Читать книгу Need to Know Fertility, Conception and Pregnancy - Harriet Sharkey - Страница 37

A balanced diet provides you with:

• protein for muscles and other structures

• calcium for bones

• carbohydrates for energy

• fats for cell growth

• vitamins for key body functions

An optimal nutritional balance is the first step to giving your baby the best start in life. The requirements for protein, iron, calcium and vitamins B, C, D and E increase in pregnancy, but a well-balanced diet usually provides you with enough protein, vitamins and minerals to meet these extra demands.

Your baby’s health depends to a great extent on the health of not only you but also your partner at the moment of conception. You increase your chances of conceiving a healthy baby if you both eat a healthy, varied diet. Ideally, you should keep your intake of foods rich in fat and sugar to a minimum and your diet should include:

• a good selection of fresh vegetables and raw fruit (taking care to wash them thoroughly) to provide vitamins and fibre

• foods rich in protein, such as lean meat, fish, poultry, eggs and beans

• foods rich in calcium, such as milk, cheese and yoghurt

• cereals, bread, pasta and potatoes to provide carbohydrates and additional fibre

It is also sensible to combine this diet with an adequate fluid intake. Water is better than coffee, tea or sugar-rich drinks, such as cola.