5 Essential Foods for a Healthier Pregnancy from Glow Nurture

When you are eating for two, it’s just as important to know what to eat, as it is to know how much to eat. Which is why MyFitnessPal recently integrated with the pregnancy app, Glow Nurture—to help moms-to-be have healthier pregnancies by monitoring their food choices, and tracking their weight and caloric intake.

With its data-centric approach to healthcare, Glow Nurture rewards your efforts with insights every time you eat a beneficial food. Here are 5 especially great choices during pregnancy.

1. Low-Mercury Fish Fish gets, well, fishy during pregnancy. Most of us have heard of the mercury poisoning risk associated with consuming certain large fish, such as tuna and swordfish, so we shy away from all fish. This is bad, because, as it turns out, eating fish is fantastic for your unborn baby. DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, is crucial for the development of your baby’s brain, and the best way to get it is to eat fish several times a week. So go ahead, add some salmon to your salad, grind a few anchovies into your dressing, or order the roasted mackerel for lunch.

2. Cherries Many pregnant women have trouble falling asleep. Cherries, particularly tart cherries, naturally boost the body’s supply of melatonin, which allows you to sleep better without resorting to any medication. Cherries are also a great source of vitamin C, which can help your immune system, keeping both you and your baby healthy.

3. Cheese Again, we’ve all heard the warnings about unpasteurized cheese and its associated complication: listeria. But don’t let that stop you from consuming this wonderful source of protein! Pasteurized cheese is not only safe, it’s also full of calcium, an essential nutrient for pregnant women. Your growing baby needs a considerable amount of calcium to develop. If you do not consume enough calcium to sustain the needs of your baby, your body will take calcium from your own bones, decreasing your bone mass and putting you at risk for osteoporosis.

4. Watermelon Pregnant women don’t like to talk about constipation—or it’s evil sidekick hemorrhoids, but it plagues many of us. Watermelon is more than a treat – it’s a great source of hydration with a touch of fiber. One slice is 92% water by weight, making it a valuable snack to keep on hand for when you simply need to get things moving.

5. Dark Chocolate Would you believe us if we told you that in one study, daily chocolate consumption was associated with reduced odds of miscarriage by 19%? Well, it’s true! Even the caffeine content of dark chocolate shouldn’t be a concern—as long as you consume less than 200mg of caffeine per day. When that inevitable sweet tooth strikes during your pregnancy, feel free to grab a few squares of this delectable dessert.

The integration of MyFitnessPal and Glow Nurture will initially only be available on iOS. Visit iTunes to download Glow Nurture now.

Here’s to a healthy and happy nine months!