Yo-yo diet warning to mothers

Mothers who diet back their figures after giving birth and put on excess weight during pregnancies are putting their own and their baby’s health at risk, as reported by the BBC.

Fluctuating weight ups the risk of dangerously high blood pressure and diabetes in the mother as well as risking stillbirth, Dublin-based specialists in the British Medical Journal suggest, and reported by the University of Toronto.

One Swedish study involving 207,534 women found that weight gain between pregnancies was strongly associated with major complications for the woman and baby in the months preceding, and just after childbirth.

Another study found that women whose weight fell significantly between pregnancies had a higher risk of giving birth prematurely than women whose weight remained stable.

‘There is a known association between overweight and obese parents and the likelihood of a child being overweight themselves’ says Tam Fry of the National Obesity Forum.

It is also common for overweight women to experience more discomfort and difficulties during childbirth than healthy women.

Young girls should be taught the importance of a healthy diet not only for their own physical health and comfort but also that of any children they may wish to carry in the future.

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Image Source= Kaiser Permanente

Selenium is important during pregnancy

Selenium is a trace mineral which works with Vitamin E in preventing free radical damage to cell membranes

It is an antagonist to heavy metals such as lead, mercury, aluminium and cadmium

Low levels of selenium are linked to a higher risk for cancer, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory diseases and other conditions associated with increased free-radical damage, including aging and cataract formation

Selenium depleted soils produce selenium deficient foods

Selenium deficiency is associated with an increased risk for cancer, heart disease and low immune function

During pregnancy and lactation, selenium requirements increase, as it is essential for proper foetal growth.

Selenium is linked to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), which has its highest occurrence in areas where the selenium content of the soil and diet is the lowest

Selenium levels tend to be very low in low birth weight babies

Although there is no specific RDA for selenium, a daily intake of 50 – 200 micrograms is often recommended

At high-intake levels (daily intake in excess of 1,000 micrograms), selenium can produce toxicity

For children, a good dosage recommendation is 1.5micrograms per pound of body weight (2.2lbs to the kg)

Image source=Pregnancy leads to new babies

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