| |
| |
|
Pregnancy Main Page |
|
|
|
Calcium and Pregnancy
Studies show that most women do not get enough daily Calcium. And many pregnant women do not realize that the typical prenatal vitamin only contains 4-20% of the RDA of Calcium. Calcium is essential for strong teeth and bones, muscle contractions, nerve function and blood clotting. Calcium-deficiency results in decreased bone density (which in turn leads to osteoporosis and increased bone fracture risk), hypertension, preeclampsia, and increased cavities. There is also clinical evidence that correlates Calcium-deficiencies with preterm deliveries, low birth weight babies, high blood pressure in baby and cesarean sections. Our bodies cannot produce Calcium, therefore we must consume it. The Recommended Daily Allowance of Calcium for pregnant or, breastfeeding women, is 1,200 mg. Good sources of Calcium are listed on the bottom of this article. There is, however, much more to getting your daily allowance than just consuming 1,200 mg of calcium. There are many factors that contribute to how much calcium is actually absorbed by the body. For example; Vitamin D: Vitamin D facilitates calcium absorption into our bones. So you could consume all the calcium in the world, but with no vitamin D it won't do you any good. Contrary to calcium, our bodies produce vitamin D following exposure to sunlight. Fifteen minutes, two to three times a day is usually sufficient to produce the vitamin D we need. Natural food sources high in vitamin D are egg yolks, saltwater fish and liver. The RDA of vitamin D is 400 IU. Use caution though, extremely high doses can be harmful, even fatal. Do not exceed more than 800 IU unless recommended by your doctor. Timing: Your body can only absorb so much calcium at one time. For this reason, it is imperative to space out your calcium intake throughout the day. It is recommended that you do not intake more than 500 mg in one sitting. Elemental Calcium: Elemental calcium is the amount of calcium that your body can use. For example, a 500 mg calcium carbonate tablet contains 200 mg of elemental calcium, and a 500 mg calcium citrate tablet contains 105 mg elemental calcium. So be sure to look at the elemental calcium weight, not just the total weight. Another factor to look at is how well a supplement pill dissolves in a glass of warm water after 30 minutes. If it doesn't dissolve, this tells you it will also not absorb very well into your body. Avoid calcium supplements from unrefined oyster shell, bone meal, or dolomite without the USP (United States Pharmacopeia) symbol. They may contain high levels of lead or other toxic and potentially harmful metals. Also, people with shellfish allergies should not take coral calcium. It is important to consult with your doctor if you have certain medical conditions (i.e., thyroid disease, kidney disease, gallstones, lactose intolerance, or certain rare diseases), and check possible interactions with other over-the-counter or prescription medications. Also remember that too much of a good thing is not a good thing. Excessive intake of Calcium (over 2,500 mg daily) can lead to kidney stones. Calcium in any amount reduces the efficiency of several antibiotics and also reduces the absorption of many vitamins, especially iron. Food sources high in Calcium: Dairy: Vegetables: Beans: Other: Joy is the webmaster at http://www.babynamesetc.com - home of the free and unique baby name generator.
