Expecting a baby and cravings for food are associated directly to each other. While it is ok for pregnant women to gorge on food they are craving for, it is also important and rather mandatory for a mother to know what is healthier. Proper levelled intake of vitamin and protein enriched food is suggested for a to-be-mother. Consumption of Vitamin C is important for pregnant women as its deficiency causes harm to foetus brain development. But its requirement should be fulfilled only by eating fresh fruits and vegetables after consulting your doctor. Taking vitamin C supplements can be harmful during pregnancy.
Risks of Taking Vitamin C Supplements during Pregnancy
It is not advisable to consume Vitamin C supplements excessively during pregnancy. External supplements of Vitamin C can bring risk of premature child birth. Eating fresh farm vegetables or fruits are quick and easy way for pregnant ladies to stock up their daily vitamin need. In case if you are concerned, you must bring it to the notice of your obstetrician.
Why Vitamin C is Needed during Pregnancy?
Vitamin C or better known as Ascorbic acid in medical terms is an important vitamin for body especially during pregnancy. It repairs damaged tissues and heals wounds during
pregnancy. Vitamin C is also important in growth and repair of bones. Its intake gives glowing skin both to mother and later to baby.
Beside all these advantages, Vitamin C plays a major role of being antioxidant. It helps protect body cells from damaging. And in case of cell damage, Vitamin C repairs them during pregnancy. Vitamin C also boosts immunity system which is precautionary requirement during pregnancy.
Maintaining good
hemoglobin level during pregnancy is very important both for mother and baby. Regular iron enriched food intake for a mother is must for good hemoglobin percent during pregnancy. Vitamin C is a fantastic absorbent of
iron and
folic acid. It converts iron and folic acid into their active form and increases its effect on body.
Special protein, known as collagen, is produced in body by proper intake of Vitamin C. This protein is helpful in structuring of bones and muscles of baby during pregnancy.
Risks Associated with Vitamin C deficiency
Food cravings are common during pregnancy. But mothers need to keep an eye on what they consume. Satisfying their taste buds is good but providing nutrition to themselves and their baby is important. As discussed above, Vitamin C is very much essential during pregnancy.
Insufficient supplement of Vitamin C can cause damage to baby’s brain during pregnancy. If a mother does not make a conscious effort to understand the importance of Vitamin C consumption, foetus’s brain can remain under-developed or get damaged. Even Vitamin C supplements intake cannot reverse such damage in child’s brain.
If pregnant ladies are slow on healing during their pregnancy phase or having brittle hairs that could be sign of Vitamin C deficiency. Rough or dry skin is also symptoms of Ascorbic Acid deficiency.
Sources of Vitamin C
Vitamin C is highly found in any type of Citrus fruit. Green leafy vegetables are also good source of Vitamin C. List of various Vitamin C enriched food and fruits are Oranges or Orange juice, Strawberries, Kiwis, Tomatoes, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Sweet-Potato etc. There are also various other fruits or vegetables which are good source of Vitamin C.
Facts about Vitamin C
Ascorbic acid or Vitamin C when heated or exposed to light or oxygen for longer time, destroys its own essence. Consuming it would not benefit a mother anyhow. Also it is advisable to consume Vitamin C enriched fruits in their natural form. If they are mixed with water or cooked with vegetables, they tend to lose their vitamin contains.
It is also important for a mother to consume Vitamin C on daily basis during pregnancy because any human body is not able to store ascorbic acid for long and starts depleting after a while. Regular intake of Vitamin C would keep refilling the stock and would benefit both mother and child during pregnancy.
