Dieting while you are pregnant may seem a bit confusing. In fact, a high fibre diet may sound contrary to a normal pregnancy diet but you should know that fibre is an important part of a healthy diet. Therefore, if you have been worried about using a fibre diet while you are pregnant you might be relieved to know that it is actually better for you and your child.
Fiber is a carbohydrate that includes the non-digestible plant parts. This allows the fibre to pass through your digestive tract unaltered. There are two basic types of fibre, water-soluble that includes the edible parts of vegetables, seeds and fruit, and insoluble which is fibre that you may recognize better as roughage. Cellulose that you find in wheat bran and various other grains is a good example of insoluble fibre.
Pluses – of High Fiber Diet Commonly called bulk, fibre will slow your food’s progress through your intestinal tract giving the body more time to absorb all the various nutrients during at the same time regulating your stool. A healthy fibre diet, while you are pregnant, is a great idea for many reasons. Fiber will keep your digestive system functioning properly by making waste material soft, helping in nutrient absorption and slowing the rate at which you process sugars. The latter will prevent your insulin levels from spiking and dropping.
Vegetables are a great source of fibre and are very high in nutrients. They are an excellent food choice during pregnancy and in fact, many doctors recommend that pregnant women eat a diet high in vegetables. This makes it simple to maintain a high fibre diet while you are pregnant. It is also convenient as you can just add an extra helping of vegetables to your evening meal. Start with a dinner of whole-wheat pasta, vegetables and bread, topped off with fresh fruit, which is another excellent source of fibre and vitamins.
Many intestinal tract problems can be averted with a high fibre diet. Things like colon cancer, diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome and even haemorrhoids can be reduced or totally avoided with this kind of diet. This is an added benefit during pregnancy as these ailments are common problems. You could even find your cholesterol is lowered with a high fibre diet.
Cons – of a Fiber Diet: When you are pregnant and eating a high fibre diet, you need to be sure you are drinking enough fluids. If you will not find yourself in the awkward position of dealing with constipation. Try to consume the recommended eight glasses of water per day to avoid this problem.
Often times what you avoid, eating is as important as what you do eat. You will need to resist the temptation to eat out at restaurants or fast food chains; the food in these places is full of saturated fats and bleached flour products. When the alternative is cage or cauliflower this can be a difficult choice to make.
A fibre diet while pregnant will mean that you have to change the manner in which you shop for groceries. Gone are the junk foods and in their place high fibre vegetables, completely grain bread, and starches. The nice thing about it is the high fibre diet will take care of many of the cravings you will experience which is the number one reason women gain extra weight while they are pregnant. Bottom line is a fibre diet while pregnant can help you stay in shape so to speak.
Fiber diets and pregnancy go together quite well and can alleviate some of the symptoms such as constipation and haemorrhoids. Foods that contain fibre also contain healthy nutrients and vitamins, which are good for the baby, too!
Featured Image: Continental Hospitals
Source by Jolene Castello