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Parentpedia
Low-Carb Diets
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The low-carb craze has taken our society by storm — an estimated 32 million people have tried it — but is it safe during pregnancy?
Low carb probably is not the way to go for most soon-to-be moms. In fact, popular low-carb diets have special guidance for pregnant women. The Atkins Diet recommends that pregnant women and lactating moms embark on what it calls the "maintenance" phase, which incorporates more carbs than the standard Atkins. The South Beach Diet has a similar, modified approach for expectant moms.
Why Carbs Now?
A diet without complex carbohydrates tends to be low in nutrients your baby needs, including folic acid and other crucial vitamins and minerals. It also often lacks fiber, which you will need to combat constipation and B vitamins, which help with morning sickness.
Carbohydrates combine with fat fragments so that they can be used for energy, which you will need plenty of while your baby grows. Without enough carbohydrates, the body will break down fats incompletely and produce a byproduct called ketones. These build up in the blood and can lead to ketosis, a condition that can lead to brain damage in the fetus.
How to Eat Smart Carbs
If you're concerned about weight gain, the key is to eat complex carbohydrates, like whole grains, legumes, and vegetables. Complex carbs take longer to digest, so you feel full longer, and are packed with needed nutrients.
Avoid simple carbohydrates like white sugar and soda pop, which are digested quickly and usually contain "empty," low-nutritrion calories.
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