Natural Solutions
for Common Problems in Pregnancy

The majority of conditions experienced during pregnancy are avoidable and should not interfere with this wonderful and exciting time of life. Here are some simple naturopathic suggestions for some of the more common problems.

Morning Sickness: Eat small meals regularly every 3-4 hours with small portions of protein and low GI foods. Vitamin B6 and Ginger are excellent remedies for nausea and safe in pregnancy.
Heartburn: Having herbal teas before meals with chamomile, fennel and peppermint can help. Powdered slippery elm is also effective taken after meals.

Constipation: Have plenty of vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds. Again, slippery elm with plenty of water or psyllium husks is also an excellent remedy and can be added to yoghurts or cereals.

Cramps: Gentle exercise and regular pregnancy massage with a qualified practitioner improves circulation and reduces cramping. Magnesium is an excellent supplement for night cramps and women taking a combined calcium and magnesium supplement do not suffer cramping in their third trimester.

Varicose Veins/Hemorrhoids: Include foods in your diet with vitamin C and bioflavonoids such as blueberries and other fruits. The herb Bilberry in tea or tablets is also an effective remedy for varicose veins and hemorrhoids.

Fluid Retention: Have potassium rich foods such as legumes, bananas, spinach, rye, potatoes, almonds, fish, beef and chicken. Reflexology and massage are effective for reducing fluid retention in the feet and calves.

Stretch Marks: Using high quality oils (we recommend the organic virgin macadamia oil we use for massage) and vitamin E in from the first trimester can reduce the likelihood of stretch-marks later in the pregnancy.

Gestational Diabetes: Diabetes tends to occur later in the pregnancy and is proceeded by cravings for sugary foods, soft drinks and fatigue. By managing blood sugar fluctuations and having a healthy diet with plenty of protein and low GI foods, diabetes can be avoided. Chromium and the herbs Gymnema and Cinnamon are effective herbs for balancing blood sugar.

Low Iron and Anemia: Eat a wide variety of iron sources such as almonds, legumes, spinach, red meat, dried apricots, chickpeas, molasses and herbs such as nettles, chickweed and withania. Organic iron is absorbed far better than the standard supplements sold over the counter.

Preparing for Labor: Raspberry leaf is an ancient remedy, supported by modern research that supports the uterus and body in preparation for labor. Yoga is also excellent for preparing the body for labor and birth.

High GI Carbohydrates cause Cancer, Heart Disease & Diabetes

University of Sydney Researchers have found conclusive evidence that diets with a high Glycemic Index leads to a higher risk of common lifestyle diseases leads to a greater risk of diabetes, heart disease and some types of cancer.

The study, published in the latest edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, looked at the diets of nearly two million (1,950,198) healthy men and women worldwide.

According to researchers if you have constantly high blood glucose (sugar) and insulin levels due to a high GI diet, you may literally 'wear out' your pancreas over time. Eventually it may lead to type 2 diabetes in older age." Constant spikes in blood glucose that cause the body to release more insulin also increase a related substance called 'insulin like growth factor one' (IGF-1).

Both these hormones increase cell growth and decrease cell death, and have been shown to increase the risk of developing cancer.
Other research shows that a high GI diet tends to reduce 'good' HDL cholesterol levels and raise triglycerides levels; bad news for cardiovascular diseases. People with low HDL cholesterol and high triglyceride levels are more prone to gall stones. Up until now, people have considered fats and salt, not carbohydrates, to be the major contributor to heart disease.

Low GI foods have benefits for everybody - they can keep you feeling full longer, help you maintain a healthy weight, and provide you and your brain with more consistent energy throughout the day. They can also have a major effect on whether or not you develop health problems.

The study is published in the latest edition American Journal of Clinical Nutrition March

The GI Rating of Common Foods