Real Food for Pregnancy: The Science and Wisdom of Optimal Prenatal Nutrition

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FAQs: Nutrition during pregnancy. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/nutrition-during-pregnancy. Accessed Jan. 19, 2022. Readers will also be able to identify what specific lab tests, supplements, and proactive steps they can take to support a healthy pregnancy, such as learning the crucial role of mindfulness and stress management, why moving the body is so important, which prenatal exercises are safe and which are not, and will also be given practical steps to reduce exposure to common toxins. Additionally, the information in this book will just be completely inaccessible for so many. If you can't afford a diet of organic, local produce, and free range, grass fed meat and dairy, with a ton of pasture raised organic eggs, this book might just make you feel bad and not do much more. Further, a lot of the writing made me feel like my entire purpose in life is just to be a vessel to grow babies - where's the chapter on what if I want an occasional piece of cake? Instead, you are encouraged to frame everything you eat as will this grow a healthy baby? I have almost finished your book Real Food For Pregnancy and I could just cry with appreciation to learn all this evidence-based information that positively impacts my and my baby’s health! No OB has ever discussed any of this with me! No one has dissected the research on prenatal nutrition—and done so in the context of ancestral diets—to the depth that Lily Nichols has in Real Food for Pregnancy. If you want an evidence-based rebuttal to the outdated prenatal nutrition guidelines, look no further.

Lily Nichols RDN Books - Lily Nichols RDN

Real Food for Pregnancy is doubly important for mamas-to-be, as it goes into detail on a number of topics that aren't usually covered by doctors, including—but not limited to—common nutrient deficiencies in pregnancy (and how they can affect you and baby), lab tests to request from the moment you find out you're pregnant, the benefits of regular movement (as well as a primer on what's safe and what's not), common pregnancy symptoms (and how to manage them), the truth about gestational diabetes (plus what to do if you're diagnosed), and tips on navigating the fourth trimester. She even provides an index of recipes at the end of the book to help with healthy meal planning. For example, deficiencies in choline, vitamin B12, folate, iron, and iodine (among others) can impair brain development. On the flip side, adequate intake of these nutrients is protective. Fact sheet for health professionals: Folate. National Institutes of Health. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Folate-HealthProfessional/. Accessed Jan. 19, 2022. You consider yourself well-read in nutrition—or strive to get a deeper understanding of nutrition—and you’re ok with a slightly higher reading level (there are 934 research citations in this book, though I aim to make it easy to understand even for the non-scientist)Real Food for Pregnancy lays out the evidence—930 citations and counting—on the benefits of real food, why certain foods are essential (and others are detrimental), and countless lifestyle tweaks you can make to have a smooth, healthy pregnancy. These same choices ensure that your baby receives all the nutrients needed for optimal development. Dietary Guidelines for Americans. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov. Accessed Jan. 19, 2022. Good sources: Lean red meat, poultry and fish are good sources of iron. Other options include iron-fortified breakfast cereals, beans and vegetables. Food Real Food for Pregnancy, is a comprehensive book that covers everything a woman needs to know and do, to bear healthy children, to thrive during pregnancy and to recover fast and strong after birth. Lily Nichols, did an excellent job at covering food, exercise, supplements, mindfulness, environment and other factors pertinent to a healthy pregnancy. Mihaela A. Telecan, DVM, MS, RD, CDE Wash all surfaces and utensils, and your hands, after preparing raw foods (poultry, meat, eggs, fish, shellfish and raw vegetables) to help you avoid food poisoning.

Pregnancy diet: Focus on these essential nutrients - Mayo Clinic Pregnancy diet: Focus on these essential nutrients - Mayo Clinic

Lily Nichols, Registered Dietitian, specialist in prenatal nutrition, and best-selling author of Real Food for Gestational Diabetes, has written this book to close the wide gap between current prenatal nutrition recommendations and the actual nutritional needs for optimal health in pregnancy and for a baby's development. With research both broad and deep, Nichols closely examines the most current scientific evidence and studies to determine optimal nutritional options for today's pregnant women. No one has dissected the research on prenatal nutrition—and done so in the context of ancestral diets—to the depth that Lily Nichols has in Real Food for Pregnancy. If you want an evidence-based rebuttal to the outdated prenatal nutrition guidelines, look no further. Robb Wolf

