Birth Defects Lessened With Healthy Diet [Study]

A new study at Stanford University has found that a healthy diet  in pregnant women can help prevent birth defects.

According to the groups research less cases of brain and spinal problems were witnessed when a healthy diet was observed. Babies were also left with less cleft lips and cleft palates.

Suzan Carmichael from Stanford University, who worked on the study told Reuters:

“A lot of birth defects including neural tube defects occur very early in pregnancy, before women even know they’re pregnant.” Carmichael added, ”These messages are important for women who are at any risk of becoming pregnant.”

Researchers have concluded that eating a variety of foods, especially plenty of fruits, vegetables and grains along with a vitamin supplement that contains folic acid is the best way to ensure a healthy pregnancy.

The Stanford research team examined 3,400 women who had a neural tube defect and 6,100 women who’s babies didn’t have a birth defect. Researchers called those women 2 years after giving birth to determine if any birth defects had occurred.

Researchers then asked new mothers what type of foods they ate in the months leading up to labor and then charted those results to determine birth defects vs. healthy births.

Researchers discovered that women who follow the new USDA Food Guide Pyramid are half as likely to have a baby missing part of its brain and skill and 34 percent less likely to have a cleft lip with 26 percent less likely to have a cleft palate.

It should come as no surprise that healthy babies are born to healthy mothers. Do you feel that a healthy diet increases the chances that your baby will be born healthy.