Debunking a nutritional myth
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The document debunks the myth that pregnant women need to "eat for two" by eating twice as much food. While pregnant women do need more nutrients, calories, protein and vitamins, it does not mean doubling food intake. Eating too much can increase health risks for both mother and baby such as high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, and complications during birth. The extra food intake should be balanced and focused on providing optimal nutrition for both mother and developing child. Weight gain during pregnancy should be gradual and proportional to caloric needs at each stage.
Debunking a nutritional myth
- 1. Debunking a Nutritional Myth - 2nd Draft Name: Jessica Duarte Sousa Instructor: Sean R. Dailey Course: ENG 103A - English for Academic Purposes, “Co-op” Date: June 6, 2014 Myth: Eating for Two is Necessary During Pregnancy Women who have spent their lives worrying about their weight often find themselves relieved during pregnancy: they believe they have a good reason for do not need to worry about what they eat, because they are eating for two. Unfortunately, this evidence is not totally true. During pregnancy, diet is more important than ever; women need more protein, vitamins, and minerals, and more calories. However, eating for two does not mean eating twice as much. It means that the additional foods eaten are the main source of nutrients for the child. Thus, balanced and healthy meals are necessary for the mother and her child. Women need to gain weight gradually during the pregnancy, and it should be proportional to the increase of caloric intake recommended for each phase of pregnancy. The belief that eating for two is a good idea can lead to serious consequences: increased risk of high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia, and gestational diabetes. It can also affect the birth itself with a higher rate of interventions, including caesarian sections and even an increased, though still rare, risk of stillbirth. In multiple gestation, pregnancy of twins, triplets or multiple births, the weight gain and the need for certain nutrients should be higher when compared to pregnant women of one child. These children have a much higher risk of being born prematurely. The pre-pregnancy weight and the weight acquired during the gestation have a strong influence on the duration of
- 2. pregnancy and the final weight of the children. Weight is gained to establish a stock of nutrients, crucial to the adequate structural and functional development of the placenta, and transfer of nutrients to the fetus. Thus, it is important to determine the body mass index to plan a proper diet control weight gain. In short, it is recommended that women appropriately increase caloric intake during pregnancy and get the necessary nutrients for their health and for child's health. However, this is not the same as doubling the intake. In addition, the diet in a multiple gestation needs to be planned more carefully; necessary nutrients should be higher when compared to a unique gestation. References: http://www.uwmedicine.org/patient-resources/nutrition-services/nutrition-myths Access in June 30, 2014 http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120626-can-pregnant-women-eat-for-two Access in June 30, 2014 http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/pregnancyandnutrition.html Access in June 30, 2014 http://www.choosemyplate.gov/pregnancy-breastfeeding/pregnancy-nutritional-needs.html Access in June 30, 2014