The Truth About Prenatal Supplements: 5 Things You Should Know | Forté Elements

The Truth About Prenatal Supplements: 5 Things You Should Know | Forté Elements

Prenatal supplements come in many varieties. Some are one-a-day and some are chewable, powder, or even liquid.

However, the great variety of prenatal supplements manifests in the supplement facts. The traditional approach to prenatal vitamins is often market driven rather than science driven. This approach often produces supplements that lack essential nutrients because one pill is often more marketable than multiple pills. Many supplement companies are under the impression that something is better than nothing. However, as stated above, this approach results in the exclusion of nutrients or incorrect dosages.

When choosing a prenatal supplement, take into consideration these three differences:

Doses

Just because your prenatal contains a needed ingredient doesn't mean it contains the needed amount. A poignant example is the use of calcium.

According to recent research, women who are pregnant should receive 1,000mg a day of calcium to have the most effective results in reducing preeclampsia. However, though this is the recommended amount, many prenatal supplements only contain 250-500mg of calcium. If 1,000mg is the standard, 250-500mg should be nearly as good, right? Wrong. Doses less than 1,000mg show little to no effect on preeclampsia rates.

The nutrients that help prevent pregnancy complications and support your developing baby are most effective when taken in the right dosages. When examining the supplement facts, make sure to check the doses. Considering all the nutrients needed to support a healthy pregnancy, one pill may not be enough to support you and your baby.

Ingredients

While most prenatal supplements contain some nutrients needed during pregnancy, many contain unnecessary filler ingredients. And even the "non-filler" ingredients are often of poor quality or synthetic. The cheaper forms of vitamins and minerals take longer to absorb into the body, rendering them less useful.

If you are concerned about the quality of ingredients in your prenatal, research the supplement brand and consult with your physician.

Purpose

What is the purpose of your supplement? Is a healthy pregnancy for you and your baby the end-all goal? If the ingredients in your supplement do not match your needs, your health may not be at the center of the brand.

Make sure that your pregnancy and baby are not an afterthought. Your prenatal needs to be specifically tailored to your increased nutritional demands. Consulting with a physician and researching what your body needs will help you find a quality supplement.

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