Hot Chocolate During Pregnancy Risks & Side Effects
Like many other foods and beverages, although there are benefits to drinking hot chocolate, there are also risks and side effects. These are specific to each person and your unique pregnancy. Some risks and side effects of 2010 study are:
- Low birth weight
- Preterm birth
The above risks and side effects are associated mainly with the amount of sugar in sweet drinks. You should pay attention to the sugar in hot chocolate when you make it. Using less sweetener and darker chocolate can reduce these risks. Being aware of what is in your cup can help you answer the question: can you drink hot chocolate while pregnant?
What Hot Drinks Are Safe During Pregnancy
Several hot drinks are safe to consume during pregnancy. Make sure to track your caffeine and sugar intake, and always double-check herbal teas or drinks to make sure they state they are safe for pregnant women to consume. Most manufacturers will place this right on the label. Below are a few hot drinks that are safe during pregnancy:
- Coffee Regular or decaffeinated, be aware of your caffeine intake.
- Tea If caffeinated, make sure to check how much is in a cup. When drinking herbal teas, check the label to make sure it is safe for pregnant women.
- Hot apple cider This can be fresh or available in packets to add to hot water. Watch for the amount of sugar in the powdered kind.
Healthy Snacks During Pregnancy
Still looking for a way to get those extra calories? Snacks can do the trick. But this doesnt mean a candy bar or a bag of potato chips. Instead, stock up on cereal, nuts, fruit, and low-fat yogurt.
Adding those 500 extra calories in a healthy way can be as simple as eating:
- 25 almonds, low-salt or unsalted , with cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup mixed nuts, low -salt or unsalted , and 1 large orange
- 1½ cups small pasta shells with 1 cup cherry tomatoes , cup black beans , 2 tsp olive oil , and a splash of vinegar
Continued
For a smaller snack of about 300 to 350 calories, consider:
- 1½ cups oatmeal with 7 large strawberries and ½ cup blueberries
- 7 egg whites with 2 servings of salsa on 3 soft corn tortillas
- 2 cups low-fat yogurt and 1 large peach
It’s OK to enjoy a sweet or salty treat every now and then. But do it in moderation, just like you did before you were pregnant. Too much salt can make you retain water and raise your blood pressure, which isn’t good for you or your baby. And too many sweet foods will fill you up with empty calories, so youre less hungry for the nutritious foods that you and your baby need.
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Top Tips For Nutrition During Pregnancy
The things that you eat and drink during pregnancy are your babys main sources of nourishment for their growth and development, so its important to make smart choices. Its also important for you to get the nutrition needed in order to keep you fit and healthy throughout the 9 months, as we all know pregnancy is tiring and takes a toll on your body.
Being concerned about what you eat during pregnancy is perfectly natural, there are so many rules and myths surrounding your diet, but dont worry – its easier than you think once you know which foods to prioritise. Nutritional therapist Jodie Abrahams gives us her 10 top tips for what to eat and drink to help you feel your best during pregnancy and to help your little one get the best start possible.;
So Is A Breakfast Essential Safe During Pregnancy
Well, theres no harm in consuming a breakfast essential once in a while, but dont try to make it a habit unless your doctor recommends it.
The problem arises when pregnant women lose weight, consume breakfast essential as a meal replacement, and avoid eating anything else.
This should never be the case because a breakfast essential should only be considered a snack that you take once in a while.
Another thing to keep in mind is that there is a variety of flavors and types in breakfast essentials. So, be mindful of choosing the one that is less in sugar and has no artificial sweeteners.
Some breakfast essentials are high in sugar, and if consumed daily, it may result in increased blood sugar levels and excess weight gain.
After confirming with their doctor, many pregnant women consume breakfast essentials because plain milk makes them feel nauseous in the early trimester or if theres no weight gain.
But, my only recommendation to you will be, kindly ask your doctor first before taking a breakfast essential and take an informed, educated decision.
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More Healthy Pregnancy Recipes From Birth Eat Love
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Easy Breakfast Ideas In Pregnancy
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Research suggests that skipping breakfast can cause us to snack on high-calorie foods during the day and can also make us less active. People who eat a healthy breakfast are less likely to be overweight ;and have a lower risk of developing certain health conditions. These include diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.;
Breakfast gives you a much-needed energy boost after a long stretch of fasting during the night. If you find it difficult to eat in the morning, start with small portions and gradually, your appetite will increase.;
If you are experiencing morning sickness, having a light breakfast as soon as you get up, will boost your blood sugar levels. This will hopefully help ease symptoms.;
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Healthy Eating Breakfast Tips
Keep these in mind when deciding what to eat in the a.m.:
- Mastering the morning. If you cant handle a big breakfast first thing, have it in stages, with liquids first . Then eat your first solid food slowly to help with digestion, eating until you feel comfortably sated.
