There is much talk about the importance of a balanced diet in pregnancy for the health of the baby in gestation, but it is equally important for women to start taking care of themselves since they plan to have a child. They must follow one healthy diet, also before pregnancy, to avoid birth defects in the baby.
It is not necessary to eat more, but to consume a varied diet, which provides the essential nutrients and vitamins for the baby to grow healthy.
A study published in 'Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine' notes that women who eat a healthy diet before pregnancy are less likely to have babies with birth defects, including brain and spine problems, as well as cleft lip and palatal fissure.
Those women who followed a Mediterranean diet before becoming pregnant, including foods such as fruits, fish and cereals, and reducing the consumption of meat and sweets, had fewer babies with congenital defects, such as neural tube defects.
The fact is that the neural tube, which gives rise to the central nervous system, is formed in the early stages of pregnancy, even before the woman knows she is pregnant. That is why to ensure that the nutrient reserve is adequate, just as the folic acid supplement is recommended from three months before becoming pregnant, the diet must be balanced and heals before pregnancy to avoid birth defects in the baby.
You should eat a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, fish, cereals and dairy products, which provide all the necessary vitamins, in addition to taking a folic acid supplement.
