What Foods and Drinks Should Be Avoided or Emphasized During Pregnancy?

As seen in the July/August 2019 issue of Advancing Care.

“Food is what builds a baby’s body, so you need the highest-quality nutrition to have a healthy pregnancy,” says Dean Bloch, MD, Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at HealthAlliance Hospital: Broadway Campus, a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth).

“Avoid processed foods. When you look at a tomato, for example, you don’t have to look at a label; you know it’s real food.”

The essence of good nutrition is fruits and vegetables “of different colors,” says Dr. Bloch. Any type of protein also is beneficial.

Foods to avoid include sugary drinks. “I suggest that my patients drink water and tea or coffee (one to two cups daily); that’s pretty much it,” he says, adding that fruit juices should be consumed in moderation, due to the high sugar content. Supplements, like fish-oil DHA, are also important (500 to 1,000 mg. daily). Soft cheeses, cold cuts and raw sushi are not recommended, due to the risk of listeria.

He also recommends 4,000 IUs daily of vitamin D and a good prenatal vitamin with iodine, which plays an essential role in bone and brain development.

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Visit us at HealthAlliance Hospital: Broadway Campus, a member of Westchester Medical Center Health Network, to learn more. Advancing Care. Here.