- Go for 5. Whether youre experiencing morning sickness, have busy days or are just fighting fatigue, eating 3 full meals plus two small nutrient packed snacks is the way to get through the day feeling as good as possible.
- Know and go with your body. If you cant stomach breakfast, eat foods when youre ready that youre craving . Its more important to get some nourishment than none.
- Fat is good. A certain amount of healthy fat is important for both you and your baby, enabling vitamin absorption and essential fatty acids to be delivered to your little one. Add them to your breakfast foods, by throwing some avocado into a smoothie, nuts into oatmeal or sautéeing in olive oil when making eggs.
- A banana a day will keep the doctor away. Bananas are a total superfruit: prebiotic, filled with potassium, fiber, protein and vitamin C and easy to pack for a snack on-the-go. Throw them in smoothies, cereals, yogurt, in a peanut butter sandwich or in a fruit salad.
Heres What You Can Eat To Improve Your Digestion Asap
Fruit and WATER WATER WATER! Perhaps even together! Add fruit and herbs to your water;to boost the amount of fluids youre drinking. For many people the hint of added flavor makes them drink much more.
Vegetables are your bestie. Each meal is an opportunity to load up! Your intestines will be smiling all day with these veggies passing through!
Green Leafys! Eat these ALL the time! Fill up a dump truck with green and drop it off at your house. Greens are your miracle food. Add a small handful to your green smoothie. For lunch eat a big leafy salad. For dinner, steam your greens and sprinkle them with garlic powder and a pinch of pink salt.
Beans! Aim to eat at least 1/2 Cup of beans a day. Change them up bc each type has its own super power. Add some to every salad, and always add beans to soup.
Eat grains in their whole form! Eating grains in an unprocessed form makes for easier digestion.
Soup! The heat from soup relaxes the intestines and prepares them for digestion. Eating soup daily is a great way to eat all your veggies, grains, and beans, and also the perfect way to have a relaxed digestive system.
Flaxseeds! These mighty seeds add tons of extra fiber to your diet. Add ground ground flaxseeds to your morning green smoothie and also add a tablespoon into your soup recipes.
Other Ways to improve pregnancy digestion?
Exercise! Moving helps move all our foods through our bodily systems. We are designed to move freely and thats how our bodies operate best!
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Amount Of Caffeine Tea Contains
The caffeine content in a cup of tea depends on factors such as origin, processing, brewing time, and brewing temperature. Generally, one cup of tea including milk tea, white tea, black tea, oolong or green tea contains about 40 to 50mg of caffeine whereas herbal teas contain negligible amounts of caffeine . Therefore, herbal teas are considered to be a safer option during pregnancy.
Can You Drink Coffee While Pregnant
You might have enjoyed a morning cup or two before, but can you drink coffee while pregnant? Weve asked the experts for best practice around coffee-drinking during those precious 9 months.
Pregnancy is a joyous and heart-warming experience for women, as you look forward to meeting your little bundle of joy. Yet it does sometimes come with a side of anxiety, with mums-to-be often overloaded with information on what to eat when pregnant and foods to avoid when pregnant for the sake of the babys health.
One of the foods women are advised to be wary of is caffeine, explains former midwife Rachel FitzD, citing the famous substance in coffee. From how much is too much to whether cutting down on caffeine just means cutting down on coffee and other foods that contain that get-up-and-go juice. If youre wondering how to keep yourself and your baby safe for the full 9 months then get acquainted with the rules around it.
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Is Green Tea Safe During Pregnancy
Green tea is safe when you take in minimal quantities. It also contains caffeine and can reduce folate levels in the body . It is better to consider taking it from the second trimester.
A hot cup of tea in the morning or iced teas during summers can be good. But if you think a specific variety of tea is not suiting you, avoid it. If you are still unsure about which tea to take, consult your doctor once and always check the ingredients before selecting a tea.
Whats your favorite tea and how do you make it? Share your experiences with our other readers in the below comment section.
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Healthy Pregnancy Breakfast Ideas
Need healthy, milk boosting snacks?
Breakfast may be the most essential meal of the day, especially if you are a pregnant mom juggling kids, life and/or work. Busy mornings often mean running out the door skipping breakfast. Or picking up a less than healthy breakfast that is easy to eat on the go. But to stay balanced as a pregnant mom, eating a healthy breakfast is an absolute MUST! This list of healthy pregnancy breakfast ideas is perfect for eating on the go.
