Help Your Baby Get More Iron

Help Your Baby Get More Iron

September 17th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Iron is one of the most important minerals for health, growth and development in babies and toddlers. In recent years the incidence of iron-deficiency anemia in babies has gone down due to iron-fortified infant formulas and supplementation, but the risk is still very real. Especially in the second year of life, after your baby has been weaned from the breast or from formula feedings, getting the right amount of iron is of vital importance.

Why Does Baby Need Iron?

Iron helps the body to create new red blood cells, which contain hemoglobin. Hemoglobin carries oxygen throughout the body to keep organs and muscles growing and functioning. Without enough iron, your baby’s body can’t grow and develop normally. When iron stores are depleted, your baby isn’t getting enough oxygen in the bloodstream, which can result in fatigue, poor weight gain, poor appetite and changes in heart rate. There are long term effects as well to severe cases of anemia, which could even lead to hospitalization and blood transfusions.

What Baby Foods Provide Iron?

The best sources of iron in your baby’s diet are fortified infant cereals and meat. Continuing infant cereal into the second year of life can help to prevent iron deficiency anemia in your baby. Meat and poultry are also great sources of iron, but many babies and toddlers don’t eat much of these foods because they can be difficult to chew. You can mix meats with fruits or vegetables to make them more appealing, or try meat in a soup, where it has been cooked in broth and become very tender and easier to chew. If your baby isn’t interested in meat, try eggs, leafy green vegetables such as spinach, beans, peas, and whole grain bread. Choose fortified foods whenever you can to add extra iron.

One of the major causes of iron deficiency anemia in older babies is drinking too much milk. Make sure that your baby is not drinking more than 24 ounces of milk a day. Milk in large quantities can block the absorption of iron and also cause bleeding in the stomach lining, leading to iron loss. Milk is a healthy and important part of your older baby’s diet, but it is possible to drink too much and do damage to your baby’s body, so keep on eye on baby’s intake.

What About Iron Supplements?

Most multi-vitamins for children contain iron, but it is always a good idea to double check. The vitamin drops used for babies should clearly state on the label that they contain iron. Follow the manufacturer’s and your doctor’s instructions for dosage, and do not mix vitamin drops containing iron in with milk, as it blocks the absorption of iron. If you can’t get your baby to take it directly, which is not unusual as it has a strong smell and taste, mix it with a small amount of fruit juice, or add it to food. Just make sure when adding it to food that it is a portion you are certain your baby will finish eating, in order to get all of the supplements.

Children who have developed anemia may need a stronger iron supplement to recover the stores their bodies have lost. Your doctor will discuss this with you if it becomes necessary. Luckily, iron deficiency anemia is entirely avoidable in most cases, as long as you make sure to add extra iron to your baby’s diet early on.

Folic Acid: What it is, and Why it’s Important

Folic Acid: What it is, and Why it’s Important

July 16th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

In recent years, folic acid has been the center of much focus due to the research showing its incredible importance for pregnant women. While everyone needs folic acid for a healthy diet, much of the research studying its effects has centered on the prevention of birth defects, particularly neural tube defects such as spina bifida.

Getting enough folic acid both prior to and during your pregnancy is an absolute must to protect your baby against serious birth defects as well as other problems.

What is folic acid?

Folic acid is actually the synthetic version of a naturally occurring B-vitamin called folate. Thus when it is found in a natural food such as spinach, it is called folate. When it appears as an ingredient in a multivitamin supplement or is added to a food to fortify it, it is called folic acid. The function is the same no matter which form it takes. Folic acid is essential to the production of new cells in the body.

Why is folic acid important to pregnancy?

Recent research has shown that getting at least 400 micrograms of folic acid each day prior to pregnancy, and 600 micrograms during pregnancy, can reduce the occurrence of serious birth defects like spina bifida and anencephaly by 50-70%. While this is the most common benefit discussed in connection with folate, it’s not the only one suggested by the research.

Folic acid is also linked with a lower risk of cleft lip and palate, preterm birth, low birth weight, and preeclampsia in the mother. All of this information has led medical practitioners to recommend a daily supplement of folic acid to all women who are of childbearing age, and especially to those trying to conceive or already pregnant.

