According to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the majority of pregnant women have serious heart health risks while pregnant. The first of its kind to examine the cardiovascular health of pregnant women in the United States, the study included 15 years of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, consisting of records from 1,117 pregnant women and 8,200 women who were not pregnant.
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Researchers examined the records and assessed the data by accounting for exercise, diet, body mass index, nonsmoking, blood pressure levels, total cholesterol and blood glucose. They found that 4.6% of the pregnant women had high cardiovascular health, while 61% had moderate cardiovascular health and 35% had low cardiovascular health. Groups most affected by poor heart health during pregnancy were younger mothers and African American mothers.
Women can reduce their risk of poor heart health while pregnant by staying active and eating a healthy diet. Research has shown that exercise during pregnancy can help strengthen and improve overall musculoskeletal and psychologic health, as well as reduce pregnancy-related symptoms such as back pain and swelling. If you're a woman in your childbearing years and you're planning to have children any time soon, it's imperative that you start exercising and eating healthy now. Some of the top foods and nutrients to consume while you’re pregnant include:
- Vitamin D
- Organic free-range eggs
- Wild-caught Alaskan salmon
- Full-fat grass fed dairy
- Sweet potatoes
- Broccoli and leafy greens
- Grass fed beef and pasture-raised chicken
- Berries
- Avocados
- Chia seeds
One additional food group that hasn't yet been mentioned, but is crucially important for pregnant women, is fermented foods. Nearly everyone can benefit from the beneficial microbes in fermented vegetables, but if you are pregnant or planning to be, this is of utmost importance to you and your new baby. Research shows giving pregnant women and newborns doses of good bacteria like those found in fermented vegetables may: radically reduce your child’s risk of developing autism, help optimize your baby’s weight later in life, help prevent childhood allergies, reduce your risk of premature labor, improve the symptoms of colic and protect babies from developing eczema in childhood.