Food for Good Health

Many common grains and nuts are full of beneficial vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that are especially important for you and your baby during pregnancy and can help relieve many unpleasant pregnancy symptoms. So try adding the following foods to your diet for better health. (Always talk to your doctor before adding anything unusual to your diet while you are pregnant.)
Walnuts
Walnuts not only improve the flavor of salads, soups and entrees, they are also highly nutritious and even medicinal. Raw walnuts are loaded with vitamin E and antioxidants, as well as folic acid, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc and omega 3 fatty acids. They are also are an important source of monounsaturated fats and pack a lot of protein and vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, and B6 inside that little shell. They also help to lower levels of LDL cholesterol in the bloodstream, and have been used to calm hysteria and reduce morning sickness. Because they provide many of the elements that the body requires but cannot manufacture, walnuts are considered an essential food to include in a healthy diet.
Flax Seed
Mixing 1 to 2 tablespoons of flaxseed or ground flaxseed powder into foods up to three times per day is a gentle way to treat constipation. Flaxseeds contain essential fatty acids and DHA (docosahexanoic acid), which are important for fetal and infant brain development.
Almonds
Chewing on raw almonds and swallowing the liquid can relieve heartburn. They also provide a nutritious snack packed with dietary fiber, protein, more vitamin A and E than any other nut, and the most powerful and absorbable form of vitamin E. Not least of all, almonds are cholesterol free!
Alfalfa
Because of its deep root system, alfalfa is a great source of protein and important nutrients such as vitamins K and C, calcium, iron, phosphorus, and chlorophyll. Research suggests that it may remove from your liver and small intestines chemical carcinogens found in food before they have a chance to do your body any harm. Alfalfa is also effective as a digestive stimulant and may help ease morning sickness, as well as fatigue and muscle tenderness when used directly on the skin or added to a bath. Although it has a flavor that may not appeal to everyone, it is safe to eat in moderation throughout pregnancy; however, many alfalfa extracts contain high amounts of alcohol and should be avoided during pregnancy. Alfalfa may be particularly beneficial in late pregnancy because the vitamin K it contains promotes blood clotting, which reduces the risk of postpartum hemorrhage.
Bran
The National Cancer Institute recommends eating 20 to 35 grams of fiber daily, yet the typical American diet contains only 7 to 8. Eating a fiber-rich diet is especially important during pregnancy because it can help prevent and treat two common pregnancy conditions: constipation and gestational diabetes. One of the best ways to get enough fiber in your diet is to consume bran and bran products every day. Wheat bran is a good source of insoluble fiber, which can relieve constipation; while oat bran is a good source of soluble fiber. Soluble fiber breaks down as it passes though the digestive tract, forming a gel that traps and removes cholesterol, which may decrease your risk of heart disease.
Dandelion Root and Leaves
Dandelion root and leaves (taraxacum officinale) traditionally have been used to alleviate nausea, calm an upset stomach, and gently promote bowel movements. Dandelion greens are also considered to be highly nutritious, containing more beta-carotene than carrots and more iron and calcium than spinach. They are also a great source of vitamins B 1,2,5, 6 and 12; vitamin C, E, and D; biotin and inositol (promotes the health of cell membranes); potassium; phosphorus; magnesium and zinc. In addition, the dandelion root promotes the flow of bile, reduces inflammation of the bile duct, helps eliminate gallstones, reduces liver swelling, and serves as a gentle diuretic that aids kidney function.

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Garlic and Ginger

Many cultures use garlic not only as a fragrant and flavorful ingredient in dishes, but also as a medicine. Research confirms that garlic has numerous healing properties and can be especially beneficial to expectant mothers.
Garlic has a veritable grocery-list of general health benefits, including its ability to:
Protect against cardiovascular disease.
Reduce the risk of heart attacks and stroke by lowering LDL ("bad") cholesterol while elevating HDL ("good") cholesterol.
Reduce triglycerides and blood pressure.
Increase circulation in the capillaries.
Prevent LDL oxidation and reduce clot-forming platelet activity and inflammation, thereby preventing coronary plaques.
Protect against free radical and carcinogen-induced DNA damage.
Stop the growth of a wide variety of human cancer cells including breast, colon, prostate, melanoma and erythroleukemia.
Prevent neuron death, and enhance memory by stimulating growth and branching of neurons in the brain.
Protect against fungal, yeast, and viral infections.
New research shows that consuming garlic during pregnancy can reduce the risk of preeclampsia and may help boost the birth-weight of growth-retarded fetuses. The research, performed at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital in London, demonstrated that when extracts of garlic were added to placental cells of women who were likely to suffer from these conditions, growth was stimulated. In addition, the activity of key enzymes whose activity is reduced in such abnormal pregnancies was significantly increased when garlic was administered.Ginger
For morning sickness relief, try a piece of ginger! For over two thousand years traditional Chinese medicine has used ginger to treat a variety of health problems, including abdominal bloating, vomiting, diarrhea, and rheumatism. And now research has found that ginger can help reduce nausea related to motion sickness, post-operative recovery, and pregnancy.
Ginger's nausea reducing benefits are attributed to its ability to absorb and neutralize toxins and stomach acid, while increasing digestive fluids and bowel activity. Ginger also causes the blood vessels to dilate (which is why you feel warm after eating it), and blocks the serotonin receptors in the stomach that cause nausea.
Ginger has general health benefits in addition to its anti-nausea properties. The fresh root's ability to induce sweating is believed to dispel pathogens and it has been used to treat asthma, cough, colic, heart palpitation, swellings, dyspepsia, loss of appetite, and rheumatism. Researchers have also found ginger to be a more potent blood clotting agent than garlic or onion, and that it reduces the stickiness of blood platelets which may help reduce the risk of atherosclerosis. However, ginger is not recommended if you suffer from gall bladder disease.
Try grinding or chopping fresh ginger and adding it to your favorite dishes tonight!

