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You are here : home > Pregnancy > Weight Gain, Diet & Exercise > Benefits of Dairy Products for Pregnant Women

Benefits of Dairy Products for Pregnant Women


Dairy Products during Pregnancy

The article describes about benefits of dairy products and why pregnant women must have them throughout their pregnancy period. Dairy products with low-fat are beneficial for would-be mothers and the foetus both.

Samira is anxious about her diet and wants to know if she has to take more dairy products during her pregnancy period. Her doctors have said her to take healthy diet and now she wants to know which dairy products she can consume during her pregnancy and how they could benefit her.

Why Dairy Products are Beneficial for Pregnant Women

Dairy products are very important for the pregnant women as they help in the growth of unborn baby. Dairy products are rich in different types of nutrients and that is why it is suggested that pregnant women should consume sufficient amount of milk and other dairy products every day to get required nutrients for herself and the growth of the baby. Doctors suggest that a pregnant woman should consume 3 cups of milk or various other dairy products in a day. Milk and other dairy products are rich in Calcium, Vitamin D and protein. However, consuming raw milk may not be safe during pregnancy. So, pregnant women must make sure that they consume only pasteurized milk.

Milk Consumption during Pregnancy

Following are the nutrients present in milk thereby making it one of the most important dairy products for would-be mothers.

Calcium

Milk provides huge amount of calcium to the pregnant women. If enough calcium rich food is not consumed by would-be mothers then they will lose calcium from their bone so that baby gets enough calcium. Would-be mothers below the age of 19 years need 1,300mg Calcium/day and would-be mothers 19 years above and more need 1,000 mg Calcium/day. The calcium content of 1 cup of low-fat milk is about 305 mg so would be mothers must take 3-4 cups of milk in a day. Apart from milk, other dairy products that are rich in Calcium are cheese and yogurt.

Vitamin D

Milk is also a good source of Vitamin D and that is why it is mandatory that would-be mothers should consume 3-4 cups of milk every day. In a cup of low-fat milk, 117 IU of Vitamin D is present. A pregnant woman needs about 600 IU of Vitamins so by consuming 3-4 cups of milk every day; a pregnant woman can get maximum amount of Vitamin D needed by her body. Lack of Vitamin D may result in low-weight of babies and neo-natal rickets. Vitamin D is helpful for calcium absorption in the body.

Protein

Milk is one of the best sources of proteins which are needed in great amount in would-be mothers. Proteins help in uterus formation, supply of blood, formation of foetus’s tissues and lack of protein in would-be mothers would affect the babies. By consuming 3-4 cup of milk every day, would-be mothers get about 1/3 rd of protein needed by them.

Zinc

Zinc is also very important for the would-be mothers and the growth of the foetus. Milk and cheese are good sources of Zinc.

Why Low Fat Dairy Products are Preferred during Pregnancy?

There are lots of benefits of consuming low-fat dairy products during pregnancy. Dairy products are rich in protein, Vitamins E, A and D, minerals like calcium, folate, and magnesium so every time a pregnant woman consumes milk or any other dairy products these essential nutrients are taken by the body.
Whole milk or whole dairy products are rich in saturated fat and more consumption of such products will increase accumulation of fat and cholesterol in the body of would-be mothers. To keep healthy and fit and at the same time get the required nutrients needed by her and her baby, would-be mothers should take up low-fat dairy products.
Good amount of calcium and Vitamin D present in milk and other dairy products are helpful in proper growth of foetus and maintain the nutrient requirements of would-be mothers. It is essential for pregnant women to consume different types of dairy products as per the recommendations of their doctors.


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