The Best Foods to Eat When Pregnant (& the Reasons Why!)

As a pregnant woman, you will have no doubt already read an endless number of online articles, invested in tens of books on the subject and are generally ensconced in the impending arrival of your baby.

Even though, as you are quite literally ‘eating for two,’ following your cravings and indulging in your favorite food is to be encouraged, there are foods that offer a range of benefits to both you and your baby.

Here are the best foods to eat when pregnant and the core reasons why.

Leafy Greens

 Dark and leafy greens such as spinach and kale may not taste as good as other vegetables, but both are packed full of essential nutrients to help keep both you and your baby strong.

Should you heavily dislike their taste, you can disguise this by adding a sprinkling of kale to a dish of homemade soup or a handful of spinach mixed into a pasta dish.

Not only do leafy greens contain good levels of iron, potassium and folate, but their high fiber content can help with constipation, and such vegetables have also been linked to ensuring a baby is of a healthy weight.

Avocados

Avocados are a rich source of important antioxidants, and alsoprovide an ample supply of copper, potassium and B Vitamins, all of which will be used by your body to help build and maintain the brain and tissue of your growing baby.

Along with bananas, avocados are such a good source of potassium that both have been linked to easing the distracting and sometimes painful leg cramps many pregnant women experience.

Avocados also contain fats, but the healthy kind, which can help to prevent brain abnormalities in your baby, and their folate content will serve to strengthen the spine.

Indian Food

Whether you are someone who entertains the notion that eating curries will bring on the labor of a full-term baby or not, there is a plethora of additional links between Indian cuisine and a healthy pregnancy.

Choose dishes containing high levels of herbs and spices, specifically fenugreek and cardamom, as research suggests both are beneficial to pregnant women and women who choose to breastfeed their babies.

Leading and entirely authentic Indian restaurant urban-tandoor.com in Bristol is a perfect example of a restaurant offering a full dining experience, or the delicious and high-quality delivery of their food, all of which is freshly prepared.

Lean Chicken & Beef

 When it comes to protein, providing both are cooked safely, you simply cannot go wrong with including more lean beef and chicken into your meals whilst pregnant, as they contain vital vitamins which your body will require more of, such as choline and iron.

Your red blood cells require a healthy level of iron in order toavoid the risk of developing anemia, a potentially serious disease that has been linked to complications during birth.

To increase the absorption of iron into both you and your baby's body, pair a meal of lean meat with tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables rich in Vitamin C.