What kind of water should I drink to pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers?

Water for health! In the overall balance of mineral components, which pregnant women and mothers should receive, a positive role is played by mineral water.

In each cell of the body are dissolved mineral salts that create electrolytes, the level and concentration of which determines its proper functioning and ensures the continuity of metabolic processes.

We drink water in order to quench our thirst, but water not only quenches thirst, but is an important factor, providing many nutrients necessary to maintain the proper level of electrolytes. Therefore, when you drink water you need to pay attention to its mineral composition, because it determines the health effects on the body.

The role of mineral components

So what is so useful in this water to really serve future mothers and pregnant women. Of course, in addition to primary purity, the content of mineral components is important, which can help meet the growing demand for them in this particular period of a woman's life.

Mineral water can contain many mineral constituents, but the most valuable are those that are most needed for the body and are present in the water in large quantities. These include magnesium, calcium, sodium and iodine. These are the four main components that exist in mineral water, and have a significant effect on pregnancy and contribute to the proper development of the fetus and the baby. Of course, others, such as zinc, iron, fluorine, copper, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, are needed, but unfortunately they are not available in sufficient quantities in mineral waters, and therefore in this case we should not rely on them.

What is magnesium used for? Magnesium participates in more than half of the 600 biochemical processes that constantly pass in our body and if it is absent, then some function that is programmed with its participation is disrupted. This can be, for example, muscle spasms, and, when it comes to the musculature of the uterus, comes to abortion and early childbirth. Even the excess drinking of coffee, which removes magnesium from the body, can also be the cause. Magnesium is very actively involved in the construction of the cerebral cortex during the period of intrauterine development, and its deficiency can cause defects in the future child's mind.

Every day we need an average of about 300 mg of magnesium, and in women during pregnancy, demand increases by at least 50 percent - up to 450 mg, so please use mineral water containing magnesium. Magnesium, contained in water, is absorbed by a person faster and in greater quantities than the rest of the magnesium supplied with food.

The second very important mineral component is calcium, which is especially needed in the construction of a nascent new organism in the womb. It is not only the main building block of bones, but also participates in the transfer of bioelectric impulses in the process of building the child's body. Its deficiency is caused by osteoporosis, which manifests itself at a later age and rickets, which can be seen much earlier in children. Often in women during pregnancy, the effects of low calcium intake are seen in the form of caries and spoiled teeth, because the body draws calcium from their stores to meet increased needs, not only due to the emergence of a new organism, but also for the proper flow of metabolic processes in the mother's body . Calcium is also necessary for blood clotting, has anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effect.

The average body requirement for calcium is 600 to 1200 mg per day, but during pregnancy, its need is increased to 2000 mg. The usual diet, unfortunately, can not fully meet the needs for it, resulting in many diseases and disorders caused by a lack of calcium. Deficiency increases in women during pregnancy, so it is so important to drink water with a high calcium content. Digestibility of calcium from water is very high and therefore it is especially important for women who do not like or can not drink milk. Thus, it is possible to provide the necessary amount of this nutrient in the body, which the baby needs so much.

Another necessary component for the body is sodium, which is often depicted in a false perspective as very harmful to health. There is a threat of an increase in blood pressure with excessive consumption, but this is probably an argument for suggesting to consumers that you should drink water with a content of less than 20 mg of sodium per liter. This is an irrational argument, because the excess amount of sodium in the body can be caused not only by the use of mineral water, but also salty foods, canned foods and even bread. Two slices of sausage or a slice of bread contain more sodium than a liter of mineral water.

It is also true that sodium is a very important and necessary component of electrolytes in our cells, without which our body could not function properly. It regulates the water-electrolyte balance, and together with potassium creates a so-called soda-potassium pump, which supplies nutrients to individual cells. The lack of an adequate level of sodium causes weakness in the body. And here the essence of the matter is rooted in - it is impossible not too much, nor too little to consume sodium. On average, a person consumes about 14 grams of salt, which is 8 grams, or 8000 mg of sodium, and only 4 grams, or 4000 mg, is enough. Sometimes it happens that they are pregnant, taking care of their health, reduce the excessive intake of salt, and in some situations feel weakened. This is especially noticeable in hot weather, when sodium is excreted from the body, then it is worth drinking mineral water to replenish supplies.

Even in the case of hypertension, pregnant women do not need to significantly limit the supply of salt, since its deficiency may be exacerbated by hypovolemia and, secondly, disrupt the flow of blood to the uterus. Most good waters containing significant amounts of highly beneficial minerals, such as magnesium and calcium, contain up to 200 mg of sodium in a liter. Nevertheless, for persons engaged in heavy work, athletes performing heavy loads, it is recommended to drink water with a sodium capacity of up to 1000 mg per liter.

Iodine is a very important bio-element necessary for the proper functioning of the body, in particular for fetal development. It is involved in the production of thyroid hormones, which in turn regulate the metabolism, nervous and muscular system, the circulatory system, and, above all, is responsible for the growth and development of the younger generation. Unfortunately, it is not common in our diet and for its consumption, in dishes it is necessary to use iodized salt. As a result of its deficiency, there are diseases of the thyroid gland that will manifest themselves in the throat, especially in women.

The need for iodine for adults is 150 mcg per day, but pregnant women should increase intake to 180 mcg, and nursing mothers up to 200 mcg. Too little iodine intake has very serious consequences, which are manifested in the form of hypothyroidism, reproductive disorders and mental retardation, cretinism, and increased mortality among children. Therefore, in spite of the fact that the body's need for iodine is very small, we can not ignore this problem, to which the future mothers and fathers of children are especially sensitive.