Broccoli: The Nutritious Warrior

Many nutritionists have dubbed broccoli a "SuperFood" - and with good reason. This tasty, versatile and nutrient-packed member of the cabbage family packs a strong anti-oxidant punch that can help fight many types of cancer, while also providing a hefty dose of calcium for strong bones and folic acid to prevent birth defects.
Broccoli contains the phytonutrients sulforaphane and indoles, which have been shown to effectively fight many types of cancer. Indole-3-carbinol has been found to deactivate an estrogen metabolite that promotes tumor cell growth, while increasing levels of a cancer protective form of estrogen called 2-hydroxyestrone. It also inhibits the movement of cancerous cells through the body.
Sulforaphane boosts detoxification enzymes to clear potentially carcinogenic substances from the body more quickly, while halting cell growth and increasing the self-destruct mechanism in abnormal cells. New research has shown that this phytonutrient can help repair sun damaged skin as well.
When broccoli is cut, chewed or digested, it releases glucose along with compounds that help to break down food, including isothiocyanates, which stimulate enzymes in the liver that detoxify carcinogens. One form of isothiocyanates, known as allyl isothicyanate, inhibits cell division while encouraging the self-destruct function in abnormal cells. These characteristics make regular consumption of broccoli a tasty way to reduce your risk of many types of cancer, including breast, prostate, colorectal and lung.
Broccoli is especially good to consume during pregnancy. It is packed with nutrients and an excellent source of calcium (74 mg per cup), vitamins C (124 mg per cup) K, and A, folate (94 mcg per cup) and fiber. The high calcium content helps to build and maintain healthy bones for your baby and you, while the folic acid helps prevent spina bifida and other birth defects, and the fiber content helps relieve constipation. Broccoli's high beta-carotene content helps fortify your immune system and promotes clear skin. Broccoli is also a good source of phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, and vitamins E and B6.
It is estimated that about 50 percent of Americans are infected with a bacterium known as H. pylori, which can cause ulcers and damage DNA. Eating broccoli sprouts has been found to suppress this potentially deadly bacterium and relieve the gastritis associated with it. Broccoli sprouts also provide 10-100 times the sulfur-containing phytonutrients as mature broccoli to detoxify carcinogens and boost enzymes.

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Apples

You've probably heard the old saying "an apple a day, keeps the doctor away," and may have dismissed it as another archaic old wives' tale. But as scientists are discovering, there may be some truth to it! This popular member of the rose family may help fight cancer and heart disease; protect against sunburn, asthma, and diabetes; and relieve constipation. And a recent study found that eating apples during pregnancy can protect your unborn baby from developing asthma and other lung problems later on in life.
Apples' antioxidant flavonoids may help prevent certain types of cancer. When scientists at University of California at Davis added apple extracts to cultures of human endothelial cells (the cells that line our arteries and are the first defense against cancer), the human cells were protected against the effects of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a compound that triggers cell death and promotes inflammation. The apple extracts actually blocked the signals sent from the tumor that kill cells. The high antioxidant content in apples also helps to eliminate free radicals from the body.
The phenols found in apples may also provide UV-B protection. Studies found that Braeburn apples in particular help protect the skin from sun damage. So eating an apple before going to the beach might be a good way to reduce the risk of sunburn.
Recent studies have discovered apples may have a beneficial affect on lung function in adults and fetuses. One study found that men who ate apples had a lung capacity 138 milliliters greater than those who did not. While another study found that mothers who consumed apples during their pregnancy were less likely to have children who suffer from asthma and wheezing. Scientists believe that the high levels of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory flavonoids, such as quercitin and catechin, are responsible for apples' beneficial affects on lung function, bronchial hypersensitivity and asthma.
Apple season runs from late summer to late fall in the northern hemisphere...

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