Zwangere
vrouwen vergeten een belangrijk nutriënt.*
Uit een Amerikaans onderzoek blijkt dat de meeste zwangere vrouwen niet op de hoogte zijn van de drie belangrijkste voedingsnutriënten tijdens de zwangerschap en de borstvoeding. Over foliumzuur en calcium met vitamine D weet bijna iedereen en ook in welke voeding deze nutriënten het meest aanwezig zijn doch over het omega-3 vetzuur DHA weet meer dan de helft van de vrouwen niet dat een cruciaal nutriënt is in de ontwikkeling en gezondheid van het hart, hersenen en ogen van de baby. Verder gaat DHA een te vroege geboorte tegen en zelfs vermindert deze voedingsstof de kans op een postpartum (natale) depressie.
Aanbevolen voor zwangere vrouwen per dag is:
400 mcg Foliumzuur, in de voeding vinden we dat in o.a. bonen, granen, koolsoorten, zalm, groene groenten enz.. zonodig aan te vullen met supplementen.
1000 mg calcium plus 5 mcg vitamine D. Calcium zit in zuivelproducten zoals yoghurt, groene bladgroente , sardines, verschillende noten enz. Vitamine D krijgt u voldoende door regelmatig in de zon te zijn verder o.a. veel in (vette) vis, eieren en sla.
300 mg DHA betekent regelmatig (vette) vis zoals zalm, haring, ansjovis, makreel, tonijn en forel, zonodig aangevuld met supplementen.
Most
Women Unaware Of Key Nutrient Needed For Babies' Development During Pregnancy
And Breastfeeding
Most
women are aware of only two of the “Big 3” nutrients considered essential
during pregnancy and breastfeeding, according to a Kelton Research survey(1)
sponsored by the Society for Women's Health Research, a Washington, D.C.- based
national advocacy organization. The majority of women surveyed know the
importance of including folic acid and calcium with vitamin D in their diet, but
half of them do not know about the need for DHA Omega-3, a critical nutrient for
the development and health of a baby's brain, heart and eyes.
A growing body of scientific evidence continues to demonstrate that DHA Omega-3
is an important building block of perinatal nutrition(2). Often overlooked by
mothers and health care providers alike, it is possibly the most important
nutrient expectant mothers don't know about. If taken during pregnancy, it may
help lower the risks of pre-term birth and even post-partum depression. DHA
Omega-3 is also important for ongoing health throughout life.
What to Expect When They're Expecting? Apparently Not DHA
The vast majority of America's recent moms and moms-to-be say it is common
medical knowledge that folic acid and calcium with vitamin D are two of the most
important nutrients for pregnant women. Seventy-nine percent were able to
identify leafy vegetables as a source of folic acid and 97 percent named dairy
products as sources of calcium. However, more than two-thirds of women (68
percent) say their doctor has never told them anything about DHA, and more than
seven out of ten (72 percent) have absolutely no idea how to get DHA into their
diet.
The Big 3 for Baby and Me
“Folic acid, calcium with vitamin D and DHA Omega-3 - together, they make up
the Big 3 essential nutrients that are important before, during and after
pregnancy. Fortunately, by paying attention to what they eat, women can easily
obtain these nutrients through a balanced diet, fortified foods and supplements,”
said Phyllis Greenberger, M.S.W., president and CEO of the Society for Women's
Health Research.
In addition to eating a balance of foods during pregnancy and breastfeeding,
women should include the following nutrients in their diets:
-- Folic acid: 400 mcg/day to make healthy cells and prevent certain birth
defects. The recommendation for folic acid can be met by consuming enriched
cereals and grains, by taking a multivitamin, or folic acid supplements.
-- Calcium with vitamin D: 1,000 mg of calcium with 200 IU of vitamin D per day
for strong bones and teeth. Calcium is readily available in dairy products and
fortified foods.
-- DHA Omega-3: 300 mg/day for a healthy pregnancy and ongoing health. DHA is
found in cold-water oily fish, such as mackerel, herring and salmon. However,
pregnant women and women considering pregnancy should not eat certain types of
fish because of contaminants which have been shown to harm an unborn infant's
nervous system, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. An
algal-based source of DHA has been added as an ingredient to some eggs, soymilk,
nutrition bars and other foods, providing a safe and healthy alternative. Women
should check nutrition labels and ask their grocers and health care providers
what foods contain algal-based sources of DHA. Algal-based DHA is also available
as a supplement.
Other Survey Findings:
-- Wishful thinking: If they could choose to add DHA to a food, more than a
third (39 percent) chose cereal or cereal bars, followed by milk (36 percent),
orange juice (34 percent) and pasta (25 percent). A hopeful 19 percent wished
that DHA could be added to chocolate.
-- Eating more, but enjoying it less: Forty-two percent eat more food than usual
during pregnancy, and 33 percent are unable to eat foods they normally like.
-- The fish factor: Just 17 percent of women are aware that fish is a source of
DHA. When informed that pregnant women are advised to minimize or avoid fish
because it may contain mercury, 88 percent of respondents said they would be
interested in purchasing a product that would help them get DHA without having
to eat fish.
-- Less educated are at a disadvantage: Awareness of DHA is higher (42 percent)
among women who have college degrees, but dips to just 34 percent with those who
have a high school diploma or less.
-- A little knowledge goes a long way: Once advised of DHA's benefits -
including how it helps brain, heart and eye development in infants and lowers
the risk of pre-term birth and the baby blues - more than nine out of ten say
they would include DHA in their diet while pregnant (92 percent).
-- To learn more about what foods to eat and what foods to avoid before, during
and after pregnancy, please visit http://www.womenshealthresearch.org.
About the Society for Women's Health Research
The Society for Women's Health Research is the nation's only nonprofit
organization whose mission is to improve the health of all women through
research, education and advocacy. Founded in 1990, the Society brought to
national attention the need for the appropriate inclusion of women in major
medical research studies and the need for more information about conditions
affecting women disproportionately, predominately, or differently than men. The
Society advocates increased funding for research on women's health; encourages
the study of sex differences that may affect the prevention, diagnosis and
treatment of disease; promotes the inclusion of women in medical research
studies; and informs women, providers, policy makers and media about
contemporary women's health issues. Visit the Society's Web site at www.womenshealthresearch.org
for more information.
(1) The public opinion survey on
nutrients women need before, during and after pregnancy was conducted Aug.
23-31, 2006, by Kelton Research of Los Angeles, Calif., on behalf of the Society
for Women's Health Research via telephone among a national representative sample
of 500 women, 18 years of age or older, who have one or more children age 3 and
under, are pregnant, or are nursing. The margin of error for the survey is
+/-4.4 percentage points.
(2) Jensen CL, et al. Effect
of Maternal Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) Supplementation on Neuropsychological and
Visual Status of Former Breast-fed Infants at Five Years of Age (abstr.).
Pediatric Research, 2004. 49:181A.
Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR)
Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR)
1025 Connecticut Ave. NW, Ste. 701
Washington, DC 20036
United States
(Okt.
2006)