It is expected that women who are pregnant take more proteins in their diet. It is healthy for the unborn child too.
Foods like beans, egg, cheese, fish, nuts, meat, and chicken are fantastic sources of protein that if taken regularly would form solid bedrock of the child’s formation.
Does this mean that pregnant women require more protein more than those who are not? In reality, yes!
The reason for this is because when a mother has abundance of healthy resources from which a baby can tap from, the foundation for growth become enhanced.
Protein powders are an alternative to natural diets which can be taken by women who are pregnant.
And while there are different types that you can find on the market, you should seek medical counsel from a qualified doctor before embarking on its use.
According to World Health Organization, an expectant mother’s diet should be healthy enough to support the growing baby with enough nutrients.
Since nutrition is critical during pregnancy, an intake of 75grams of protein is just the right amount that should be consumed.
| Comparing Protein Powders and Natural Foods |
What Ingredients Should You Avoid When Selecting a Natural Protein Powder?
Before you buy that protein-based supplement, there are some critical factors that must be considered.
It is necessary to check the composition (ingredients) of your favorite protein powder.
For the sake of your health, here are some of the pitfalls to avoid below.
- Caffeine content
Caffeine is a known ingredient that causes you to be more active, and alert.
It can even increase your heart rate and boost your metabolism. The baby can get a dose of its effects just the same way the mother would.
Some protein powders include some quantities of caffeine which are not usually disclosed.
It would be a bad idea to go ahead and take such supplements.
The intake of caffeine by expectant mothers has become a growing concern that it has generated a lot of controversy and debate among medical experts.
While some reports claim that 200mg or less of caffeine daily would not harm the baby, others postulate that 300mg daily is quite safe.
But the truth is that excessive intake of caffeine during pregnancy can cause miscarriage, early delivery, hyperactive children, restricted fetus growth, or your child can even be light weight.
So, what’s best in this scenario? If you can avoid taking caffeine, it would be much better for your health as well as that of your baby’s.
But if you can’t, then taking a cup of decaffeinated tea or coffee or take dark chocolates to help reduce your caffeine craving if you’ve been addicted.
In clear terms, avoid use in exaggerated amounts and you should be fine generally.
- Heavy Metals
Some low quality protein powders are like to contain heavy metals like arsenic, lead, mercury cadmium, lead, and so on.
And this has been shown to be detrimental to the health of expectant moms.
In some studies, pregnant women are susceptible to having diabetes 3 times faster than who were not exposed.
The fact that these heavy metals are easily transferred to your unborn baby through breastfeeding and the consequences could be pretty overwhelming and could equally cause low birth weight as well as distort the neurological development of the fetus.
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Fillers
Fillers offer nothing but help in changing the consistency of your protein powder.
They also downplay the nutritional contents in most cases (a perfect bait to trap those looking for the cheap supplements).
Artificial flavors alter the texture of your powder giving it that fancy appearance that catches your attention. In the end, they do your body no good.
Since they are artificial, it only means that they undergo some sort of chemical processed and would not be good for a helpless baby.
Fillers are things that are added to protein powders to add bulk, texture, or change the consistency of the powder when mixed into a shake.
- Soy Protein or Soy Protein Isolate
Soy protein contains extreme levels of phytic acid decreasing the body’s ability to absorb minerals.
Apart from that, the fact that its source cannot be trusted should be a source of concern as most are made from modified natural soy.
Pregnant women should exercise caution when it comes to these supplements because it has a way of affecting the female hormone (estrogen) metabolism during pregnancy times.
- Maltodextrin
Maltodextrin is a grain-originating sweetener that is commonly found in most processed foods and cereals. It’s like sugar from starch.
And because it is generally inexpensive, most marketers that often use it in their supplements to enhance its sweetness.
It has been found to be a leading cause of poor gut health and inflammatory digestive bowel disorders.
Some Proven Ones for You
Pregnant women require all the daily dose of nutrients required for the healthy formation of the baby as well as the improved well-being of the mother.
Taking one or two servings of your favorite protein shakes daily is likely healthy and safe provided you also include other natural sources of protein into your daily dietary regimen.
This makes it necessary for these women to find every possible means to increase their protein intake.
Find out how you can obtain the best natural protein powder for optimizing the health of you and your baby.
- Whey Protein
Whey is one of the most controversial protein sources that you’ll find on the market.
It’s been used over the years to enable to enhance athletic performance, and also build a perfect body in terms of fat loss.
But does this mean it is safe for pregnant females?
Well, it can safely be used as a healthy protein source as long you don’t have any intolerance and allergies (since whey is produced from milk).
In fact, whey is usually found in quite a number of baby foods and also contains a major component that is also found in human breast milk.
It is one of the most complete proteins that is quite abundant in Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs).
Heavy moms can engage in a moderate intake of whey to help them lose weight and also provide anti-oxidant benefits.
- Casein Protein
Casein is the other protein component found in milk.
Although not as complete as whey, it is also provides almost the same benefits with whey even though it takes longer time to digest.
It helps you boosts your nutritional intake by equally helping you avoid all the deficiency of essential amino acids which are actually the building blocks of protein.
It is also generally more expensive than whey.
But that’s not the point here.
The fact is that it is a source of fuel for your body providing you with energy and reducing cravings for junk foods thereby supporting your weight-loss efforts.
In addition to its numerous benefits, it enhances bone health, boosts immune system function and aids the synthesis of protein.
- Soy Protein
Pregnant females who are vegetarians can actually benefit more from the intake of soy protein.
But first a little understanding is needed here.
Soy has been a source of many diets for over thousands of years passed and is still in vogue.
A key constituent of soy, soy isoflavones has a variety of health benefits it offers women particularly.
Some of these include the treatment of breast cancer, osteoporosis, premenstrual syndrome, menopausal disorders and also enhance cognitive function.
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