Detoxing during pregnancy

Pregnancy is a beautiful experience. During this time, the body undergoes a lot of physical, hormonal, and emotional changes. The changes can cause your mood swings and introduce new allergies.

This is when you should be most concerned about your health, as your health directly affects your baby’s health. There are many enemies of a healthy body, and toxins are at the top. You should try to get rid of this as soon as you can during your pregnancy.

How to get rid of toxins in the body while pregnant?

Having a healthy diet is of utmost importance for you and your baby. Making your prenatal diet as natural as possible with vegetables and fruits can make you and your baby happy. Even if you follow a healthy diet, pregnancy requires adjustments in your diet as well as your routine. You need to eat extra nutrients and you should avoid some food altogether.

It definitely does not mean that you have to follow a stringent diet plan since we all know pregnancy comes with food cravings. However, you should be mindful of what you eat. Eating healthy means eating foods that are natural and minimally processed with no additives or preservatives. Here are some detox foods that can help you to get rid of toxins in the body while you are pregnant.

Natural detox while pregnant

Brown rice, whole-grain pasta, and bread instead of whites

Whole grains are a source of good carbs that help you sustain your energy longer and prevent constipation. This is a very common problem during pregnancy. When grains are processed, it loses the fiber and the phytochemicals that help boost immunity and prevent diseases. Hence it is recommended switching to whole grains during pregnancy.

Organic fruits and vegetables

Organic fruits and vegetables may be more expensive, but studies suggest that there are lower levels of pesticide in your bloodstream if you eat organic food. Since a fetus is in the prime stage of development, the exposure to chemical contaminants is more dangerous than its exposure later in life. However, if you can’t find or afford organic food then make sure you wash your groceries well.

You should have different types of fruits and vegetables since they contain calcium, fiber, iron, and other essential nutrients that are important for fetal development.

Limit foods that have a high salt content

In some cases, high salt intake can often lead to complications like high blood pressure. Highly processed foods are rich in sodium like canned foods, soups, and boxed grained dishes. They are generally rich in ingredients that you shouldn’t have in your diet like salt, fat, sugar, calories, and less of the nutrients and vitamins that you should have in your food.

Foods with chemical additives

Foods made with chemical additives do not contain the nutrients you need for you and your baby. Hence it is better to avoid it. Nutrition experts advise pregnant mothers to stay away from artificial sweeteners. It is not only unsafe for the fetus; it is also known to cause other stomach problems, migraines, and insomnia, whether you are pregnant or not.

Grass-fed and hormone-free meat and poultry

Protein is the most important ingredient in your diet. So, you need to eat a variety of protein-rich food during pregnancy. A good source of protein is hormone-free meat and poultry. You can also have plant-based protein like beans, nuts, grains, legumes to enrich your diet.

Choice of fish

Fish contains omega-3 fatty acids which are essential for you and your baby. It contributes to the development of the brain and heart. But often fishes are contaminated with mercury and other pesticides released from factories. This can cause serious damage to the development of your baby. You can opt for safe fish that are farmed organically like trout or catfish or wild Alaskan salmon.

If you are vegan, you can also opt for plant-based omega-3 fatty acids that can be found in walnut and ground flaxseed.

Hydrate

The best way to keep you and your baby healthy is to hydrate. Pregnant women should drink 6 to 8 ounces of water per day. That can vary if you are active or if you live in a warm climate you might want to drink more water. Water is an excellent solution for detoxifying toxins from your body.

What teas are safe to drink while pregnant?

The changes in diet also include your caffeine intake. Most doctors advise limiting your caffeine intake during pregnancy. Caffeine can easily cross your placenta and harm your baby’s underdeveloped liver since it has difficulty in breaking it down. It is advisable to take not more than 200 mg of caffeine a day during pregnancy. Many people believe that it is safe to drink tea since it is a natural ingredient. However, pregnant women may benefit from avoiding certain teas. A 2012 study suggests that high consumption of tea can interfere with folic acid absorption, which is an essential nutrient for the baby’s cerebral and spinal development.

