Lower Pregnancy Risks with a Healthy Diet

Expectant mothers that follow a healthy diet from conception through the second trimester lower their risk of such pregnancy complications as gestational diabetes, hypertension, preeclampsia and preterm delivery, concludes a new study in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Researchers from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development surveyed nearly 1,900 women at two points in their pregnancies. Their responses were scored according to three measures of healthy eating: the Alternate Healthy Eating Index, Alternate Mediterranean Diet and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Diet. All three emphasize consuming fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and legumes, while limiting red and processed meat.