Why should it be taken before pregnancy?

The effects of folic acid on preventing birth defects are the strongest when the mother already has the required levels of the vitamin in her system prior to becoming pregnant. Also, many birth defects including those of the spine and brain as well as cleft lip and palate occur very early in pregnancy, often before the mother is even aware she is pregnant. If you wait until your pregnancy is confirmed to start taking folic acid supplements, it could be too late.

Still, even if you have not started taking extra folic acid before discovering your pregnancy, you haven’t lost your chance to reap other benefits from the vitamin. Begin taking a supplement the minute you find out you are pregnant, and you can still avoid problems like premature birth and low birth weight, among others.

Where can I get it?

Most multivitamin supplements for women contain the required amount of folic acid. You should make sure yours has at least 400 micrograms per dose. It’s also a good idea to make sure you add foods containing folic acid to your diet, such as citrus fruits and leafy greens. Try orange juice, spinach and broccoli, as well as foods that have been fortified with folic acid such as cereals and breads. As the popularity of folic acid spreads, more products with the vitamin added are appearing.

Although folic acid has only recently begun making headlines for its importance in pregnancy, it has always been an essential part of a balanced diet. Making it a part of your healthy eating plan will ensure you are healthy as well as ready should a pregnancy occur.

Pre-Pregnancy Folic Acid and Prevention of Birth Defects

Pre-Pregnancy Folic Acid and Prevention of Birth Defects

July 5th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

While many of us know how important good nutrition is during pregnancy, not everyone is aware of the impact your diet prior to the pregnancy can have on the baby. Of the many steps any woman planning to conceive should take, adding certain nutrients to her diet is one of the most important.

One of these nutrients is folate, a B vitamin that has been shown to help prevent birth defects including neural tube defects such as spina bifida and also cleft lip and palate. Folate has the largest effect on preventing these defects when taken prior to and in the very early stages of pregnancy.

Folate and Folic Acid

Folate is the term used to describe the naturally occurring version of this vitamin in foods such as fruits and vegetables. When you hear the term folic acid, this refers to the synthetic version of the vitamin which is used to fortify foods and also appears in supplements. Thus, when you look for this important nutrient on the list of vitamins in your prenatal supplement, it will appear as folic acid.

How long before pregnancy should folate be increased?

To get the full preventative effects of folate, you should start increasing your intake at least one month prior to pregnancy. However, folate is very good for you, and there is no reason not to increase your intake even if you don’t plan to become pregnant for some time. Not only will it improve your own health, but should a surprise pregnancy occur your body will be ready. It’s a good idea for all women of childbearing age to include extra folate in their diet, or take a supplement that includes folic acid. You should continue to get enough folic acid throughout the first trimester of pregnancy at least, but continuing right through your pregnancy will be good for both you and baby, especially since folate has also been linked with preventing premature birth.

How much folate do I need?

Women should get at least 400 micrograms of folate each day prior to pregnancy, and should increase that amount to 600 micrograms as soon as pregnancy is confirmed. You can get too much folic acid, however, so stick to under 1000 micrograms unless your doctor recommends more due to a history of neural tube defects in previous pregnancies. In this case, a larger dose may be recommended for both the pre-pregnancy period and into the first trimester. Studies have shown this may prevent recurrence of the defect in subsequent pregnancies.

Which foods contain folate?

Folate occurs naturally in lentils, asparagus, broccoli, spinach, citrus fruits such as oranges, and peanuts. It is also often added to cereals, breads, and pasta, so check the label to see if your choice has been fortified with folic acid.

It can be difficult to get enough folate from foods, so women planning to become pregnant should add a supplement containing the recommended amount. Check the label of your multivitamin to make sure it supplies enough folic acid. Prenatal supplements should include folic acid, but be sure the amount is right, and add an extra supplement if necessary to meet your 600 microgram requirement.

The importance of folate to a healthy pregnancy can’t be overstated. It is believed that taking an increased amount of folic acid could prevent up to 70% of neural tube defects in the US. Take this simple step before you are pregnant, to protect your baby even before conception.