal for breakfast. Buy some raisins or slice bananas on top.
Have a salad for lunch with a piece of fruit, and maybe a slice of toast (if you need to have grains/cereals). Or you could do hardboiled eggs for lunch, or make some scrambled eggs for breakfast one day.
Maybe get the generic brand of Cheerio's or something for kid-friendly snacks), or in the afternoon, serve apple slices and cheese slices.
For dinner, cook some chicken breasts or thighs and fresh veggies.

But definitely make a list - probably two lists would be good for comparrison - the what we currently buy list and the healthier alternative list. You might be surprised what you can start buying in lieu of what you normally get if you stick with raw/fresh produce and minimally processed sides or snacks. HTH