When you become pregnant, you spend more time thinking about what you are eating. After all, you are nourishing your baby with every bite you take. As you read the labels, you may be concerned about the additives in many foods.
Artificial Sweeteners such as Saccharin, Aspartame and Splenda are in a variety of sugar free foods. These are hundreds of times sweeter than sugar, so less is needed. This results in fewer calories for the foods. The safety of the artificial sweetener depends on the type that is used.
Saccharin was the first artificial sweetener on the market. You may remember these little pink packets from childhood. They can still be found in some restaurants, but Saccharin isn’t really used much in foods. The sweetener has been linked to problems with the bladder in babies.
Aspartame and Splenda are considered safe, so far. Some doctors suggest limiting the use of artificial sweeteners during pregnancy, since there haven’t been long term conclusive studies on these food additives and developing fetuses yet. I think this is prudent advice and I avoided these during pregnancy. Unless you have gestational diabetes, sugar in moderation isn’t usually a problem.
Monosodium Glutamate or MSG is a food additive that is used to enhance flavor in packaged food products. Currently, there are no studies linking MSG to problems in pregnancy. Therefore, it is considered safe by the FDA.
However, some people are allergic to MSG. Symptoms of MSG allergy can include nausea, vomiting, headache and dizziness. If you have had a reaction to MSG in the past, you may want to avoid it during pregnancy. Another problem with MSG is that it is high in sodium. Foods that are high in sodium are not the best choice for good nutrition in pregnancy. In addition, the sodium leads to fluid retention.
The bottom line is that the jury is still out on the safety of food additives for pregnant women. Whole foods are the safest choice for your baby. Whenever possible, choose foods in their natural state. Fresh fruits, vegetables and homemade soups are better than canned varieties that contain food additives. Choose organic whenever possible to avoid pesticides and herbicides as well.
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