During pregnancy, there are certain foods and beverages women should avoid that could cause harm to them and the developing infant. Women need approximately 300 extra calories each day to maintain a healthy pregnancy. These calories should come from a balanced diet of protein, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Sugar and fat should be kept to a minimum.
Junk foods shouldn’t be a source of calories. There are many healthy diets that contain the calories pregnant women need. Reduce your junk food intake and increase your intake of dairy products, legumes, sweet potatoes, salmon, eggs, broccoli, dark leafy greens, lean meat, berries, vegetables, and fruits. 10-20% of the foetal nutrients come from what the mother drinks.
Why should junk food be avoided during pregnancy? Well, there are many reasons why it should be avoided.
The chances of obesity might increase
Junk foods can cause excess weight gain during pregnancy and raise the blood sugar level, which can overwhelm the fetal metabolism and set the stage for obesity and related health problems such as diabetes. Gestational weight gain isn’t something that will be healthy for both the mother and her child. If you notice that you’ve gained weight, then you should change your lifestyle control. Change your diet, exercise more frequently, and modify your behavior. The goal is to avoid excessive gestational weight gain.
The risk of gestational diabetes increases
Junk foods contain sugar that can increase the blood sugar level when taken in excess, they can result in gestational diabetes. In some cases, there are no symptoms of gestational diabetes. Pregnant women should run a blood sugar test as part of their antenatal. Symptoms such as whole-body fatigue, excessive hunger, thirst, or fatigue, frequent urination, or yeast infection are all fairly common during pregnancy, but if you notice any of these, you should consult your doctor. It depends on the level of your blood sugar. If it has raised a bit, you can monitor the blood sugar, eat a more healthy diet, exercise more often and monitor the baby. If it’s too high, medications might be required. Your medical professional might prescribe anti-diabetic medication and insulin. Women who develop gestational diabetes are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
Junk foods have zero nutritional value
Junk foods have high levels of calories, salt, fat, and sugar but lack the nutritional values needed for healthy growth and development. Having zero nutrients, it doesn’t help the baby in any way. The main nutrients, fiber, vitamins and minerals, are lacking in junk food. This is precisely why junk foods are a key component in the obesity epidemic and a driving factor in the development of certain chronic diseases. Aside from being obese, junk food can also lead to other underlying problems and conditions like constipation, heart disease and stroke, blood sugar spikes, dental problems, may cause skin issues, high blood pressure, bloating and puffiness, and increases your cholesterol. Junk foods basically have no value; you eat them for the taste and sweetness. It doesn’t add any nutrients to the body; rather, when taken in excess, it causes damage to certain organs and tissues.
The chances of genetic abnormalities may increase
Studies have shown that the overall quality of a pregnant woman’s diet affects her risk of two types of birth defects. Junk foods and beverages are among the causes of birth defects. The type of food you eat and your lifestyle during pregnancy are very important for the baby’s growth and development. Certain foods can cause growth retardation and weight loss. Some of these birth defects include heart defects, cleft lip or cleft palate, and spina bifida. Teratogenic disorders occur when the baby is exposed to substances during pregnancy that cause abnormalities, otherwise known as “teratogens.” Babies are very sensitive in the first trimester, when all of the organs are developing.
Junk foods don’t necessarily cause all these dangers when taken as they should be, but you should mind the way you consume processed and fast foods as they can cause harm as noted repeatedly.
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