Question: A lot of the cereals and breads I eat are enriched with vitamins. If I’m also taking a prenatal supplement, will I be taking in too many vitamins?
Answer: Taking a prenatal vitamin along with the average diet (which includes lots of enriched and fortified products) isn’t likely to lead to taking in too many vitamins and minerals. To get that many nutrients, you’d have to be adding other supplements beyond the prenatal ones—which a pregnant woman should never do unless instructed by a physician who knows she’s pregnant.
It’s smart, though, to be wary of any foods that are fortified with more than the daily recommended intake of vitamins A, D, E, and K. These vitamins can be toxic in large amounts. Most other vitamins are water-soluble, meaning that any excesses the body can’t use are expelled in the urine.
Many women have expressed this similar feeling during their pregnancy: “I feel miserable when they look in a mirror or step on a scale…I look so fat!”
Sometimes it can be tricky to put together a healthy, well-balanced meal from menus filled with buttery sauces, empty starches, and tempting sweets. With these tips, it’s possible for you to follow pregnancy diet guidelines when you dine out:
Answer: The truth is, everything we eat has some chemicals in it. Some chemicals are harmful and some aren’t; some are even beneficial. Natural foods are often better than artificial or unnatural, but natural things may be harmful as well. Consider this: a “natural” mushroom may be poisonous; “natural” butter, eggs, and animal fats are often linked to heart disease; and too much “natural” sugar is associated with diabetes.