The first 1000 days of life - from conception to age two - are the most CRITICAL nutritional period to prevent health issues and diseases that may arise later in a human's life.
Dr. Pastore shares his two+ decades of experience treating pregnant women and optimizing their nutrition for a safe, healthy pregnancy.
Information discussed:
Ask your doctor to be tested for the:
- MTHFR gene variance - affects folate utilization and can cause folic acid deficiency which can cause the infant to be born with spina bifida or cleft pallet
- BCMO1 - T allele - unable to convert beta-carotene into the bioavailable from of vitamin A, which can lead to deficiency - affecting fetus growth and eye development
Blood work to be run for:
- Iron status - (anemia)
- Vitamin D level
- Magnesium
- Lipid levels
- Fasting glucose & insulin - warning sign for developing gestational diabetes
Average caloric increase required for pregnant women:
+300 cal/day, +2100/week
Healthy weight gain should be an average of 25lb total gain for pregnancy (most weight gained in the last trimester) for woman with a healthy BMI. Weight gain should be less for overweight women.
Foods to avoid while pregnant, even if you crave them:
ANY & ALL alcohol
- Artificial sweeteners, flavors and colors in foods
- Fast food & highly processed foods
- Trans fats
- Unpasteurized foods/drinks like kombucha
- Refrigerated/smoked: sea food, white fish, seafood, deli meats, hot dogs, meat spreads
- Pre-made salads
- Raw sprouts such as broccoli sprouts, bean sprouts, alfalfa sprouts
- Caffeine (ideally none, but under 200mg a day)
- Fish high in mercury & other heavy metals -
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Food cravings:
- PICA: cravings for clay/dirt - warning sign of a nutrient/iron deficiency
- Ice cube cravings - warning sign of an iron deficiency
