Dangerous types of nutrition for pregnant women are identified

In most cases, vegetarianism does not pose a threat to the health of a pregnant woman and her future child. However, certain forms of it, such as veganism and raw food diet, can be potentially dangerous.

As reported by BAKU.WS, Russian dietitian Yulia Moskvicheva told "Gazeta.Ru" about this.

According to the specialist, vegans completely exclude animal products from their diet, while raw foodists reject any thermal processing of food. "These are the most difficult dietary options during pregnancy. They increase the risk of deficiency in iron, vitamin B12, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, zinc and other elements vital for fetal development and maternal health," Moskvicheva noted.

The dietitian emphasized that strict forms of vegetarianism often lead to the birth of children with low body weight. "After thermal processing, the nutritional density of products increases - this means that the body receives more energy and nutrients. Protein and fat-soluble vitamins D, E, A and K are absorbed much better. With veganism and raw food diet, a woman's body mass index may fall below normal, which negatively affects the development of the child," the doctor explained.

Experts advise pregnant women to adjust their diet, giving preference to a more balanced vegetarianism. Moskvicheva noted that today it has become much easier to create a complete menu than in the 1990s: "Now there is a huge selection of nuts, seeds and vegetarian protein bars, which makes it easy to form a diet with the right calorie content and balance of nutrients."