What are the nutritious foods for pregnant women? What are the fastest and best foods for pregnant women to supplement calcium?

Diet is very important during pregnancy. If you eat food that you are not allowed to eat, it is very likely to affect the baby in your belly. In addition, mothers also need to pay attention to supplementing the necessary nutrients to make the baby in their belly healthier. So what should pregnant women eat to be nutritious? What can pregnant women eat to supplement calcium the fastest and best?

1. Protein. Since the early embryo lacks protein for synthesizing amino acids, the amino acids required for fetal development cannot be synthesized by itself and all need to be supplied by the mother. If the expectant mother does not take in enough protein, it may cause the fetus to grow slowly and be too small. Therefore, during this period, pregnant women should eat foods rich in high-quality protein such as livestock and poultry meat, milk, eggs, fish and soy products that are easy to digest, absorb and utilize, and ensure that they take in at least 40 grams of protein every day to meet the needs of the mother.

2. Carbohydrates. There are five major sources of carbohydrates in food: grains, vegetables, fruits, milk and sugar. Carbohydrates can provide calories, especially glucose, which is the main source of energy for the fetus. Because the fetus consumes more maternal glucose, it needs to be replenished in time to avoid ketone bodies accumulating in the blood due to hunger, accumulating in the amniotic fluid and being absorbed by the fetus.

3. Minerals. The minerals mentioned here mainly refer to zinc and copper. Zinc deficiency in the early embryo can lead to fetal growth retardation, bone and visceral malformations, and can also interfere with the mitosis and differentiation of central nervous cells. Severe zinc deficiency can cause fetal malformations such as spina bifida and hydrocephalus. Insufficient copper intake can also lead to fetal bone and visceral malformations. In the early stages of pregnancy, pregnant women should eat foods containing trace elements such as zinc and copper that are required for fetal development. Seafood, red meat, and animal offal are excellent sources of zinc. Dried fruits, cereal germs, and wheat bran are also rich in zinc. Foods rich in copper include shellfish, animal liver and kidney, fish, nuts, and dried beans. Oysters are particularly high in copper.

4. Vitamins. Women in early pregnancy need to supplement adequate B vitamins, vitamin C, folic acid and other nutrients due to metabolic changes and pregnancy reactions. Pregnant women should eat more meat, eggs, various vegetables and fruits to supplement vitamins in early pregnancy. Those with severe vomiting should eat more alkaline foods such as vegetables and fruits to prevent acidosis.

5. Folic acid. Severe folic acid deficiency or taking folic acid antagonists in early pregnancy can cause neural tube defects in the fetus. Existing studies have confirmed that increasing folic acid intake before and after pregnancy can prevent the occurrence of most neural tube defects. Various vegetables, animal liver, kidney, egg yolk, oranges, bananas, yeast, etc. are all food sources rich in folic acid, and beans also contain a lot of folic acid.

If a pregnant woman is calcium deficient, she can choose food to supplement calcium or choose calcium tablets suitable for pregnant women under the advice of a doctor. Calcium-supplementing foods include dairy products, seafood, soy products, nuts, and animal bone soups. Food calcium supplements are safer and can ingest other nutrients. Pregnant women should not only pay attention to calcium supplementation but also to the supplementation of other nutrients, because the fetus will absorb a large amount of maternal nutrition during development. Maternal malnutrition will not only have adverse effects on itself but also seriously affect fetal development. Women can consume more foods rich in vitamins, high protein, and some iron-rich foods during pregnancy. They can also take folic acid in moderation under the guidance of a doctor to prevent neural tube defects, hydrocephalus and other symptoms of the fetus. After three months of pregnancy, the fetus has developed and needs more calcium to meet normal growth and development. At this time, pregnant mothers should eat more calcium-rich foods, including milk and dairy products such as milk, milk powder, yogurt, cheese, etc. Pregnant women can eat soy products to supplement calcium appropriately. Seafood is recognized as a fast calcium supplement food, such as crucian carp, carp, shrimp, dried shrimp, kelp, seaweed, sea cucumber, etc. These seafood are not only high in calcium, but also rich in high-quality protein. They have extremely high nutritional value and are also the fastest and best calcium supplement foods.

1. Crucian carp contains free amino acids, protein, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, niacin, calcium, sodium, iron, phosphorus, etc. It has the effects of nourishing the middle and replenishing qi, promoting dampness and promoting lactation. It is a high-protein, low-fat food. Crucian carp and eggs, which nourish yin and moisten dryness, nourish blood and calm wind, are made into dishes. It has the effects of producing essence and nourishing blood, nourishing internal organs, and promoting lactation. Eating it after childbirth can not only increase milk secretion, but also promote maternal recovery, complementing each other.

2. Tofu and fermented rice soup: This soup has the effects of nourishing blood, promoting lactation, clearing away heat and detoxifying. If women eat it regularly after childbirth, it can not only increase milk secretion, but also promote uterine recovery and help eliminate postpartum lochia.

3. Peanut Chicken Feet Soup: This soup contains protein, fat, sugar, calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, niacin, vitamin C, etc. It has the effects of nourishing blood and promoting lactation, promoting blood circulation and stopping bleeding, and strengthening tendons and bones. If women eat it after childbirth, it can promote milk secretion, help the uterus recover, promote the discharge of lochia, and prevent postpartum hemorrhage.

1. Hot foods: Chili peppers, peppers, star anise, fennel, etc. are not good for the intestines of pregnant women. They will cause a decrease in gastric gland secretion, and even cause stomach pain and constipation. When pregnant women defecate too hard, the uterus will be compressed, which can cause miscarriage.

2. Stimulating food: Drinks like coffee, if consumed in large quantities by pregnant mothers, are likely to cause nausea, vomiting, increased heart rate, and other symptoms. The caffeine in coffee can also pass through the placenta into the baby's body, causing problems with fetal development. Moreover, the caffeine in tea is not good for the health of pregnant women and their fetuses.

3. Sweets: Sweets will affect the absorption of other nutrients by pregnant women, causing nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy, which will cause insufficient nutrition for the fetus and may cause miscarriage.

4. Seasonings: For example, MSG is a common seasoning. Since MSG contains a lot of sodium glutamate, the zinc in the blood will combine with it and be excreted from the urine. Therefore, excessive intake of MSG will cause pregnant women to lose zinc, which is not good for fetal development and may cause miscarriage.

5. Alcoholic beverages: Alcohol is sweet, spicy and warm in nature, while shochu is very hot. Although it can open up the meridians, resist cold, and promote the effectiveness of medicines, its spicy and hot nature can help increase heat, eliminate fetal qi, and affect the growth and development of the fetus. Therefore, alcoholic beverages should be avoided during pregnancy.