Sarah Palin Health Advices

Vitamins and minerals help your body use the energy provided food for you and your baby. They also help repair and maintain cells and tissues.

You can get the most vitamins and minerals they need through a healthy diet. Since it is difficult to get enough iron, folic acid and calcium from food, many pregnant women take a prenatal vitamin every day.

Folic acid is one of the vitamins contained in most prenatal vitamins. The Institute of Medicine recommends that women consume 600 micrograms of folic acid daily (from supplements and food) once to get pregnant. Most prenatal vitamins contain this amount or up to 1,000 micrograms of folic acid.

What You Can Do
Take your prenatal vitamin every day. Take vitamins as indicated. Read the label and call your healthcare professional.

Do not consume more vitamins and minerals unless your health care professional has recommended it. Taking large amounts of vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin A, can be dangerous. Do not take more than 5,000 IU (international units) of vitamin A daily. Also do not take more than 1,000 micrograms (1 milligram) of folic acid without first talking to your healthcare professional.

Eat a diet that includes a wide variety of healthy and nutritious. What are some good options? Fruits, vegetables, breads and pasta, dairy and protein sources of low fat, like low-fat red meat, beans, tofu, poultry and some fish. (See Food Safety A list of fish that pregnant women should not eat).

If you have trouble digesting lactose (the natural sugar in milk), the low-lactose milk products and orange juice fortified with calcium can help you get the calcium you need.

Vitamins and minerals
Vitamins and minerals offer the body the nutrients it needs to stay healthy and repair any damage. You can get most of the vitamins by eating a healthy diet that includes:

* Fruits
* Plants
* Bread and pasta
* Dairy products
* Beans
* Low-fat meat
* Poultry
* Fish low in mercury

Supplements
It may be difficult for some people to get enough vitamins and minerals from diet alone. They may need a supplement. A supplement is usually in the form of tablets or capsules.

Examples of people who may need a supplement are:

* Women who may become pregnant should take a daily multivitamin containing 400 micrograms of folic acid to help prevent certain birth defects in the baby. Although women are using contraception, is a good idea if you take a multivitamin, if you become pregnant.
* Pregnant women often take a prenatal vitamin. Contains folic acid and important nutrients needed during pregnancy.
* People with certain health conditions may need extra vitamins and minerals. Some diseases, such as anemia, may occur because the body does not have enough of certain nutrients like iron. People with these diseases may get extra nutrients through diet or supplements.

Important nutrients during pregnancy
During pregnancy, your health professional can give you a prescription for a prenatal vitamin for you and your baby receive the important nutrients for health. You can also buy prenatal vitamins over the counter in most pharmacies.

Folic acid is one of the nutrients included in most prenatal vitamins.

* Folic acid helps prevent birth defects of the brain and spine or spinal cord. It can also protect pregnant women against cancer and stroke.
* Pregnant women should get 600 micrograms of folic acid daily from foods and supplements.
* Most prenatal vitamins contain 600 to 1,000 micrograms of folic acid.

Iron is another important nutrient for pregnant women. Also found in prenatal vitamins.

* Iron helps in muscle development in the mother and baby.
* Helps prevent anemia, a condition in which red blood cells of women are very small and low quantity. Red blood cells carry oxygen around your body and baby.
* The iron can also reduce the risk of premature birth and low birth weight.

Calcium is also available in prenatal vitamins, helps strengthen bones and teeth in the mother and baby.

* Calcium helps maintain healthy nervous system, muscle and blood.
* When a pregnant woman is not getting enough calcium in your diet, the body takes calcium from your bones to offer the developing baby.
* Have less calcium in the bones can cause serious health conditions later in life, such as osteoporosis. In osteoporosis, bones are thin, and the person has a higher risk of fractures.

Docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, a type of omega-3 fatty acid. Helps sustain the development and function of the brain and eyes of the baby.

* Women must obtain at least 200 milligrams of DHA daily.
* Can be difficult to find prenatal vitamins that contain DHA. But some prenatal vitamins are packaged and sold with a bottle of DHA to the side.

Remember, before taking any supplement, talk with your healthcare professional to find out if you need and how to take. Some supplements may be harmful during pregnancy. Furthermore, large amounts of some can be risky. For example, taking too much vitamin A during pregnancy can cause birth defects. Do not take more than 5,000 IU (international units) of vitamin A daily.

Tags: Folic Acid, minerals, nutrients, Pregnancy, supplements, vitamins