Everywhere you turn, there seems to be baby news. From the cover of People magazine to the pages of major dailies, babies (and their expectant mothers) are making headlines. That’s because babies are big business.
The maternity-clothes industry rakes in nearly $200,000,000 annually; layettes, cribs, baby carriages, baths, feeding accessories and toiletries gross half a billion dollars a year, and diaper services do an annual business of $30,000,000.
Clearly, when a baby is on the way, there’s a lot at stake financially, not to mention emotionally and physically, so it’s understandable you want to do everything possible to ensure your new arrival will be healthy and happy.
That process begins long before the baby arrives though, and it begins with a diet rich in folic acid. Why? Well, women who plan on becoming pregnant can reduce their chances of having a baby with birth defects if they consume the recommended 600 micrograms folic acid up to one year before conceiving.
Folic acid, a member of the B-vitamin family, is responsible for making cells and, specifically, protecting against spina bifida, a neural tube defect. In recent years, scientists have suggested that folic acid might also lower the risk of developing Alzheimer?s and heart disease.
To get your daily dose of folic acid, try to include a serving of any of the following foods in your diet:
Peanuts
Orange juice
Fortified breakfast cereal
Snow peas
Broccoli
Black beans
Papaya
Making informed food choices in advance of becoming pregnant is one of the most simple and powerful things you can do to help ensure the health of your newborn. Why not start today?