What Helps Prenatal Care

Multivitamins essentially provide vitamins and minerals at levels close to Daily Values or Recommended Dietary Allowances. No standard definition or regulatory guidelines are available.

Folate is the natural form of Vitamin B9, sold as a supplement as Folic Acid. Folate plays a critical role in cell division, as well as the formation of red and white blood cells, DNA and RNA. Folate is found naturally in dark leafy vegetables (spinach, romaine, broccoli), fruits (oranges, lemons, banana, strawberries), legumes (beans, peanuts) and eggs.

Iron is a mineral naturally present in foods including meat (beef, lamb, pork), seafood (clams, shrimp, oysters, mussels, tuna), poultry (turkey), vegetables (spinach, sweet potatoes, peas, broccoli, kale, chard), fruit (strawberries, watermelon, figs), and beans & legumes (lentils, black beans, navy beans, kidney beans).  Iron is essential for blood production, oxygen transport and DNA synthesis. 

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin found in foods including fish (salmon, trout, sardines) and mushrooms (morel, chanterelle, oyster, shiitake), but more substantially from sun exposure, as the sun’s ultraviolet rays trigger synthesis. 

Vitamin B Complex contains all eight, water-soluble B vitamins that play a key role in cellular metabolism. Including Vitamins B1, Thiamin;  B2, Riboflavin; B3, Niacin; B5, Pantothenic Acid; B6, Pyridoxine; B7, Biotin; B9, Folic Acid; and B12, Cobalamin the supplement may contain 100% of the recommended daily allowance of every vitamin, however brands vary. Pregnant women, vegetarians, vegans and the elderly may benefit from supplementation.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids are essential fats absorbed through food including fish (mackerel, salmon, seabass), vegetable oils (flax oil, soybean oil), nuts (walnuts) and seeds (flax, chia, hemp). There are three main Omega-3 Fatty Acids: ALA also known as Alpha-Linolenic Acid, EPA also known as Eicosapentaenoic Acid and DHA also known as Docosahexaenoic Acid. ALA is found naturally in plants, while EPA and DHA are found in fish. Omega-3 Fatty Acids maintain heart, vascular, lung, brain, immune and endocrine system health, while reducing inflammation.

Choline is an essential nutrient produced in minor amounts by the liver. To achieve adequate levels, it must be supplemented through foods including meat (beef, liver), fish (salmon, scallops, cod), poultry (chicken, eggs) and vegetables (brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower). Choline is required for metabolism, liver function, brain development and nervous system health.