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Pregnancy is a beautiful journey. The process of bringing life into this world is nothing short of magical. Although it is magical, women who have gone through it can tell you it has its ups and downs. The uncomfortable, the pain, the weird cravings, the nausea, the gaining of weight just to name a few. One thing an expectant mother has to be very careful about is her diet. There are things you can eat at different stages of this time period and there are things you shouldn’t eat at all. In this read, we shall look at the 17-week pregnancy diet.
Before we get into what you should eat and what you should avoid, there are a few tips you need to know so that you can be on your way to healthy eating during this time period.
First and foremost, you should opt for a meal plan. This is not the time to be eating whatever you find in the fridge. You need to set up a balanced diet meal plan. You need to make sure the foods in your meal plan provide the required nutrients for you and your growing baby. If you find it difficult to make the food plan by yourself, that is where dieticians and nutritionists come in. Talk to either of them and they will guide you in making an individualised food plan (3).
Food cravings are now part and parcel of your life. Although they might solve an unquenchable thirst for the time being, you should try as much as possible not to indulge while you have your craving. This applies when you have cravings for unhealthy foods (3). If you have cravings for unhealthy foods, try and substitute them for healthy foods. While most of the time we think food cravings are bad, you should try to understand why you are having these cravings.
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Here are some of the foods you need to eat when you are 5 months pregnant:
Omega-3 fatty acids are usually found in fish. If you are a vegan, you can get them from foods such as tofu, walnuts, leafy green vegetables, sesame seeds and so on. Omega-3 fatty acids are important because they help with development of your child’s brain and eyes (2). When it comes to you, Omega-3 fatty acids are good for your heart as they help reduce the amount of bad cholesterol in your blood and increase the amount of good cholesterol.
This is the time to eat as much oatmeal as you can, whole-wheat bread, crackers and all that. Whole grains contain nutrients that are required by both the baby and you at this stage. They help provide vitamin B complex, vitamin E, magnesium and iron (3).
Proteins contain amino acids which are referred to as the building blocks of the body. Protein helps with the physical development of the baby (3). Protein is also good for you at this stage. Try to go for protein sources that provide all the essential amino acids and in the right amounts.
People are always encouraged to eat fruits because they are healthy and this does not stop being true even when you are healthy. Fruits contain many minerals as well as vitamins that are required by both you and the baby (2).
Pregnancies are always associated with a lot of constipation. One way of avoiding or reducing this is by eating foods rich in fiber (3). This includes fruits, vegetables, oats, barley, whole grains in general, nuts and so on.
Babies need calcium in order for their bones and teeth to be strong (3). This is the reason as to why you need to eat foods that provide you with calcium.
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Water is one of those drinks that is usually underrated yet it is important for all situations. When you are pregnant, you are likely to suffer from constipation and urinary tract infection. Drinking a lot of water helps deal or prevent constipation and it also helps prevent urinary tract infection (3).
You also need to have foods that provide you with vitamin D. Vitamin D helps prevent your child from having soft bones which are likely to lead to rickets (1). Vitamin D is thus very important.
When you are 5 months pregnant, you should avoid all carbonated drinks, any form of caffeine, smoked and raw seafood, raw and uncooked eggs or meat, and alcoholic beverages which we assume you have been avoiding ever since you got pregnant (3).
We know that pregnancy is not easy and that is why we have highlighted the 17-week pregnancy diet to help make this time easier for you and your loved ones. In addition to the foods we have said you should not eat, you should also avoid any food that you are allergic to or that usually makes you feel uncomfortable. In this period, you can never be too careful and so if you doubt anything, make sure you ask a professional healthcare provider.
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on to make decisions of any kind. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility!