How To Diet During Pregnancy: Foods That You Must Eat To Avoid Birth Defects

It is even more important to have a proper diet when you're pregnant since you and your baby's health are at stake. Knowing how to diet during pregnancy is one of the most important things to know during this stage in your life.

WebMD suggests that women should add about 300 more calories daily to their diets as soon as they find out they're pregnant.

It is important to have a balanced diet and take prenatal vitamins to make sure your baby will grow to be as healthy as possible.

Eating different types of food is recommended to ensure that you receive all the vitamins and minerals you and your baby need during the pregnancy. WebMD suggests a bout 7-11 daily servings of complex carbohydrates from breads and grains. It is recommended you consume two to four servings of healthy organic fruits plus five or more servings of vegetables.

Your body will also need about three to four servings of dairy foods as well as three servings of food rich in protein. Examples of food rich in protein are meat, fish, poultry, nuts and eggs.

Limit your intake of sugar and fats.

Another thing to know when learning how to diet during pregnancy is that you need to eat at least four servings of dairy products because they are rich in calcium. You need about 1000-1300 mg of calcium everyday while you're pregnant.

Folic Acid is another thing your diet will need while you're pregnant. Making sure you get at least one good source of folic acid per day is crucial. Foods rich in folic acid are dark green leafy vegetables and legumes like black beans and chickpeas.

You will need a minimum of 0.4 mg folic acid daily. This will help prevent defects like spina bifida.