Can a healthy pregnancy diet really diminish or even banish common pregnancy complaints? Doctors more and more are saying, “Yes!”

A good diet during pregnancy has always been considered important to health of new babies and mothers. Now emerging research is showing a strong link between diet for pregnant women and a comfortable nine months of gestation.

Swelling and Pregnancy

One of the most common pregnancy complaints is swelling. It can range from minor to very severe and the health consequences can be equally as ranging. Almost all expectant mothers’ experience “normal” swelling that can be moderate to mild. Approximately 7% of pregnant women, however, experience major swelling of the hands, feet, neck and face, which marks a potentially life-threatening complication called toxemia.

Good Diet during Pregnancy to Reduce Swelling

Mothers who eat a healthy pregnancy diet report fewer instances of swelling from either cause: normal pregnancy bloat or toxemia. Certain foods are known swelling triggers. Common offenders are sodium-laden processed foods and colas, especially diet cola. Pregnancy naturally increases the body’s sensitivity to poor quality foods. It often shows its protests in outward symptoms like swelling.

Certainly, the biggest help is to pay close attention to a healthy pregnancy diet, but food is not the only cure. Read on to find several other factors that can lead to a healthy and happy pregnancy for mom and baby.

Rest

Getting adequate amounts of sleep, preferably positioned on the left hand side, which aids healthy circulation, will reduce swelling. Simply taking a break and getting off the feet periodically throughout a busy day can have a marked effect.

Salt

Salt is not always the bad guy. Getting too much or too little salt increases edema or swelling. Eating foods made from scratch at home and adding salt to taste usually fixes this problem.

Salt, more specifically the sodium component of salt, is hidden in massive quantities in prepackaged food of all sorts. This includes many brands of bottled water! It is best to avoid convenience-packaged foods so salt content can be controlled.

Protein

Many are the virtues of protein during pregnancy, but very few women know that protein consumption can prevent swelling. The news gets even better because some studies suggest pregnancy diets high in protein may not only prevent swelling but toxemia as well.

Getting Enough of the Right Drinks

Dehydration is another common cause of swelling. When the body doesn’t get adequate liquids, it retains what water it does have, causing swelling. Water is the best source of hydration.

Avoid other drinks like juices, sports drinks and especially diet cola. Pregnancy reacts badly to the diuretic effect of sodas. Diet colas also contain caffeine and sodium, which are both known to exacerbate swelling.