Is Too Much Protein Beneficial Or Harmful During Pregnancy?

Photo by Pablo Merchán Montes on Unsplash

While it is important to eat protein during pregnancy, too much of a good thing can also become a detriment. Making healthy food choices every day will help you give your baby what he or she needs to develop. If a pregnant woman eats more protein than is necessary, it can prove harmful to the fetus and may impair its growth. Studies have shown that high protein diets inhibit the fetuses' growth as a result of pregnant women's skewed eating. The daily intake of Protein-rich foods should be increased during pregnancy. The best indicator of upping your protein intake depends on your changing weight during pregnancy.

Click here to know which proteins to eat during pregnancy.

Essential nutrients and a healthy diet are must-haves for every pregnant woman while consuming protein during pregnancy, the ideal daily diet includes a variety of protein, calcium, iron, folate as well as essential vitamins and minerals because they are the best sources of energy. A pregnant woman needs both micronutrients, namely, vitamins and minerals, and macronutrients which are carbohydrates, proteins, and fats for the healthy growth and development of the fetus.

In order to meet these key nutrients, pregnant women can eat kidney beans, black beans, lean meat, poultry, fish and shellfish, eggs, pasteurized milk, unpasteurized milk, soft cheese, tofu, yogurt and other dairy products. It is a nutritional fact that animal products are complete and rich sources of protein (all nine amino acid components) as compared to the vegan options which are deficient in some amino acids, in which case supplements can be taken.

The right way to eat enough protein during pregnancy is to have a balanced diet and ensure that you eat three to five servings of protein daily. Add protein-rich foods to each of your meals and snacks and you'll be well on your way to eating right for a healthy pregnancy and baby. Doing this is relatively simple, as all you need to do is to drink two 8-ounce glasses of milk, a 6-ounce chicken breast, and a 6-ounce serving of yogurt, for example. It would be the wisest course of action to get your gynecologist or doctor to plan the right diet for you, keeping in mind the right choices and the food allergies, if you have any, in order to ensure that you get the right nutrition during this time.

However, as a rule of thumb, cooking with Greek yogurt, eating plant-based protein (with the added benefits of being fiber rich), adding lean meat to your diet, drinking a smoothie a day, including eggs and a bit of fish in your diet should take care of your protein requirements. Seafood, which includes fish and shellfish, can be a great source of protein. This would easily provide you the additional 300 calories during the second and third trimesters, 1200 milligrams of calcium, 600-800 micrograms of folate as well as 27 milligrams of iron which you need.

Unlike whole food sources of protein like fresh chicken or eggs, protein powders can contain trace amounts of heavy metals, caffeine, or herbs like ginkgo that may render the supplement unsafe for expecting moms.

Protein supplements for pregnant women It is generally considered an unwise choice for pregnant women to take protein powders because of the many ingredients which can pose threats to the baby's health. Protein powders are considered supplements and the FDA leaves it to the discretion of the manufacturers of these products to evaluate their products' safety and labeling.

Doctors, however, advise against the use of supplements because of the following facts:

• Protein powders may include certain additives like extra vitamins, caffeine, creatine, or artificial flavors which may harm pregnant women.
• Almost all protein powders available are lactose-based and may not suit pregnant women who are allergic to them.
• Most protein supplements are high in sugar or contain artificial sweeteners like aspartame or acesulfame potassium and thaumatin which should be avoided at all costs.
• Heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, and cadmium may also be present in them which are hazardous to the baby's and mother's health.

Conclusion:

Eating for two can be stressful, but it need not be, if you are a little careful. We all want our bundles of joy to be born as and stay, well, bundles of joy. In order to do that, however, we need to make sure that we take the right diet and eat the foods that are right for us and eschew from eating the wrong ones. However, that doesn't mean living like a saint but eating sensibly. Feel free to indulge in those cravings, though in moderation, but do indulge as a happy mother is a healthy mother too!

Found this article useful? Read more blogs at www.themomstore.in 

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this post are the personal views of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of The Mom Store.