Pregnant women often lacking nutrients
A study shows that women can find it challenging to get the right balance of nutrients while pregnant. That increases the risk of premature birth and birth defects/developmental problems, and even cancer, in their offspring.
Recent research found that around 70 percent of U.S. pregnant women age 20 to 40 don’t get the estimatedaveragerequirement of vitamins and minerals. Especially lacking (even in women who take a supplement): vitamins D, C, A,
B6, K and E, and minerals choline, iron, folate, calcium, potassium, magnesium and zinc. What’s over the top? Many pregnant women get too much sodium; 40 percent exceed the upper limit for iron; 33 percent are over on folic acid.
Have your doc check your nutrient levels and consider consulting a nutritionist.
Eat seven to nine servings of veggies, fruit and 100 percent whole grains daily; stick with lean meat-based proteins
(no red meats). Take a prenatal multivitamin and omega-3 DHA as soon as you’re thinking about getting pregnant. Check nutrition labels for added folic acid so you don’t exceed your limit.
Coming in second might get your kids to eat more vegetables
Lebron James started playing professional basketball in Cleveland in 2003. But when his free agency came up in 2010, he had to make a choice: Cleveland or Miami? He chose to take his talents to Miami. After four seasons (and two championships) there, his contract was up again and he had another choice: Miami or return to Cleveland? He chose Cleveland. Then after another four years (and one championship), he was given another choice: Stay in Cleveland or go to L.A? For the third time, he chose the latter. Now we may know why.
Researchers from the University of California, Irvine, have determined that toddlers 21 to 27 months old experience something called the “recency bias.” That means when they’re asked if they would rather have cake or broccoli, 85.2 percent of the time, they’ll choose broccoli over cake because it was the last option they heard.
So if you have a toddler, take advantage of this verbal quirk. Study after study shows that if young kids try veggies more than once, they can develop a taste for them that will carry into healthier eating habits as they grow up. We might even suggest the same approach for any team looking to round up Lebron for his last seasons in the NBA. Well, it’s worth a try.
Email questions for Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen to youdocsdaily@sharecare. com.