Nutritional Balancing

It’s time to reexamine prenatal care in this country and begin ensuring a baby’s optimal health long before conception occurs. Today, care for both the mother and baby begin far too late in a woman’s life. Typically, women do not begin eating well and nourishing their bodies until they learn of their pregnancy, which could be a few weeks to a few months after a missed cycle. However, pregnancy is already underway and it is late to begin pre-natal care. Those early weeks of a pregnancy, the first eight to twelve weeks or the first trimester are crucial to a baby’s health; at this decisive time, key organs and tissues are being developed. This modern day approach of waiting to begin prenatal care until after conception, sometimes weeks after conception, sadly misses the mark. And even when a woman does learn of her pregnancy, and visits her health care provider, today’s medical model of prenatal care, merely consists of blood work, a physical exam checking your heart, lungs and blood pressure along with perhaps a brief checklist of nutrition basics and a prescription for a multi-vitamin that is insufficient for the mothers and baby’s needs.

The cornerstone of a superb prenatal care program needs to have as its foundation, a program that begins as early as puberty, or even at birth, for both sexes because it can take several years at least, to improve the health of both man and woman. Additionally, this new model would incorporate teachings that include a healthful lifestyle– an excellent diet, plenty of rest, emotional tranquility and avoidance of all toxic substances.

Women need to become educated about the fact that pregnancy is a stressor on the body that demands the necessity of the highest quality nutrition along with vitamins and minerals as early as possible.  Just imagine what the body does on a daily basis when it is not creating a new, living and breathing human being. On a daily basis, the magnificent human body is making millions of red blood cells, producing multiple quarts of digestive juices to break down food so you can absorb the nutrients found within them. Your immune system replaces its line of defense weekly to maintain your health, and your skin, your epidermis is replaced every thirty days. These unseen biochemical processes are all powered by the small amount of food and water consumed each day. And even I, still marvel at the fact that there are leftovers to keep us smiling and laughing as we engage in a wide variety of activities. Proper food consumption is vital; even more significant now that you are eating for two as you are maintaining your own body, but additionally creating another being.

Couples considering having children, need to plan to include in their diets as many mineral rich foods as possible that include, pasture raised meats and eggs, a cornucopia of steamed vegetables and healthy fats, such as butter and flax oil. Sadly, most women, do not even meet the minimum government standards in nutrient intakes for their diet. Why you might ask? It is all about the inferior quality of our food today. Depleted soil and hybridized crops adulterated with pesticides and herbicides, contribute to poor nutrition and thus poor health. Additionally, both women and men need to avoid denatured edible like food items that are nutritionally bankrupt, such as white bread and pastries, further depleting the body of valuable nutrients. All invented foods and other harmful substances need to be eliminated from the diet. Oral contraceptives should be avoided in this preparatory period as well because they deplete the body of many essential nutrients, especially zinc. Essential vitamins and minerals, along with plenty of nutrient rich foods, sleep, rest and relaxation are the absolute prerequisites and foundation for the development of a vital new life. Care for a young woman’s body requires a commitment to her health that demands responsibility to herself and her unborn child. This duty needs to begin earlier in life in consideration of properly nourishing her mind, body and soul in preparation for the most sacred task that awaits her—raising a child.

If one examines the wisdom of primitive cultures, it becomes evident that special nutrient rich foods are provided as early as puberty or marriage to both women and men to help ensure a healthy baby.Dr. Weston Price, DDS, studied primitive tribes and reported that often an entire tribe gathered and hunted for special foods that included meats or fish to feed women who were of child-bearing age to provide the best foods for the healthiest child possible. Additionally, these young women were often removed from their friends and encouraged to spend time with the older women so that she could learn about nutrition, cooking and child-rearing. In stark contrast to what teenage girls learn today, that is a life abundant with reckless experimentation with sex, alcohol and drugs that are regularly transmitted through the TV, as well as the consumption of intoxicating amounts of unhealthy foods, instead these primitive tribes have judiciously educated their young women and men on how to properly take care of their bodies to ensure the birth of a healthy child.

Another reason prenatal care needs to start as early as possible is because both the egg and sperm arise from tissues that are subject to free radical damage, that is where rogue molecules are responsible for tissue damage. Of particular importance, is the woman, as she carries the cells of her egg throughout her life as well as a baby for the term of her pregnancy. She is exposed to daily assaults of toxins, metals and additives impacting her cellular tissues. Alcohol, smoking, toxic over- the -counter prescription drugs, toxic skin care products such as perfumes, deodorants and hair spay affect her health status. Women therefore need to begin preconception care as early as possible. This means long before conception.

