Guest Blog by Marc Shelton. Marc Shelton is a health and wellness expert and uses his knowledge of the field to freelance for articles and blogs. He hates treadmills.
Making healthy lifestyle choices come alive is always beneficial for the mind and body, and more so when a new life is developing inside you. Your choices in food and drink will give you a lift that lasts during your pregnancy. Keeping fit is also important after pregnancy. You’re going to need the extra energy to keep up with your little one.
Herbal and loose tea provide many health benefits. Did you know that tea can also be part of a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy? A warm cup of tea can be soothing while a brisk iced tea offers up to be a healthier refreshment option than a soda- tea is also an excellent source of anti-oxidants.
But if you’re worried about which food & drinks to nurture your up while you’re pregnant- here are some tips.
Vitamins:
The nutrients in tea are easy for your body to absorb and extra vitamins are often recommended during pregnancy. It can also be difficult for some women to take vitamin supplements. Red Raspberry leaf is an excellent source of C, E, and B complex vitamins. Red raspberry is also thought to reduce the length of labor for some women. One great recipe for a red raspberry pregnancy tea can be found at Just Making Noise.
Nausea and Morning Sickness:
A warm cup of tea in the morning may be just what you need to reduce morning sickness. Tea can really help at any time of the day. Peppermint leaf and ginger root teas are best for reducing nausea and vomiting.
Relax and Reduce Stress:
A warm cup of tea can give you a relaxing break during the day. A tea with rose hips can provide additional vitamin C to help benefit. Remember that all teas do contain a small amount of caffeine, start a new pregnancy tea slowly and see what works best.
As always, check with your doctor or medical professional before making major dietary changes- especially during pregnancy. Recommendations include limiting tea intake during your first trimester. Choose varieties with low caffeine levels, and do consult your physician for any possible drug reactions when blending your own loose tea.
Healthy Eating:
Salads make a great healthy lifestyle option during pregnancy. Many women want to avoid heavier meals that cause stomach upset. Salads offer an excellent alternative and can be customized to meet most of your cravings, needs, and expectations. Pickles are a great salad addition; ice cream may not work as well. You don’t need to settle for a plain everyday salad. Try adding grilled chicken, thinly sliced steak, or tuna for added protein.
Have a spinach salad for extra iron in your diet. Add shredded cheese to provide some additional calcium. Do avoid unpasteurized cheeses, which may not be healthy during pregnancy. Load up on fresh veggies, including broccoli, diced tomatoes, and carrots. With so many varieties of dressings, you never need to be bored. Create your own fruit salad as a breakfast choice to energize your day.
Fiber is also a benefit of adding more salads to your healthy pregnancy meals. Salads can help reduce the very uncomfortable bouts with constipation. In addition to the health benefits, salads are easy to prepare and can help you spend less time in the kitchen. Fit Pregnancy offers some great suggestions for salad ideas you can try.
If you’re ready to try more recipe ideas, EatingWell.com has an enormous selection of tasty, healthy recipes you can dig into. Don’t stop better eating after the baby is born- you need to be healthy, fit, and energetic for everything life is about to throw at you. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle will also teach your child to stay fit and healthy too.
Albato Healthy Life says
This is especially true during pregnancy when your baby is in need of all the important vitamins and minerals such as calcium, B vitamins, iron, potassium and vitamin C. Pregnant women would do well to start the day with a healthy breakfast because this keeps them energized during the day and the day and it provides them with the recommended calorie intake thoughout the pregnancy.
Joanne says
Thanks for sharing!