New research is now linking a high-fat, high-sugar diet during pregnancy to symptoms of ADHD in children who show behavior complications early in life. This study, further emphasizes the long held idea that adequate nutrition, including diets higher in protein, rich in antioxidants, and vitamins and minerals are essential for pregnant mothers. Not only does a healthy diet ensure proper fetal development, but it also ensures a more stable pregnancy, and less health complications for the mother. Diets high in fats, especially unhealthy trans fats and saturated fats, sugars and processed foods increase overall inflammation in the body, dysregulate hormonal balance, which are major contributing factors to developing functionally chronic diseases. It is no surprise that research is now showing that this way of eating can be detrimental to growing fetuses, given that their health is absolutely intertwined to the health of their mother.
This study, further shows that there are no exceptions to healthy living, and pregnant mothers are not only “eating for two,” butproviding the health for two.
Original research article:Unhealthy diet during pregnancy could be linked to ADHD
Node Smith, associate editor for NDNR, is a fifth year naturopathic medical student at NUNM, where he has been instrumental in maintaining a firm connection to the philosophy and heritage of naturopathic medicine amongst the next generation of docs. He helped found the first multi-generational experiential retreat, which brings elders, alumni, and students together for a weekend campout where naturopathic medicine and medical philosophy are experienced in nature. Three years ago he helped found the non-profit, Association for Naturopathic ReVitalization (ANR), for which he serves as the board chairman. ANR has a mission to inspire health practitioners to embody the naturopathic principles through experiential education. Node also has a firm belief that the next era of naturopathic medicine will see a resurgence of in-patient facilities which use fasting, earthing, hydrotherapy and homeopathy to bring people back from chronic diseases of modern living; he is involved in numerous conversations and projects to bring about this vision.
