Help your pregnant daughter eat right

CBSNews.com recently posted an article titled "Tips For Eating Healthfully While Pregnant". This article lists five foods that your pregnant daughter should avoid:

1. Avoid Alcohol. "In the not-so-distant past some doctors suggested moderate drinking during pregnancy might be OK. Not anymore. In an advisory issued by the U.S. government in February 2005, U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona, MD, MPH, issued a warning that no amount of alcohol can be considered safe during pregnancy."
   Why is alcohol dangerous during pregnancy? "Alcohol increases a baby's risk of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) - a series of developmental problems that can affect a child's ability to learn throughout their lifetime. In its most extreme form fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) can cause varying degrees of birth defects and mental retardation."
   What if your daughter drank alcohol before she knew she was pregnant? "If your pregnancy was a surprise - and you unknowingly consumed alcohol during the first several weeks after conception - experts say don't panic. If you stop drinking the moment you discover you're pregnant, and meet your daily requirement of folic acid (400 micrograms) you can dramatically decrease your baby's risk of any serious consequences."


2. Avoid Saccharin. Why avoid this? "This is of concern since some animal studies have shown that in high enough amounts saccharin may increase the risk of bladder cancer. Since research on monkeys has shown that a developing fetus is much less effective at clearing saccharin from the blood than an adult, at least theoretically, amounts of the artificial sweetener can build to a dangerous level."
   What if your daughter consumed saccharin before she knew she was pregnant? "If you were consuming saccharin before you knew you were pregnant, don't panic. The risks are small during the early weeks of pregnancy. As long as you don't consume any more, your baby's health should not be affected."


3. Avoid Seafood with a high mercury level. "According to the March of Dimes, you can safely consume up to 12 ounces (two average meals) per week of fish that is lower in mercury. This includes shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollack, and catfish. The FDA, however, suggests limiting albacore (white) tuna, and tuna steak to 6 ounces per week. These two contain more mercury than canned light tuna."


4. Avoid Too much caffeine. "There isn't anything definitive on caffeine but there is some suggestion it may increase the risk of miscarriage and low birth weight - plus, it's a mild stimulant and a diuretic, both of which are not ideal during pregnancy," says Aston. ... limit consumption to about 300 mg daily, the amount found in around 3 cups of coffee."


5. Avoid Unpasteurized Cheeses and Lunch Meats. Why? "The problem here is a form of food poisoning known as listeriosis . Caused by a bacterium known as Listeria monocytogenes, it can increase the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, or stillbirth. A newborn baby exposed to Listeria can become seriously ill and die." This bacteria has been in the news a lot recently.
   Where is the bacteria found? "This bacteria lurks in foods that are unpasteurized - particularly soft cheeses such as feta, Brie, Camembert, Roquefort, blue-veined, queso blanco, queso fresco, or Panela. Listeria can also be found in unpasteurized fruit juices, as well as hot dogs or deli meats such as ham, turkey, salami, or bologna."

There are some foods your pregnant daughter should be eating:

1. Eat bran cereal with extra fiber. "In research conducted at the Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, doctors found that 24 grams of fiber daily reduced risks of preeclampsia (a dangerous form of high blood pressure) by a whopping 51 percent. Plus, the extra fiber can reduce constipation and help you avoid another common pregnancy problem: hemorrhoids . Most important, many high-fiber cereals are also rich in folic acid. This is important to reduce the risk of birth defects. Cereals containing high fiber and 100 percent of your daily folic acid need include: Kellogg's All Bran, Total Wheat Flakes, Total Corn Flakes, Total Raisin Bran, Kellogg's Product 19, Multigrain Cheerios, and Smart Start."


2. Drink orange juice. "Just 2 cups a day can reduce your blood pressure by up to 10 points, according to experts at The Cleveland Clinic. This could be critical if your pressure rises during pregnancy. The high vitamin C count may also help reduce your risk of preeclampsia (see Banana Strawberry Smoothie). If you choose a brand fortified with calcium, such as Minute Maid or Tropicana, you'll be adding an additional nutritional boost. Orange juice contains a good amount of folic acid - about 15% of the recommended amount of folate each day in an 8-ounce glass."


3. Drink a banana-strawberry smoothie. "This drink is so packed with baby-friendly nutrients it could help reduce pregnancy complications . In a study published in the journal Epidemiology doctors found pregnant women who consumed lots of C-rich foods - such as bananas and strawberries - had a lower risk of preeclampsia. Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill show women lacking vitamin C during pregnancy may have an increased risk of premature rupture of membranes - a leading cause of premature birth. Plus, experts say high-calcium foods like yogurt and milk may help control fluid retention which may further decrease your risk of high blood pressure. To make a smoothie: Combine strawberries and bananas with low-fat milk, or yogurt, plus some ice, in a high-speed blender. Blend until creamy and smooth - and drink up"


4. Eat salmon. "Although the FDA advises limiting salmon to 12 ounces per week, studies published in the BMJ showed just 6 ounces weekly reduces the risk of premature birth from 7.1 percent to just 1.9 percent. To help your newborn sleep soundly, try eating more fish during pregnancy. Indeed, research published in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed babies of mothers who consumed fatty acids found in fish during their last trimester, had healthier sleep patterns. The key component here is a fatty acid known as DHA, which is abundant in cold-water fish such as salmon."


5. Eat low-fat yogurt. "The obvious pregnancy benefits here include high calcium and high protein - both important to your developing baby. But these same foods might also help reduce muscle cramping, a sometimes troubling problem during pregnancy. Calcium can also reduce uncomfortable bloating and water retention. In addition, medical literature indicates that, anecdotally, eating yogurt during pregnancy appears to reduce the risk of yeast infections - another common pregnancy problem."

Take this list of foods with you to your daughter's next doctor's appointment and ask the doctor if all of these foods are appropriate for your daughter. If your daughter has an allergy to any of the beneficial foods, what could she substitute in order to get the nutrition she and her baby need? Help your daughter eat right by serving your entire family food that is healthy. Keep the junk food out of the house so that it doesn't tempt anyone.