It is important to avoid vitamin A during pregnancy because it may cause damage to the embryo. Foods containing large amounts of vitamin A include liver, and should be eaten on an occasional basis only. Unpasteurised cheeses, blue-veined cheeses and pâté are also not recommended because of the possible risk of transmission of infectious diseases such as Listeria.
Constipation during pregnancy can be caused by hormonal changes that cause the intestines to move less. Iron supplements can also cause constipation. To avoid constipation, eat lots of fibre-rich foods such as fruit, vegetables, wholemeal bread and cereal, prunes and prune juice. Drinking 2 to 3 litres of water each day will also help prevent constipation by keeping stools moist. Regular exercise will also help get the intestines moving. About 20 to 30 minutes' swimming or brisk walking two to three times a week is a good level of exercise to aim for.
A pharmacist will be able to provide advice about over-the-counter preparations that are safe to use during pregnancy to relieve constipation. It is not necessary to be obsessive about your weight during pregnancy. Many obstetricians have stopped weighing women other than at their first visit because the information is of little use in detecting problems with the mother or her baby.However, excess weight gain is probably best avoided since most women will want to return to the same dress size within a few months of delivery.
What foods should be avoided during pregnancy and to avoid constipation
Food for pregnant lady
A French company has developed a new line of food products for pregnant women. Dubbed Luna, the range consists of eight products made with organic ingredients, all aimed at ensuring women get the nutrients they need for a healthy pregnancy. Included are honey & sesame biscuits that are rich in iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and fibre; and a herbal infusion that promotes healthy circulation. While the benefits of dietary supplements continue to be contested by those who insist that a well-balanced and varied diet contain all the nutrients people need, nutraceuticals (also known as functional food) are big business. Website: www.lunabio.com
It has often been said that a pregnant woman should eat for two people, but this is not true. What is true is that during pregnancy a woman has to provide good nutrition for two individuals. The growing baby gets all its nourishment from its mother through the umbilical cord, so diet is very important. If the mother is lacking in any vitamins and nutrients her baby might lack them too.If a woman has had trouble keeping her weight up or down before the pregnancy, she should make a nutritional plan with the help of her doctor or midwife.
Surprisingly, we haven't seen other brands target pregnant women with similar product lines, except for nutrition bars. Seems like a smart move by Luna. One to bring to a market near you? You might want to read female fever first, briefing on creating products and services for women.
The Key to a Flat Tummy isn't just Abs Exercises
There is a massive misconception in the fitness industry that you need to do situps and crunches in order to get a toned set of abs.
It is not fully correct.
I think the reason this misconception is so widely spread is because it allows the big fitness corporations to sell products to women who think that the regular abs exercises don’t work. I mean, have you ever watched television after about 11pm at night? If you have you will know what I am talking about. Commercial after commercial of the crappiest abs machines you could ever dream of! Half the time it looks like the machine is doing the crunches, not the person.
The reason cardio and diet is so important for your abs is simple. We have all heard it before but judging by the amount of emails I get asking me this question it seems I need to mention it again:
If you have a layer of fat over your abs you will never ever see them!
It is that simple. How can we expect to have a set of shapely and firm abdominal muscles if there is a layer of squishy fat covering them? It would be like trying to see the outline of a brick wrapped up in a blanket. Not possible.
It is for this reason that you must focus on losing weight if you want to create some visible abs. And the best way to lose weight is with a healthy clean diet and some good old cardio.
Abs are made in the kitchen
It is an old saying but it still holds true. No amount of cardio or abs exercises is going to help your tummy if your diet is beer and chips!
As far as toning your muscles go, diet is the most important thing. If you get your diet on track then the cardio and resistance training that you have to do will be reduced.
Did you all hear that?
That’s right! Control your diet and you can spend less time in the gym. If you have a Coke with lunch then you can add on about 25 minutes of running if you want to burn off all the sugar to stop it from being stored as fat. If you had water or tea instead of that Coke you wouldn’t have to worry about it.
I look at it like this: if my diet is clean then everything I do at the gym is positive, not negative. What this means is that I am playing “get ahead” not “catch up”. People who eat crap food and then go to the gym are playing catch up because they are trying to burn calories. That is an uphill battle. People who eat cleanly and then go to the gym are playing get ahead because everything they do is going show results sooner. It is a much easier way to go about your weight loss persuits.
Conclusion
If you want to see some sexy abs and a nice flat stomach then start today by cleaning out your kitchen and making a promise to eat natural, healthy, vitamin rich foods. Swap Coke and sugary drinks for water and milk and swap candy, pasta and breads for fruits, vegetables and nuts.