A mother’s health is vitally important to the wellness of her newborn infant.  Among industrialized nations, the United States has the eighteenth highest rate for newborn mortality.  In America, the birth-defect rate has doubled since 1950.  The generations born in the wake of mass modification of food products now face record numbers of devastating conditions. Among them: failure to thrive, autism, ADD, depression, fatigue, anxiety and a host of defects related to prescriptions as well as engineered food products.  A benefit of Nutritional Balancing is that it allows women to screen for nutritional deficits and toxic metals in their systems before they conceive. It has also helped many women who have had trouble conceiving and carrying to term. Women today need to be concerned with the high rate of toxins found in food and water making it essential that their bodies are prepared with quality organic foods and clean water.

Correcting mineral imbalances can make a significant difference in pregnancy and birth. Important vitamins and minerals found in whole foods are vital to the healthy functioning of the biological system. Beyond prenatal issues, diseases that manifest in adulthood can often be linked to prenatal nutrition. Infants born at a particularly low weight have increased risk of cardiovascular disease. One study showed that an analysis of the level of lead, cadmium and zinc in placental tissue, confirmed with accuracy the  birth weight and  head circumference of the newborn. If a woman is exposed to lead or cadmium, either through cigarette smoke or exhaust fumes it can affect her health. In conclusion, the research showed that any child born under 6.9 pounds should be tested for sub-optimum nutrition. Taking care of yourself when you are expecting is imperative. Forty or more vitamins and minerals are needed to ensure both mother and child have strong immune systems, proper bone and brain development and a trouble free birth experience. Prenatal vitamins only supply a few of the very important supplements for the expecting mom. To replace one mineral can take more than nine months. Waiting until you conceive is too late.

It is time for a New Woman’s Paradigm.  This new ethic, particularly for women, warrants that you take care of your body when you are young so that when you are older, you will have healthy children. Start a new trend, and be different than your friends. Resist the temptation to eat poor quality junk food, drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes. Give up late nights and reduced sleep and trade them in for quality sleep and rest. If you are thinking about getting pregnant, Nutritional Balancing can help you strengthen your body.

Before complications arise, correcting nutritional imbalances with the protocol laid out in this book, can help a woman detect imbalances at the cellular level. These include low thyroid, an adrenal activity, impaired immune system, sugar and carbohydrate intolerance, impaired digestion and hidden infections. Take action, be wise and take care of your body. Correcting nutritional imbalances can make your pregnancy and delivery safer and easier. Your baby as a result, will have a healthier start in life.

What should a woman who is expecting eat to optimize her baby’s health?

• A large serving of steamed organic vegetables that covers ½ to 2/3 of your plate.  As your pregnancy progresses, especially in your last trimester, eating additional cooked vegetables and high quality protein is beneficial because of the rich assortment of minerals in these foods. Feel free to indulge in a small serving of starchy vegetables such as squash, sweet potatoes and root vegetables.

at least twice a day. Vegetables contain a significant amount of minerals to help support your body and your baby’s health.

• Ten-Twelve ounces of fresh carrot juice daily. Feel free to add in some fresh greens or some ginger
• Three quarts of spring water
• Pasture Fed Meats, Eggs and Dairy
• Wheat Free Grains such as Quinoa or Brown Rice in small quantities
• Legumes and Beans in small quantities as well

Here are several suggestions for preconception health care as well as advice for pregnant women:

v It is never too soon to begin eating nutrient-dense foods.  Choose grass-fed meats, organic vegetables, and wheat-free grains.

v Reduce or eliminate caffeine.

v Avoid extreme diets.

v Take recommended nutritional supplements such as those suggested by Nutritional Balancing Science (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis).

v Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs.

v Avoid over-the-counter medicines.

v Pregnant women should not keep toxic cleaning supplies, insecticides, pesticides, toxic paints, and other toxic materials in her home

v Childbirth is physically demanding, so exercise lightly.

v Get plenty of sleep and rest.

v Learn to meditate. This can relax the mind and body, which is helpful to both mother and child.

v Avoid sugar, artificial sweeteners, preservatives or chemical additives.

v Live clean and natural: Choose soaps, shampoo, lotion hair dyes and sprays that minimize health issues.

v Minimize stress

v Minimize electromagnetic disturbances: limit cell phones, computers, and other electronic devices, etc. while pregnant.