Looking for pregnancy recipes? You have come to the right place.;
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Whole Wheat Bagel Cream Cheese And Cooked Salmon
Smoked salmon isn’t a good choice for moms-to-be because of the risk of listeriosis. But that’s no reason to miss out on salmon’s Omega-3 fatty acids. Those healthy fats are vital to your baby’s brain development! Choose a baked variety of the fish and enjoy it with cream cheese on your favorite bagel. Look for mini bagels, which are actually much closer to the correct serving size than the supersized coffee shop variety. If you can find a whole-wheat variety, you’ve scored another nutritional bonus for you and your baby.
Yep Breakfast Is Still The Most Important Meal Of The Day
Weve all heard breakfast is the most important meal of the day since nutrients missed at breakfast are unlikely to be made up later in the day. A morning meal helps get a head start on key nutrients so that families can start the day right. And while it can be difficult to make sure your family is getting a protein-and-calcium-rich breakfast when youre balancing the morning household chaos, new Carnation Breakfast Essentials® Flavored Nutritional Drinks help us do just that they are absolutely delicious and provide 10 grams of protein plus 21 vitamins and minerals, including calcium, to help meet daily nutritional needs and help fill nutritional gaps.
These breakfast drinks are packed with as much protein as 1½ large eggs, as much vitamin D as two 8 oz. glasses of milk, and as much vitamin C as one medium orange a morning nutrient punch that you can feel great about.;
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Hot Chocolate Health Benefits
The health benefits of hot chocolate stem from the benefits of the cocoa that chocolate is made of. Apart from being delicious, there has been evidence uncovered in studies that cocoa has been shown to:
- Regulate the immune system.
- Offer protection to the neurological system, enhance cognition and positive mood.
- Aid in weight loss.
- Lessen allergic responses.
These are just a few of the many benefits of the cocoa that makes up the main ingredient in any hot chocolate recipe. There are many studies and articles you can find online from trusted medical sources to help you learn about all the benefits of cocoa for both pregnant and non-pregnant women.
Is It Safe To Drink Instant Breakfast Essentials While
is it safe to drink instant breakfast essentials while pregnant A 26-year-old female asked: is it safe to drink 10ml of lacson everyday for constipation maintenance? i am 23 weeks pregnant, and vitamins, omega-3, These extra calories support a healthy pregnancy and provide your unborn baby with the nutrients she needs to grow,A wholesome breakfast during pregnancy is important to let you and your baby begin the day on the right note, good fat, the following is a list of alternatives that pregnant women can consume during pregnancy, It is best not to drink beverages that contain high amounts of sugar and caffeine in large quantities, Starting your day with a healthy breakfast helps you add calories to your diet, 2, Plus, sesame-seed bread, Simply soak whole rolled oats overnight in either milk, 8 First Trimester No Nos, and beans contain the protein, so start off the morning with calcium-rich yogurt, Note that some on this list should be consumed in moderation, Its healthy and extra protein is good, When using volume measures , soya or almond milk, eggs, but it also gives you
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Best Foods For Baby Development During Pregnancy
You are probably already aware of the importance of taking prenatal vitamins during pregnancy. Did you know that certain things in your diet can help in your babys development? You can give your baby an early start by choosing the right foods for baby development during pregnancy. Likewise, some food choices can actually have a negative impact on babys development.
Most of us want to eat healthy during pregnancy, but with morning sickness, food aversions, and wild cravings that isnt always easy. Sometimes you have to eat what you can tolerate. The good news is, morning sickness usually lets up after the first trimester. Here are some healthy snack choices that you can eat during the day to aid in your babys development.
Foods High in Omega-3sThis is an important nutrient to get in while youre pregnant as it helps boost babys brain development as well as vision. Taken during the second trimester can make a difference in your babys mental development later on. Fish is a great source of obtaining Omega-3 fatty acids, though you have to be watchful of what kind you eat. Fish that may be high in mercury such as shark, king mackerel, and swordfish are a few that you should definitely avoid while pregnant. The recommended serving of fish during pregnancy is 12 ounces a week. If you are not a fish-eating person, there are other ways you can obtain Omega-3s. Here are other foods that you can eat:
- Flaxseed
Ginger Blueberry Whole Wheat Pancakes
Keep it easy with a pancake mix, but choose one that is whole wheat and has protein added. Add to the batter by mixing in a teaspoon of ground ginger and a teaspoon of cinnamon and a cup and a half of blueberries. Blueberries are nutrient-dense with antioxidants and vitamins and ginger is an anti-nausea home remedy that can help with morning sickness. Drizzle with real maple syrup for sweetness.
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Is Chai Tea Safe To Drink While Pregnant
Chai tea or masala chai is the Indian version of tea that is a combination of black tea seasoned with herbs such as ginger, cardamom, black pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, almond, rose or licorice, all of which give it a spicy flavor. It is safe to take this in moderate amounts as the different spices might have varied effects during pregnancy.
