Of all the benefits of the mediterranean dietWhether you are pregnant or not, and for you and your children. In addition, different studies show the direct relationship between the Mediterranean diet and the health of the mother and the child during pregnancy and the first two years of the baby's life.
Mediterranean diet, rich in unsaturated fatty acids, cereals, vegetables, Its main ingredient is virgin olive oil. With it, the incidence of cardiovascular diseases in any population is reduced, and its qualities are enhanced during pregnancy. Eating a Mediterranean diet from before pregnancy, during and after is beneficial and covers the nutrient demand at any stage of a woman's life.
Mediterranean diet and pistachios, equal to healthy pregnancy
The data that we are going to tell you is based on the study carried out by the Hospital Clínico San Carlos (Madrid). The study concludes that a Mediterranean diet, with extra virgin olive oil and pistachios is synonymous with health during pregnancy.
These benefits extend from mother to child. It has been confirmed that babies whose mothers followed a Mediterranean diet, supplemented with extra virgin olive oil and pistachios, reduced their hospital stays due to bronchiolitis, asthma, or infectious diseases.
The director of the study, Alfonso Calle, affirms that: At least one in four hospital admissions in children up to two years of age can be avoided through a diet of the mother during pregnancy based on the Mediterranean diet. This diet is associated with a better anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and microbiota profile. These induce beneficial results for the health of children in their first two years of life.
Mediterranean diet to control weight in pregnancy
This same research team from the Madrid hospital has shown that early adherence to the Mediterranean diet with a supplement of extra virgin olive oil and 30 grams of nuts daily, reduces the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus and other negative consequences. It also improves the metabolic profile of women in the postpartum period.
Carry one Mediterranean diet in pregnancy, but not follow any other healthy recommendation, does not in itself reduce the risk of complications maternal, but it does have the potential to reduce pregnancy weight gain and gestational diabetes risk.
This study suggests that the Mediterranean diet is an effective intervention for women entering a pregnancy with previous obesity, chronic hypertension or elevated lipid levels. All pregnant women are recommended to start consuming nuts, olive oil, fruits and whole grains as soon as possible. and also that they reduce animal fats and sugar.
Less risk of accelerated growth
Now we go to a study carried out by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal). In it they conclude that pregnant women who follow a Mediterranean diet have a lower risk of their babies having a accelerated growth trajectory. Accelerated growth is characterized by a high birth weight and rapid weight gain in infancy. This fact that can determine a higher risk of obesity in the future.
This study has been carried out on a population of more than 2.700 pregnant women from Asturias, Guipúzcoa, Sabadell and Valencia. All of them are part of the INMA-Childhood and Environment Project. The follow-up has been done during pregnancy, the women filled out a questionnaire about their diet. It has been extended to 4 years of age of children. The results showed the pregnant women with the highest adherence to the Mediterranean diet had a 32% less risk of having sons and daughters with an accelerated growth trajectory, compared to those who had not followed this diet.
The study does not find a direct relationship between following a Mediterranean diet and a reduction in cardiometabolic risk in childhood. It also reveals that women who follow a Mediterranean diet during pregnancy are older than those who do not.