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Home › Articles › Nutrition › Liquid Health

Liquid Health

Smart Nutrition for Thirsty Moms

By Dr. Aneema Van Groenou

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Many people cannot properly digest milk – it causes stomach cramps, bloating and even diarrhea. There are plenty of good high calcium alternatives: low lactose milk, rice milk, goat's milk and soymilk. Soymilk is a good source of calcium and protein and is lower in cholesterol than cow's milk. It may also help prevent some cancers and heart disease. Since you need a lot of calcium during pregnancy, soy may be a very healthy choice.

Sugar Substitutes
When choosing a drink during pregnancy, keep in mind that all sweeteners – even natural sugars like brown sugar or honey – also will affect your fetus. Some women report that their fetus is more active after they drink something sweet. I've actually seen a fetus' heart rate go up (while I was monitoring it) after a woman had some cranberry juice!

So what about artificial sweeteners? The American Dietetic Association says that aspartame (Nutrasweet and Equal) and acesulfame-K (Sunett) are safe during pregnancy if used in moderation. Do not have more than four packages of these sweeteners or two cans of diet drinks a day. These are the most common artificial sweeteners in diet soft drinks. Pregnant women should avoid saccharin because it crosses the placenta and may remain in the fetus' system for a long time and may increase the baby's risk of bladder cancer. Saccharin has been approved by the FDA, so don't worry if you have some by mistake.

Fizzy Favorites
There is nothing wrong with enjoying carbonated beverages during pregnancy, especially carbonated juices or water. Lots of sodas have artificial sweeteners and caffeine, so read the labels carefully before you pick one. Also, you may notice that the carbonation causes you to feel very full and aggravates heartburn, especially during your third trimester.

Drink up during pregnancy, but choose your beverages carefully. Avoid caffeine, alcohol and artificial sweeteners – and make sure you are getting enough water. Cheers!

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