According to studies, some tea that contains the following ingredients may be safe to consume during pregnancy:

• Raspberry Leaf: This tea helps to shorten labor and prepare the uterus for birth. However, there is no medical evidence to support this.
• Peppermint Tea: It helps to reduce gas, nausea, stomach pain, or heartburn.
• Ginger: This ingredient helps to reduce nausea and vomiting.
• Lemon balm: This tea is used to relieve anxiety, irritability, and insomnia.

However, before consuming any herbal tea or caffeine it is always wise to consult your doctor.

Can you do a colon cleanse while pregnant?

Colon cleansing is a medical procedure that cleanses toxins and wastes from your body. The procedure involves pushing water through the rectum and then removing it from the body to eliminate wastes from large intestines. It also helps to relieve constipation and other digestive problems. It is usually a very common procedure, but should you be cautious while you are pregnant?

Colon cleansing might not be safe during pregnancy and can lead to adverse effects. Some of the side effects are listed below:

• Colon cleansing may cause dehydration. Dehydration can cause several complications and damage to the fetus.
• It can cause injuries to the colon and rectum that need other medical procedures. This can ultimately be harmful to the baby.
• If you have other health conditions like heart, liver, or kidney problems colon cleansing can increase the risk of complications because colonic reduces the electrolytes from your body.

A fiber-rich diet can help you to naturally cleanse your colon without needing any kind of medical procedures. You should always consult your doctor if you are uncomfortable. Constipation during pregnancy is quite natural and there are natural methods that can help you with this issue.

How to detox your placenta?

Several studies have shown that over 200 industrial chemicals and pollutants are found running through the baby’s umbilical cord. Your fetus is extremely vulnerable to such chemicals. In the initial stages of fetal development, the baby’s system and organs are incapable of detoxifying and excreting these chemicals and thus can result in severe birth defects. On the other hand, even if there is a low level of chemical exposure it can still cause damages in later life like behavioral problems, certain cancers, and even neurodegenerative disease.

The umbilical cord is the lifeline between the mother and the baby. It is responsible for carrying oxygenated blood and nutrients to the baby. However, this lifeline also carries a steady stream of chemicals that can cross the placenta and cause damage to your baby.

Whatever the mother is exposed to is also what the baby is exposed to. The good news is that the mother can take steps to detoxify the umbilical cord. Here are some of them:

• Eat organic fruits and vegetables.
• Check your home water supply.
• Vacuuming with a HEPA filter.
• Use natural ingredients to clean your home.
• Use beauty products that are safe and chemical-free.
• Avoid any product that has synthetic perfume.
• Use stainless steel or cast iron instead of nonstick pans.
• Switch to glass and stainless steel kitchenware instead of plastic.
• If you are buying new furniture avoid MDF or plywood since they give off chemical fumes that are harmful to the baby. Opt for natural wood.

Precautions while detoxing during pregnancy

• Consult your doctor- It is crucial to consult your doctor if you make any diet or supplement changes to ensure your baby’s safety.
• Avoid fasting based detox programs- There are several detox programs that require fasting and only allow a juice-based diet. This can be extremely harmful to the baby. Even though your body stores fat and energy that can sustain your body but your baby doesn’t. Pregnant women require an extra 300 calories to maintain the baby’s health as well as hers. Hence fasting can cause significant problems.
• Research detox supplements- You should research the detox supplements carefully before starting the program. Many detox programs are not approved by the FDA and hence carefully examining the ingredients is a crucial step to ensure your baby’s health.
• Avoid unpasteurized juices- A juice cleanse is one of the most popular detox programs. Drinking healthy juices are good for both, your baby as well as your health. The risk is how the juice is processed. Unpasteurized juices are processed to make sure the bacteria within them are destroyed. This wouldn’t be a problem under normal circumstances however for a pregnant woman it makes you more sensitive to bacteria.
• Stop your detox program in case of any medical issues- Your body may not accept the detox that you are trying to inculcate in the system. Stop if you feel any discomfort. If you are experiencing any health issues consult your doctor immediately.
• Opt for a post-birth detox instead- A good time to detox is a year after your pregnancy. Don’t do it too often since your body needs time to recover and heal.

Summary

It is important to take care of your baby before he or she is born. Living a healthy lifestyle and keeping up with your doctor’s appointments will ensure that your baby is happy and healthy inside the womb. You are more likely to have a healthy baby if you take proper precautions and maintain a healthy diet.