ARE DIET'S SAFE WHILE PREGNANT?

While many women love the feeling of being pregnant, it’s also not uncommon for some to struggle with the changes that their body is undergoing and feel uncomfortable with any associated weight gain during this time. As a result, some may seek out weight loss plans. But the questions remains- are diets safe while pregnant? 

Well, the general consensus is that weight loss diets are not safe or recommended during pregnancy. Why is this exactly? Lets start by looking at the reason for normal weight gain during pregnancy. Did you know that a small amount of weight gain is natural and actually serves a purpose by protecting the baby and offering extra nourishment both during the pregnancy and breastfeeding stage? Pretty important huh? Who would have thought that a little bit of weight gain was actually necessary!

Just as important is the fact that a women’s nutrient requirements increase during pregnancy to help with the correct growth and development of the foetus. Dietary requirements for both macronutrients (which are fats, carbohydrate and protein) and micronutrient (vitamins and minerals) increase during pregnancy. Most diets/ weightloss programs often eliminate certain food groups from the diet, or reduce them considerably, which can lead to a lower intake of certain nutrients. Why is this so important you might be wondering? Well normally a lower intake of essential nutrients is not a huge concern in the short term in order to achieve a healthy weight. But your baby is going take any nutrients it’s needs off you, leaving you with depleted levels,. Even worse, if you’re starved for nutrients so much so that you’re baby can’t get enough from you, it could mean development and growth impairment for your baby, not to mention a risk of some serious health conditions like Spina Bifida (which ocuurs in 1 in 10,000 live in births 1). 

But probably the most important thing any pregnant mother should be aware of before they dismiss weight loss diets as being ok during pregnancy, is this:, when a person goes into ‘fat burning mode’, during a weight loss diet, toxins are released into your bloodstream. Many of the toxins we come in contact with in day to day life are stored in our fatty tissue. As we burn fat these nasty toxins get released into our system. Now an adult can cope with a particular amount of these and detoxify them easily but an unborn baby who is not fully developed yet will not be able to process them, and so they could cause harm to your baby.

So if you shouldn’t embark on a weight loss diet while pregnant, does that mean you’re destined to pack on the pounds while “eating for two” during your pregnancy? Here’s some more food for thought. The best Diets during pregnancy include a wide variety of fresh, wholesome food which will ensure mother and baby are getting all the nutrients they require. And the best part? When you eat a wide variety of fresh wholesome foods not only will you be giving your baby the best start in life, and giving your body all the nutrients it requires so you’ve got all the energy you need, BUT you’ll find most of your weight gain will just be from the normal pregnancy bodily changes like the baby itself, placenta and extra blood volume. No weight loss diets necessary! Some of the vital nutrients needed in your diet when pregnant include folic acid, Vitamin D, Iodine, Calcium, Iron and the essential fatty acids EPA and DHA (your omega 3 healthy fats) which can all be obtained from a balanced diet of lots of fresh food.

Key things to remember:

Weight loss diets are generally not safe while pregnant

If you become pregnant stop any weight loss diets you are on.

Start including a wide variety of fresh foods from different food groups into your diet.

Never restrict major food groups during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Don’t be fooled into thinking anything and everything is ok to eat – it’s all about maximizing nutrients for the calories you’re eating. Diets that are high in processed, high calorie food can be just as nutrient depriving.