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Last Updated on April 12, 2021
The ketogenic diet is extremely powerful, especially in shedding the pounds in your body. The drastic and significant reduction of carbohydrate consumption will lead your body to the state of ketosis. Once you are in this state, you will be using fat as fuel, which gives you access to speedy weight loss and other health benefits.
It is for this reason why a lot of people, including pregnant women, want to do a full ketogenic diet. In the case of these pregnant women, a lot of pondering has to be taken. After all, this particular type of diet can affect them.
Is low-carb and keto safe during pregnancy? I know that this is the very question that lingers in your mind right now. In the next sections, I will answer it and cover some other important things as well.
Let’s get started.
Ketosis and Pregnancy: Can They Go Hand-in-Hand?
Ketosis and pregnancy is a subject of many debates these days. Some are up for it while others object stringently about it.
So what’s the real score on this matter?
Well, here’s the deal. It is quite vexing when some experts and researchers that would confuse diabetic ketoacidosis and the standard dietary ketosis. The former happens when you starve yourself so that you force your body to enter ketosis.
Of course, the error in that is entirely highlighted already. You don’t need to starve to reach full ketosis. Instead, you have to follow the right meal plan so that your body will produce ketones naturally.
Despite many criticisms, it is important to emphasize that low carb diets–like the keto–can still fit in the life of pregnant women. They can reap a lot of benefits from it, which includes the slow-down of weight gain during pregnancy.
Of course, you cannot just jump to a keto diet only because you have found out that you are pregnant. You have to consult your dietician or doctor for that matter. You need to have a professional opinion first before you hop on it.
The diet is much safer and more comfortable for those women who have been into it even before they got pregnant. That’s the truth that I have to lay here. After all, the systems are already accustomed to it, and significant body changes will not be too severe.
But then again, there are some changes that they have to adhere if they wish to continue the diet. Always remember that the body of a pregnant woman is too sensitive. You have to adjust to its needs to ensure your welfare and your baby.
Here are some of them:
- It is recommended that women who are trying to get pregnant should have already started the diet for three months already. In this way, their body will be more adapted to the fat before they enter pregnancy.
- Once the woman is pregnant, it is necessary for her to eat low-carb, high-fat meals every two to three hours. This routine should start the moment she wakes and ends when you go to bed. Fasting is prohibited here, as you need to nourish your baby as well.
- It is also essential that you know how to calculate keto macros. Not all people have the same macronutrient requirement to maintain full and healthy ketosis. You need to assess your lifestyle, age, weight, and other factors first before you can measure the amount of food that you are going to eat.
- Meat, fish, eggs, cheese, fruits, unsweetened milk, and green veggies are among the recommended pregnant-friendly food items in the ketogenic diet. You should include them in your meals and snacks. In fact, there is a healthy tea that can make your labor a lot bearable!
Extra Precautions
If practiced correctly, ketosis is indeed safe for the body, even for those who are carrying their babies on their bumps. But to be on the safer side of things, you might need to know these following things.
Ketosis during pregnancy is not for weight loss. One should always remember that gaining weight is a normal process during pregnancy. When you do a low-carb diet during this period, it is to stay fit and healthy, and not the other way around.
Whole foods are vital. You need to remember that you are taking care of one more life here. The little angel inside you should be nourished with the right nutrients coming from whole foods like vegetables, legumes, and fruits.
Wrapping It Up
I know that it is quite difficult to believe that a low-carb diet is still possible during pregnancy. However, it is–as long as you follow the right procedure and meal plan. Furthermore, it is also essential to consult your doctor first about this matter.
Because this issue is still heated, I cannot expect that I have convinced all of you. As of now, it is better that you consult experts and professionals so that you can do an informed action that would benefit you and your baby.
That’s it for now. If you have questions or suggestions, feel free to drop them in the comment section below!
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