Around 10% of pregnant women are affected by a condition named ‘Pre-eclampsia’. This is a serious pregnancy disorder which is primarily caused by problems with the development of the placenta, and it is characterized by high blood pressure, swelling, headaches, and protein in the urine. The condition usually presents itself in the second half of the pregnancy (after 20 weeks. However, whilst most cases will be mild and picked up by routine tests, it is well worth understanding the risks. It’s also worth knowing ways you can reduce your likelihood of developing the condition by focusing on nutrition. Furthermore, the NHS provides a plethora of information of what pre-eclampsia entails, have a quick look on their website for more details, and read the rest of this article to find out how nutrition can aid this disorder.
If you are overweight, over 35, carrying twins, or have a family history of the condition, then you are at a higher risk of developing pre-eclampsia. If detected and treated early, pre-eclampsia is unlikely to cause harm, but if it is left untreated, the effects can be very grave indeed. This is why it is so important to monitor your blood pressure during pregnancy. Therefore, I will provide a few tips and tricks of how you can prevent the risk of pre-eclampsia with nutrition and the maintenance of a healthy- diet.
How can I reduce my risk of pre-eclampsia with nutrition?
Research suggests that women with pre-eclampsia tend to have lower levels of magnesium in their blood. As such, increasing your daily intake of magnesium can help to prevent the onset of the condition. In addition to this, higher levels of inflammation are also thought to contribute to the development of pre-eclampsia. Therefore, supplementing your diet with a multivitamin/mineral and Co-enzyme Q10 can reduce the occurrence in women at risk.
- Limit your salt intake, particularly from processed foods and table salt
- Increase your intake of potassium-rich and magnesium-rich foods. For instance, bananas, oranges and melons are extremely high in potassium and contain nutritional benefits such as Vitamin D as well. Green, leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale, and nuts and seeds are all foods rich in magnesium and will be the perfect addition and nutritional supplement to a variety of different everyday meals.
- Consult a Nutritional Therapist to discuss your supplement needs.
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- Finally, try to rest as much as possible. I have a blog post article on how to enhance your sleep hygiene, with nutritional tips embedded in between.