Comments on: Dear Mark: Pregnancy Diet Tips for Inquiring Minds http://www.marksdailyapple.com/pregnant-diet/ Serving up health and fitness insights (daily, of course) with a side of irreverence. Fri, 04 Jul 2008 20:57:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Mark’s Daily Apple » Blog Archive » Questions About Soy Formula http://www.marksdailyapple.com/pregnant-diet/#comment-54357 Mark’s Daily Apple » Blog Archive » Questions About Soy Formula Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:44:44 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/pregnant-diet/#comment-54357 [...] Pregnancy Diet Tips for the Inquiring Mind [...] [...] Pregnancy Diet Tips for the Inquiring Mind [...]

]]> By: Migraineur http://www.marksdailyapple.com/pregnant-diet/#comment-22668 Migraineur Thu, 10 Jan 2008 17:49:26 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/pregnant-diet/#comment-22668 Zorbs - you might try tracking your normal diet for several weeks before you ever see a doctor to show that you get adequate folate. (Of course, if you're not getting adequate folate, you should start eating more leafy greens and other folate-rich foods.) I personally would prefer not to take a prenatal vitamin, either - I do take vitamins and supplements, but I put a lot of effort into reading labels and getting the most bioactive form of an ingredient. I'm not thrilled about taking a supp just because a mainstream medical practitioner prescribes it. Mark, I wonder if you can further clarify "you need twice as much iron as you normally do." That doesn't necessarily mean you should consume twice as much iron as you ordinarily do - it means you should consume twice the RDA, right? I think that's important to note, because excessive iron is a bad thing. Also, isn't it better to get heme iron than the reduced iron that's in breakfast cereals and a lot of supplements? Zorbs - you might try tracking your normal diet for several weeks before you ever see a doctor to show that you get adequate folate. (Of course, if you’re not getting adequate folate, you should start eating more leafy greens and other folate-rich foods.) I personally would prefer not to take a prenatal vitamin, either - I do take vitamins and supplements, but I put a lot of effort into reading labels and getting the most bioactive form of an ingredient. I’m not thrilled about taking a supp just because a mainstream medical practitioner prescribes it.

Mark, I wonder if you can further clarify “you need twice as much iron as you normally do.” That doesn’t necessarily mean you should consume twice as much iron as you ordinarily do - it means you should consume twice the RDA, right? I think that’s important to note, because excessive iron is a bad thing. Also, isn’t it better to get heme iron than the reduced iron that’s in breakfast cereals and a lot of supplements?

]]> By: Pelikan http://www.marksdailyapple.com/pregnant-diet/#comment-22295 Pelikan Tue, 08 Jan 2008 13:32:14 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/pregnant-diet/#comment-22295 Zorbs, I think yes, because folic acid is very important, as Karen said. It is most important just before pregnancy and during the three first months. At the end of the pregnancy it may be advisable to take extra iron and maybe other supplements. There are alternatives, and you might want to look into which important nutrients might be found in what food. If you tell your doctor that you refuse to take supplements, I hope he will do the best of the situation and that he is able to inform you what "natural" food to eat instead. Zorbs, I think yes, because folic acid is very important, as Karen said. It is most important just before pregnancy and during the three first months. At the end of the pregnancy it may be advisable to take extra iron and maybe other supplements.

There are alternatives, and you might want to look into which important nutrients might be found in what food. If you tell your doctor that you refuse to take supplements, I hope he will do the best of the situation and that he is able to inform you what “natural” food to eat instead.

]]> By: Zorbs http://www.marksdailyapple.com/pregnant-diet/#comment-22224 Zorbs Tue, 08 Jan 2008 02:36:57 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/pregnant-diet/#comment-22224 for various reasons, I refuse to take vitamins. My diet is mostly organic and includes a large variety of fruits & vegetables. When it comes time for me to get pregnant, I don't intend on taking prenatal vitamins, or pills of any type. Will I have a lot of trouble finding a doctor who will support me on this? for various reasons, I refuse to take vitamins. My diet is mostly organic and includes a large variety of fruits & vegetables.

When it comes time for me to get pregnant, I don’t intend on taking prenatal vitamins, or pills of any type. Will I have a lot of trouble finding a doctor who will support me on this?

]]> By: Mark http://www.marksdailyapple.com/pregnant-diet/#comment-22222 Mark Tue, 08 Jan 2008 02:33:13 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/pregnant-diet/#comment-22222 <p>Surplusj,</p> <p>Flax is NOT as good as purified fish oil. It's an OK fallback or substitute if you are vegetarian, but here's the issue: We are looking for the most beneficial forms of Omega 3 DHA and EPA, both of which are present in the fish oil, but not in the flax. Your body will take some of the ALA (the form of omega 3 that's in the flax) and enzymatically convert it to EPA and/or DHA, but the body doesn't always have the tools or the inclination to perform that task as effectively as we'd like. That's why I recommend you go straight for the fish oil. Still haven't convinced my vegetarian son of that though...</p> Surplusj,

Flax is NOT as good as purified fish oil. It’s an OK fallback or substitute if you are vegetarian, but here’s the issue: We are looking for the most beneficial forms of Omega 3 DHA and EPA, both of which are present in the fish oil, but not in the flax. Your body will take some of the ALA (the form of omega 3 that’s in the flax) and enzymatically convert it to EPA and/or DHA, but the body doesn’t always have the tools or the inclination to perform that task as effectively as we’d like. That’s why I recommend you go straight for the fish oil. Still haven’t convinced my vegetarian son of that though…

]]> By: Karen http://www.marksdailyapple.com/pregnant-diet/#comment-22219 Karen Tue, 08 Jan 2008 02:17:34 +0000 http://www.marksdailyapple.com/pregnant-diet/#comment-22219 Pregnant women should be sure to take adequate folic acid (vitamin B9) on a daily basis to protect against neural tube defects. As Mark said, discuss this with your pregancy health care practitioner. Pregnant women should be sure to take adequate folic acid (vitamin B9) on a daily basis to protect against neural tube defects. As Mark said, discuss this with your pregancy health care practitioner.

]]>