Planning A Family?

Get a head start on healthy nutrition

The most important time to pay special attention to nutrition is during preconception and pregnancy. Eating well while planning to have a baby will not only increase the likelihood of becoming pregnant, but also will lower the risk of pregnancy complications and improve the health of your future child. Here are just a few of the critical nutrients to consume, why they are important, and where to find them:

Folic Acid

Importance & New Findings

Low levels of this B-vitamin can lead to neural tube defects such as spina bifida. It’s important for women to consume folic acid before and during early pregnancy. Studies also suggest that folic acid may lower the risk of cleft lip and palate in infants, having a baby with low birth weight, and giving birth prematurely.

Sources
Enriched cereals, breads, pastas, rice, and other grain products are fortified with folic acid. Green leafy vegetables, beans, oranges & bananas are good sources. Taking folic acid containing supplements is also recommended.



GNLD Supplements
Formula IV
Multi
Vitamin B Co. (S/R)

Iron

Importance & New Findings

The amount of blood in the body increases during pregnancy by almost 50%, so you need iron to make more haemoglobin and supply the growing foetus and the placenta. The Centers for Disease Control report that (African American and Hispanic) women, particularly, are at risk for iron deficiency

Sources
Dried beans, fruit, egg yolk, fortified cereals, liver, lean red meat (especially beef), oysters & poultry.



GNLD Supplements
Multi Mineral plus Alfalfa
Formula IV
Chelated Iron

Iodine

Importance & New Findings
Iodine is especially important in women during childbearing years to ensure the best possible brain development of the foetus during pregnancy. According to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control, iodine levels are low in women aged 20-39 year

Sources
Iodised salt, seafood, dairy and eggs.



GNLD Supplements
Formula IV
Multi
Multi Mineral plus Alfalfa

Omega-3 Fats

Importance & New FindingsDHA is an omega-3 fat that supports foetal brain and eye development during the third trimester and in infants up to 18 months of life. EPA and DHA may also play a role in determining the length of pregnancy and in preventing post-pregnancy depression

Sources
Found in cold-water fatty fish like salmon or sardines. Because women tend to get inadequate omega-3 from their diet, and due to concerns about mercury content of larger fish, some experts recommend fish oil supplementation.



GNLD Supplements
Pro Vitality +
Omega-3 Salmon Oil Plus
Omega-3

Good Nutrition Can Also Improve Fertility in Men

For men, some nutrients have been shown to affect fertility. One study has linked higher folic acid intake with a lower risk of chromosome abnormality (aneuploidy) in healthy men. Also, those in the study who got more zinc and beta-carotene had fewer instances of other sperm abnormalities. In a new, preliminary study, a diet high in saturated fat was negatively associated with sperm concentration in healthy men, while higher
intake of omega-3 fats was positively linked to sperm quality.

Article from GNLD Lifestyle Magazine Southern Africa 02/13
References in GNLD Lifestyle Magazine Southern Africa 02/13