It is a good guide for women at any life stage, not just pregnancy. It is especially helpful for women who are TTC, pregnant, or postpartum, but I think her nutrition information is valuable and applicable for any woman of childbearing age. The recommendations in this book, then, become nearly impossible to follow with any degree of practicality. These are recommendations that presuppose that readers have the knowledge, time, and financial means to make sweeping changes to their dietary habits. While I do not disagree with the recommendations on principle, as Nichols certainly supports her claims with evidence-based research, I do vehemently disagree with their presentation. The author frequently points to the frightening negative effects of less-than-optimal diet, including miscarriage, stillbirth, and various other health deficits for mother and baby, but she does not break down the prevalence of these negative effects, or give any caveat as to the scale or scope of dietary changes that a pregnant person would need to make to avoid these adverse outcomes.

Real Food for Pregnancy Real Food for Pregnancy

Landon MB, et al., eds. Nutrition during pregnancy. In: Gabbe's Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 8th ed. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Jan. 19, 2022. Real Food for Pregnancy is the most important innovation I have seen in pregnancy healthcare in the seventeen years I have worked with expecting and new families. It leverages science and nutrition to help us all achieve the fundamental right of fulfilling our potential in the world. I will share that I stood up and cheered at regular intervals as I read this book. I hope you will, too, and that your provider will cheer with you as you exceed what most think possible in pregnancy health. Jodilyn Owen, LM (WA, TN), CPMWith over 930 citations, Real Food for Pregnancy is an evidence-based book that presents as the most comprehensive text on prenatal nutrition to date.

Real Food for Pregnancy - Lily Nichols RDN Real Food for Pregnancy - Lily Nichols RDN

You also need to make sure that some foods, such as eggs, poultry, burgers, sausages and whole cuts of meat like lamb, beef and pork, are cooked very thoroughly until steaming all the way through. Real Food for Pregnancy covers an astounding amount of research and makes it enjoyable to read, all while giving readers super practical steps to take to ensure their best pregnancies. I really enjoyed reading about the ancestral traditions surrounding pregnancy, and Lily masterfully ties them together with the most up-to-date research available on pregnancy nutrition. This goes way beyond the importance of folate… there are so many amazing science nuggets in here! Even the most up-to-date pregnancy science nerds are guaranteed to learn something (i.e. the uterus contains up to 800% more collagen at the end of pregnancy…woah!). This book is unique in how beautifully it bridges the gap from academia to real-life implementation. I am not aware of a more complete compendium of practical knowledge on pregnancy nutrition, toxin protection, and overall well-being. I’d recommend this book to all women in their childbearing years (and their practitioners). Getting this knowledge out there will lead to more healthy and happy pregnancies, and more happy and healthy mamas and babies! Madeleine Ruffa Written by registered dietitian, Lily Nichols, ​​Real Food for Pregnancy explores the gap between conventional prenatal nutrition guidelines and what the science says (FYI: there’s often a lag time of about 17 years for new research to make it into clinical practice). Hi, I am a homebirth midwife and I refer all my clients to your book for great nutritional advice. I have a question regarding B12 supplementation. Is it safe for a pregnant mother to take 1000mcg of methylcobalmine per day to increase her B12 levels? In your book you don’t recommend a dosage and I would love to know what you suggest. Most supplements have a tiny amount of B12 and I think it’s not enough for a growing fetus.This book is a powerful investment for any woman wanting to ensure the health of herself and her unborn child. It is the perfect blend of science and practicality. I can’t recommend Real Food for Pregnancy highly enough. Belinda Fettke This amazing book is long overdue. As a midwife, I am relieved to finally be able to recommend a one-stop resource for proactive nutritional guidance. It’s reader-friendly and well-organized with loads of information, but at the same time not overwhelming. The information is based on solid research but also from the experience of a professional with a long history of success working with expectant and postpartum mothers. Lily Nichols’ common sense approach is both accessible and effective. Real Food for Pregnancy is great for expecting parents and professionals alike, who wish to get up-to-date on the best ways to minimize complications and use nutrition for the best pregnancy outcomes. Elke Saunders, CPM If you prefer dairy alternatives, such as soya drinks and yoghurts, go for unsweetened, calcium-fortified versions.