MORE RESOURCES:
Pregnancy - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
How Can I Make Sure Im Exercising Safely During My Pregnancy? Unless your practitioner gives you specific restrictions or instructions, you should keep active during pregnancy. This may be as simple as walking every day to get your heart rate moving, or it may be a complete fitness program designed to be safe during pregnancy. Finding Time To Exercise After Pregnancy If exercise is so obviously the answer to losing weight after childbirth, then why aren't more women doing it? The answer isn't as tricky as you may think.One problem most new mothers will report is that they don't feel that they have enough time to exercise after birth. Pregnancy Sex - Its A Wonderful Thing! Mums to be can often get worried about having sex while pregnant; well there is no medical evidence that having sexual intercourse whilst pregnant does any damage at all.There are a few cases where your GP may advise you about not having intercourse:- If you are Prone to miscarriages your GP may advise avoiding intercourse for the first three months or at the times when you would have been having your period when your hormones would be at their lowest. Exercising After Pregnancy Generally most women can begin a formal exercise program within 6 weeks of giving birth, though this time frame might be slightly longer for some women, including those recovering from a C-section. Most women recovering from a C-section will be able to exercise after there incision has healed and their doctor has cleared them for exercise. Baby Shower Gift Ideas Selecting a present for a new mom or dad can be a challenging task. Baby showers are a great way to help support a new mother with her new baby. Conception Tips and Tips For Getting Pregnant For Those Who Are Trying To Conceive CONCEPTION TIPSConception takes place in three basic stages: ovulation, then fertilization, and the division of the fertilized egg, which then implants in the uterus - which it isn't until then when pregnancy is considered successful! To better understand the process, we have explained in greater detail below each step of the process. If you are trying to conceive, keep reading these conception tips and your chances of getting pregnant are greater. Blimpy: Pregnancy Weight Gain The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that women gain somewhere between 25 and 35 pounds during pregnancy. Of course, this poundage depends on the woman's starting weight. Exercise During Pregnancy One of the best things you can do for yourself and your unborn child during pregnancy is exercise. There are numerous studies that show that women who exercise during pregnancy are more likely to have easy labor and deliveries and faster recoveries. How do Pregnancy Tests Work? Pregnancy tests identify a special hormone in the blood or urine produced during pregnancy. This hormone is called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), often referred to as the pregnancy hormone. Weight Gain During Pregnancy, and Weight Loss After Pregnancy How much weight gain is normal during pregnancy, and will you continue to have weight gain after pregnancy?How will the link between pregnancy and metabolism affect how you'll be losing weight after pregnancy?Understand what causes excessive weight gain during pregnancy, and.. Weight Gain During Pregnancy: Choosing The Right Foods So you need to gain weight but don't want to gain too much weight during your pregnancy right?There are many things that you can do to improve your diet and ensure that you gain a minimal but healthy amount of weight during pregnancy.Choosing the right foods is important because you will be able to loose weight more quickly after delivery if you manage your diet during pregnancy. Being Pregnant Is Not a Hurdle to Enjoy A Little Romance Most of the time pregnant women are afraid to have a little romance. Probably they are afraid something could happen to their baby. Pregnant Mothers and Starbucks Many mothers are addicted to caffeine and cannot handle going without during the nine months of pregnancy. The damage done to the fetus is a very critical issue in this time of development. Train While You Gain - Why a Personal Trainer Can Make a Difference During Your Pregnancy The average woman will gain between 25 and 30 pounds during her pregnancy, but how many women do you know that have gained upward of 50 pounds or even more? Keeping your weight gain in check can be difficult when you're "eating for two,", but with the help of a personal trainer, you can ward off the inevitable excess baby weight.Studies have shown that exercising throughout your pregnancy is not only good for your body, but good for your mind as well. Morbidly Obese and Suffering Pregnancy Complications? Consider Gastric Bypass Obese and morbidly obese women are more likely to have pregnancy complications and caesarean sections than women of average weight, according to a study published in the April 2004 American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The controlled study is one of the largest ever to look at obesity in pregnancy, following more than 16,000 pregnant women at 14 medical centers across the country. How do I Calculate My Pregnancy Due Date? You're pregnant! The next question is: When is the baby due? Calculating the pregnancy due date is not complicated. There are several methods to calculate your estimated due date, but we all know that babies have their own timetables and most don't arrive on the estimated due date. Alcohol And Pregnancy If you have been drinking up until the point when you become pregnant or smoking it is also vital that you stop doing so immediately. Many women worry that they consumed a few alcoholic drinks prior to learning they were pregnant. Common Sense Approach To Weight Loss After A Pregnancy Every woman gains weight while she is pregnant. This is the way how it is and always has been. Reducing Your Pain In Childbirth Pain is the word most associated with labor. Women go to great lengths to deal with the discomforts of childbirth. Pregnant? Did You Know You Can Begin Bonding as Early as 8 Weeks into Pregnancy? Maybe someone you know has rented or purchased a fetal doppler from one of the online rental companies who offer this service. If so, you may have heard how easy and wonderful it is to be able to listen to your growing unborn baby.
|
| home | Index | site map |
| © 2006 |
