When a woman is pregnant she will become more concerned with the things she is eating and the nutrition she is getting, than at any other time in her life. Suddenly it is not only her wellbeing at stake, but that of her child’s as well.
When a mother goes to see her obstetrician or mid wife, she will be given a list of all the things she can (fresh fruit and vegetables, lots of protein) and cannot (stay away from caffeine and certain cheeses) eat, and will be told how much she should be consuming, etc.
However, what a pregnant woman may not be told is that there is one more food she can add to her list that she may not have heard of that can help maintain a healthy pregnancy.
That food goes by the name of Chlorella. Chlorella is a whole food filled with vitamins and nutrients that can be a great addition to anyone’s diet, but especially those who are looking for more whole food nutrition.
Chlorella and Anemia
Many women who are pregnant may develop anemia, this can become a dangerous situation because anemia in pregnancy has been shown to increase the risk of having a preterm or low-birth-weight baby, postpartum depression in the mother, a child with developmental delays, a baby with anemia, or may cause the need for a blood transfusion if too much blood is lost during delivery.
That is why it may be reassuring to hear that Chlorella, which contains large amounts of folate, vitamin B12, and iron, can help to improve symptoms of anemia or even prevent its development entirely. In one Japanese study, it was shown that the participants that supplemented with chlorella during their pregnancy had significantly lower rates of anemia than those who did not.
Breastmilk, Vitamin A, and Carotenoids
Breastmilk has been found to be a great source of Vitamin A for your baby, and has been found to protect against Vitamin A deficiency , which can lead to blindness in infants. In a study of ten pregnant women supplementing with 6g of chlorella, and ten pregnant women who were not, it was found that those supplementing with chlorella were found to have higher consentrations of Carotenoids, a source for Vitamin A, in their breastmilk than those who did not.
Breastmilk, Chlorella, and Dioxins
According to the National Resources Defense Council, “Dioxins… are not produced intentionally.
They are byproducts from a range of chemical, manufacturing, and combustion processes including: production of certain pesticides (i.e. chlorophenol, chlorophenoxyacetic acid); paper pulp bleaching; production of certain dyes and pigments; municipal waste incineration; sewage sludge incineration; hospital-waste incineration; polyvinyl chloride plastic (PVC) production and incineration; diesel-engine exhaust; accidental fires and explosions of chlorine-containing material; metal production; and combustion of wood.”
And that “Dioxins… are among the most hazardous chemicals known – extremely tiny doses have been shown to cause negative health effects. These chemicals are listed by several governmental agencies as known causes of cancer in humans. Indeed, studies have linked [them] to many types of cancer, as well as to reproductive problems, abnormalities in fetal development, immune alterations, and disruption of hormones. Because [they] are attracted to fat and are resistant to metabolism, they are notorious for accumulating in the animals humans eat, and by that route accumulating in humans. Within the human body, the highest levels of these chemicals are in fat and breast milk.”
In one Japanese study, it was found that mothers who had supplemented with chlorella during and after pregnancy had significantly lower levels of dioxin in their breastmilk than those who did not.
Chlorella may be a great supplement to add to your pregnancy to insure a happy healthy baby!