Table of contents:
- The nutritional needs of pregnant women that must be met
- 1. Folic acid
- 2. Vitamin B12
- 3. Choline
- 4. Omega 3 fatty acids
- 5. Vitamin D
- 6. Calcium
- 7. Iron
- Regular milk and milk for pregnant women, what's the difference?
- Meet the nutritional needs of pregnant women
When pregnant, a woman has different nutritional needs than an ordinary woman. One of the common ways to get the necessary nutritional intake is by drinking special milk for pregnant women. So, what is the difference between regular milk and pregnant women's milk? Check out the following explanation.
The nutritional needs of pregnant women that must be met
Basically, ordinary women and pregnant women have nutritional needs that are not much different. The reason is, adult women are classified as women who are ready to get pregnant.
This means that adult women also have an obligation to meet their body's nutritional needs while preparing themselves so that their bodies are ready to carry a fetus.
Nutritional needs for pregnant women can be met by consuming milk which is generally specially formulated for pregnant women, not ordinary milk.
The nutrients needed by an adult woman so that her body is ready for pregnancy are as follows.
1. Folic acid
Folic acid can help prevent birth defects related to the nerves of the baby.
2. Vitamin B12
This vitamin is important for helping the development of the fetal nervous system. A mother who is pregnant should not follow a vegetarian diet for the sake of this vitamin requirement.
Generally, adult women need 2.4 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin B12 levels, while pregnant women need up to 2.6 mcg.
3. Choline
As with folic acid, choline also works to help reduce the risk of birth defects related to nerves. Usually, pregnant women can get these nutrients from commonly consumed milk. In addition, choline can also be obtained from eggs and nuts.
4. Omega 3 fatty acids
Fatty acids, namely EPA and DHA, are useful for forming a healthy brain and nervous system. This nutrient is also good for preventing premature birth.
5. Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a nutrient produced by skin cells when exposed to morning sunlight. Typically, women need up to 600 IU of vitamin D per day.
6. Calcium
Adult women need adequate calcium intake. To prepare, women who want to become pregnant women need 1,000-1,300 milligrams (mg) per day.
7. Iron
One of the most important nutrients for adult women is iron, especially if you are planning to get pregnant. The reason is, a pregnant woman needs 27 mg of iron every day. The volume of blood during pregnancy almost doubles, so the need for iron also increases.
Regular milk and milk for pregnant women, what's the difference?
When pregnant, a pregnant woman must be very concerned about nutritional intake. Moreover, the nutritional needs are not for himself, but also for the baby in the womb. To meet these needs, pregnant women can regularly consume milk.
Regular cow's milk contains various nutrients needed by pregnant women, including calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D, riboflavin, vitamin B12, selenium, potassium, pantothenic acid, thiamin, and zinc. This nutritional content makes milk one of the best drinks for consumption by pregnant women.
Milk for pregnant women that is widely circulating in the market is basically ordinary cow's milk. However, usually ordinary cow's milk has been fortified or has added nutrients that are really needed by pregnant women.
It is true, that ordinary cow's milk also contains nutrients that are no less healthy. However, ordinary milk that has been fortified with various other nutrients may be more suitable to meet the needs of pregnant women.
So it can be concluded that ordinary milk and milk for pregnant women that are widely circulating in the market have differences in their nutritional content. However, basically, the two types of mother's milk are generally cow's milk.
Meet the nutritional needs of pregnant women
Milk is indeed a good alternative if you want to meet nutritional needs as a pregnant woman. Especially if the milk has been fortified in such a way as to meet their needs.
However, apart from using milk, pregnant women can also fulfill their nutritional needs by consuming other foods or drinks that contain the nutrients they really need.
It is also okay for pregnant women to consume regular milk as long as their nutritional needs are met through foods rich in other nutrients.
Make sure pregnant women check the milk packaging before buying. That way, pregnant women can determine the milk that best suits their nutritional needs. Brands may have different nutritional fortifications.
For milk choices, it is better, pregnant women choose low-fat milk. If possible, choose lean. The reason is, the fat contained in milk is usually saturated fat which is not good for health.
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