The safest bet? Keep your doctor in the know about any and all changes to your eating plan and supplements. Always purchase vitamins from a reputable brand that has their products evaluated by third-party organizations like the United States Pharmacopeia USP.
This ensures that the vitamins adhere to specific standards and are generally safe to take. Not sure which brands are reputable? Your local pharmacist can be a lot of help. Prenatal vitamins are multivitamins that are specially formulated to meet the increased demand for micronutrients during pregnancy.
Observational studies have shown that supplementing with prenatal vitamins reduces the risk of preterm birth and preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a potentially dangerous complication characterized by high blood pressure and possibly protein in the urine. Folate is a B vitamin that plays an integral role in DNA synthesis, red blood cell production, and fetal growth and development.
Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate found in many supplements. It gets converted into the active form of folate — L-methylfolate — in the body. In a review of five randomized studies including 6, women, supplementing with folic acid daily was associated with a reduced risk of neural tube defects. No negative side effects were noted. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC recommends that all women of childbearing age consume at least mcg of folate or folic acid per day.
It may be wise for pregnant women, especially those with an MTHFR genetic mutation, to choose a supplement that contains L-methylfolate to ensure maximum uptake. The need for iron increases significantly during pregnancy, as maternal blood volume increases by about 45 percent. Iron is critical for oxygen transport and healthy growth and development of your baby and the placenta. In the United States, the prevalence of iron deficiency in pregnant women is around 18 percent , and 5 percent of these women have anemia.
Anemia during pregnancy has been associated with preterm delivery, maternal depression, and infant anemia. The recommended intake of 27 milligrams mg iron per day can be met through most prenatal vitamins. These may include constipation, vomiting, and abnormally high hemoglobin levels. This fat-soluble vitamin is important for immune function, bone health, and cell division.
Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy has been linked to an increased risk of cesarean section, preeclampsia, preterm birth, and gestational diabetes. The current recommended intake of vitamin D during pregnancy is IU or 15 mcg per day. However, some experts suggest that vitamin D needs during pregnancy are much higher. Check in with your doctor regarding screening for vitamin D deficiency and proper supplementation.
Magnesium is a mineral involved in hundreds of chemical reactions in your body. It plays critical roles in immune, muscle, and nerve function. Deficiency in this mineral during pregnancy may increase the risk of chronic hypertension and premature labor. Some studies suggest that supplementing with magnesium may reduce the risk of complications like fetal growth restriction and preterm birth.
Ginger root is commonly used as a spice and herbal supplement. In supplement form, you may have heard of it used to treat nausea caused by motion sickness, pregnancy, or chemotherapy. The high levels of progesterone that help keep the uterus relaxed also relax the smooth muscles that line the digestive tract. This slows down motility, which is the motion of the intestines that moves food and waste forward. It also relaxes the sphincters that keep food from rising in the esophagus and the sphincters that control the release of digestive juices.
Bile leaks into our small intestine contributing to nausea. Food and acid moves back up the esophagus causing burning and discomfort.
Elevated estrogen levels can also decrease stomach acid production. This can cause slower protein breakdown and further relax the lower esophageal sphincter, making reflux even worse. However, if you are prone to constipation, it will certainly make it worse. Here are some tips to help you address common digestive complaints in pregnancy:. Eat small meals more frequently - having less food in your stomach allows it to move through more quickly. This is especially important in the third trimester when your enlarged uterus is pushing against the stomach and taking up the room where food would go.
Chew carefully and eat slowly - this way your stomach has less work to do to get the food ready to send down into the small intestine. Take a digestive enzyme with meals - this helps the food move from the stomach into the small intestine with greater speed. I always carried some papaya enzymes in my purse. They are chewable and sweet so it was like a little treat with each meal.
Drink a little water with some lemon juice or apple cider vinegar before meals - this can increase the production of stomach acid and digestive enzymes, which helps increase tone in the lower esophageal sphincter thereby helping move the food.
This special version of licorice has the compound glycyrrhizin removed. This is important because glycyrrhizin can raise blood pressure, which is not good for a pregnant woman. DGL however is very safe and will help calm and soothe inflammation in an irritated esophagus. Elevate the head of your bed 6 inches - put a couple of bricks or books under the legs at the top of the bed. This is especially helpful if your heartburn picks up at night.
Raising the head of the bed will help to keep your food at the bottom of your stomach while you slowly digest. Calcium can neutralize the stomach acid and provide instant relief. Excessive calcium intake can cause milk alkali syndrome and lead to kidney damage. I used to stare at 12 almonds on the table and convince myself I would feel better if I ate them. Pancreatic enzymes including pepsin and other protease enzymes break down protein compounds in the stomach and small intestine.
Lipase is secreted in the pancreas and small intestines to aid in digesting fat molecules. The digestive process continues throughout the digestive tract as different enzymes are released. When a biological process results in a digestive enzyme deficiency, foods can not be broken down appropriately. Digestive enzyme medications are often given to allow the body to process food. Unlike probiotics , which are beneficial bacteria that can balance the gut microbiome, digestive enzymes break down food molecules.
However, both probiotics and digestive enzymes have their place in supporting the digestive system and gut health , as well as potentially alleviating digestive issues.
Digestive enzyme supplements are used to replace natural enzymes that are deficient as a result of different medical conditions, including digestive health issues. The following conditions require the replacement of digestive enzymes:. Pancrelipase is supplied in brand-name products such as Creon, Pancreaze, Pertyze, and Viokace.
The enzymes lipase, amylase, and protease make up pancrelipase. These enzymes produced by the pancreas aid in the digestion of fats, proteins, and starches. Lactase is supplied in the brand names Lactaid and Lactaid Ultra. This enzyme aids in the breakdown of lactose, or milk sugars, in dairy products. The enzyme alpha-galactosidase, or alpha-d-galactosidase, is found in the brand-name medications Beano and Gas X Prevention.
This enzyme is used to digest complex carbohydrates into simple sugars to prevent gas, bloating, and stomach upset. It is useful for digesting certain foods like beans. Pancreatin contains a combination of protease, amylase, and lipase.
It supports the digestion of fats, starches, and proteins. Sacrosidase is a yeast-based enzyme that aids in the digestion of sucrose sugar. It is recommended in people who lack the enzyme sucrase and cannot break down sucrose in their bodies. It is found in the product Sucraid. Invertase is a digestive enzyme that breaks down sucrose into fructose and glucose.
It is a natural enzyme found in foods like honey. Maltase is an enzyme that breaks down malt sugars. It is typically secreted by the intestine to convert maltose into glucose. Maltase is a natural digestive enzyme found in bacteria, plants, yeast, and humans. Although not technically a digestive enzyme, colic plays an important role in digestion along with digestive enzymes. Cholic acid is a bile acid that aids in the digestion of fats. Cholbam is a medication that contains cholic acid.
It is used to treat bile acid synthesis disorders caused by single enzyme defects SEDs. Adults with pancreatic insufficiency caused by cystic fibrosis or pancreatic disorders are typically prescribed pancrelipase products. Doses are given with meals and gradually adjusted to control symptoms. Digestive enzymes should be swallowed whole and taken with a generous amount of liquid. Crushing or chewing the supplement may irritate the lining of the mouth and throat.
Viokace tablets are not enteric-coated and should be given with a proton pump inhibitor to prevent the drug from breaking down in the stomach. Lactase is given to adults with lactose intolerance.
It should be taken with the first few bites of dairy-containing food. Sucraid is given to adults with sucrase-isomaltase deficiency. It is taken with each meal or snack.
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