Vegan Diet During PregnancyProper nutrition is a must for all pregnant women. A well-balanced diet with all the needed nutrients is needed in order to have a healthy pregnancy. A combination of proteins and fats from animal sources, vitamins and minerals from vegetables and fruits and calcium from cow’s milk comprise a perfect pregnancy diet. But what if the expectant mother is a vegetarian? Is it safe for her to continue with her diet during pregnancy? The answer is YES. Like all other pregnant mothers, vegetarians should strive to meet the nutritional requirements of pregnancy. Although, it will be more challenging for moms who do not eat animal products. Vegans who do not eat meat or dairy products may worry that they may not meet their protein requirement. It is advisable to find alternatives for meats or dairies such as soy milk, soy yogurt, tofu or veggie burger. It will be harder to get iron, vitamin B12, or zinc since these are found mostly in animal products. During prenatal checkups, don’t forget to inform your doctor that you are a vegetarian so he can prescribe prenatal vitamins and mineral supplements. When buying supplements, it should have at least 100 percent of the daily requirement for vitamin B12, iron and zinc. To get calcium, a vegan pregnant woman can eat calcium rich foods such as turnips, molasses and kale. Calcium-fortified juices, calcium-rich soy yogurt and milk are also advisable. Most importantly, consult a nutritionist. He can suggest a healthy eating plan for you. Related Articles
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