Foods to eat and avoid during pregnancy for a healthy baby

I MAILED you earlier and left a message on your cellphone. Please resend me your pregnancy diet article or publish it in the newspaper as I lost it. When I e-mailed you, I was three months’ pregnant. Now I am almost four months’ pregnant. Please help. GV DURING pregnancy, it is important for all around you to be understanding, especially those close to you.

Any undue stress will affect the baby. So it is necessary for your husband and mother-inlaw, if you live with them, to be sensitive to your needs.

It is well known that many mothers become nauseous and moody while pregnant. Support from your family is vital during this time. Everything should be done for the ultimate health and benefit of the baby.

To ensure that this pregnancy will result in a healthy and happy child, you should try to rest as much as possible.

Besides your normal diet and what your doctor advises, the following are also considered good foods to eat during pregnancy:

• Coconut: eat as much as you can during the day. Ancient Indian belief is that it makes the baby’s eyes beautiful and enhances other features. It also improves the complexion. Coconut water is best.

• Orange: eat a few sweet oranges, mandarins or naartjies every day before sunset. This will help to give your baby glowing skin.

MAHESH BANG

• Apple: have one every day to beautify the skin.

• Grapes: after lunch on sunny days, or especially in summer, have some grapes. They give the baby rosy cheeks.

• Almonds: eat about 12 every morning to improve the baby’s nervous system and IQ. These should be soaked overnight in water, peeled and chewed. You can also grind the almonds and mix with milk. The “almond milk” will help to ensure the baby has good overall health.

• Figs: have two (soaked in water overnight) every day with breakfast. They’re very good for you.

• Pistachios (5-7) and walnuts (2-4): eating these nuts during pregnancy is beneficial as they contain Omega 3 and vitamin E.they will help make baby strong.

• Fennel seeds: Have a tablespoonful after meals. They improve digestion and skin colour.

• Carrots (40%), spinach (40%) and beetroot (20%) juiced together and drunk every day makes for healthy skin and boosts the immune system. Don’t eat or drink half an hour before or after having the juice.

• Water: drink plenty every day to have a healthy baby.

Aside from the above, a pregnant woman should avoid stress and get enough sleep. Foods to avoid are: • Pawpaw: people in the south of India believe it causes miscarriages

• Yoghurt: according to Ayurveda, this can be eaten only in summer and must be avoided in winter, after sunset and on cloudy or rainy days as it causes coughs and colds for mother and child.

• Tomato: according to Ayurveda, the acidity causes joint pain and contributes to pregnancy-related swelling.

Pregnant women should avoid all food Ayurvedically considered extremely hot or cold, such as cloves and garlic (hot) or yoghurt (cold) – as well as too much bitter gourd (karela).

It is believed that if a pregnant woman undertakes more spritual activities, her baby will be more spritual later in life.

Pregnancy is the most important time for the baby. In these nine months, the baby listens, understands and absorbs knowledge very quickly. It’s the foundation for positive emotions. Ayurvedic science has it that they know more than we think.

That’s why, according to Vedic culture, it is recommended that a mother-to-be read the Ramayana and the Bhagavad Gita or any other spiritual book in accordance with one’s beliefs during pregnancy.

Place a picture of baby Krishna in your bedroom so that, every morning when you get up, you see the picture first. After a bath you can offer curd and candy to the Krishna.

Chant any mantra of your Ishta-dev (favourite deity) but include at least one mantra of Lord Krishna, especially the Santana-gopal mantra.

Readers can send their name and surname, religion, date, place and time of birth and the advice they require to: Mahesh Bang, Tribune Herald, PO Box 47549, Greyville, 4023, or e-mail tribuneherald@inl.co.za or call him at: 083 659 2277 or 031 401 8888