5 Super Foods Pregnant Women Should Eat for Baby’s Strong & Healthy Heart

Do you know that your diet may determine how healthy your baby will be? Because the food you eat not only acts as a fuel for your body, but it also ensures a healthy pregnancy and childbirth. In fact what food items you consume during pregnancy may also determine how healthy and strong your baby’s heart will be. If this topic is gaining your attention, then browse the following post to know more.

Foods That Lower Foetal Heart Development

Your growing baby’s nutrition is connected with your nutrition. This means whatever you eat it affects your baby too. Where there are some food items that prove to be beneficial for your baby’s heart development others may adversely affect it. Following are some of the food items that you should avoid or keep under control:

• Keep a tab on your sodium intake and keep it under 3000 mg per day.
• Ensure that your cholesterol intake is not more than 300 mg on a daily basis.
• Do not add more than 30 per cent of fats in your daily pregnancy diet. Aim for healthy fats.
• Avoid monosodium glutamate or MSG as it may lead to foetal development issues.
• Restrict your caffeine intake.

Foods to Eat That Will Make Your Baby’s Heart Strong and Healthy

If you are a cautious eater then we need not preach you, however, if you are reckless when it comes to your diet and nutrition, we would like to grab your attention towards healthy eating. Where some foods are a complete no-no when it comes to pregnancy diet, there are other foods that make your baby’s heart-healthy and strong, such as:

1. Go Green

Green vegetables are pregnancy must-haves. Green vegetables have an abundance of nutrients, which means you can get your daily dosage of vitamins, minerals and fibre from them. You can eat them in raw or cooked form; rather you can go versatile with your veggies and eat them in any form you like. However, make sure you check with your doctor before eating raw green vegetables because some women may not be allowed to eat raw vegetables for certain health reasons.

2. Include Dairy

You should include milk, cheese, yoghurt and other such dairy items in your diet. All such food items are a great source of calcium, which is of prime importance for your growing foetus. Make sure you consume pasteurised milk. However, if you are lactose intolerant, it may be a wise idea to switch to other dairy alternatives such as almond milk. You may consult your doctor for the other alternatives.

3. Eat Nuts

Nuts are great for your growing baby’s heart. You can include almonds, cashew nuts, walnuts, pistachios and other nuts to your diet. You can add them in your salads, puddings, smoothies, pasta and other food items. You can roast them with little salt and oil and munch them as a healthy snack. Make sure you consume nuts in moderate quantities, and not at one go. Spread the consumption throughout the day. Also, soaking the nuts is recommended.

4. Load on Proteins

Protein-rich foods are must for a pregnant woman and for her growing baby too. Chicken, lean meat, turkey, fish, etc. are some good options for protein for non-vegetarians and lentils, pulses, cottage cheese, etc. are good options for vegetarian women. Proteins are loaded with amino acids and also act as building blocks for your baby’s development.

5. Add Whole Grains

Whole grains such as wheat, barley, oats, rye, rice and other such grains are good for a healthy heart. You should substitute these healthier options instead of refined flour food items. You should opt for unprocessed, whole and unpolished grains as they are healthier for you and your baby. You can make various dishes using whole grains as per your taste preferences.

Although the above-mentioned food items are extremely safe and can be added to your daily diet, however, if you are suffering from any health condition such as hypertension, diabetes, thyroid, etc. then you should be careful before making any major dietary changes. We suggest getting your doctor’s approval before making any changes.

Also Read:

Foods to Improve Development of Fetal Brain
Fruits You Should Not Eat During Pregnancy
Fruits to Eat while Pregnant