Pregnant women eat less meat, children increase the risk of substance abuse
A study by nutritionists in the US showed that a large proportion of children aged 15 years and older abused drugs when their mothers ate less meat during pregnancy. Is this really true? What is the cause?
Shocking research
An article in Science Daily reported on nutritional studies showing that pregnant women eat less meat during pregnancy increases the risk substance abuse in children.
The study was conducted on 5,109 mothers and their babies. In which, 50% of mothers follow a low-protein and meat-based diet, and 50% eat full nutrition. The percentage of children born to mothers who ate less meat and abused drugs was twice as likely as those whose mothers followed a healthy diet.
Dr. Joseph Hibbeln said that women who eat less meat have children from 15 years old marijuana use is almost twice as high 3 times compared with other children of the same age.
The main cause of this situation is lack of Vitamin B12. In addition to increasing meat intake, pregnant women can take vitamins from vegetables containing Vitamin B12 or take supplements.
Importance of Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is derived mainly from animal meat, fish, seafood, eggs…
Similar to Iron, Calcium and Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 plays an important role in this process hematopoiesis and the develop into brain and spine in the fetus.
In addition, Vitamin B12 also affects the metabolism of folic acid. Defect room in the brain and spine most often occurs during the first 3 months of pregnancy.
Pregnant women need about 2.6mcg Vitamin B12/day. Pregnant women with lower levels of Vitamin B12 absorbed per day have 3 times higher risk of having a baby with a neural tube defect than other pregnant women.
In addition, Vitamin B12 can also limit nausea caused by morning sickness.
Vitamin B12 Supplement
For mothers during pregnancy, the need for Vitamin B12 will increase sharply. Mothers should supplement about 2.6 mcg of Vitamin B12 every day for the healthy development of the fetus.
The best way for mothers to supplement Vitamin B12 is Select foods rich in vitamins and minerals, and at the same time, balance the nutrients needed by the mother in the daily diet.
Each type of food has different levels of vitamins and nutrients:
– 28g whole grains: 6 mcg
– 85g beef liver: 70.7 mcg
– 85g beef: 1.4 mcg
– 85g chicken: 0.3 mcg
– 1 large hard-boiled egg: 0.6 mcg
– 85g salmon: 4.8 mcg
– 85 g tuna: 2.5 mcg
…
Based on this, you can combination variety of foods to provide complete nutrition for both mother and baby. Avoid using only meat and fish that lack nutrients from vegetables.
Vitamin B12 compressed form
If you are concerned that you cannot balance the nutrients from food, you can use Vitamin tablets, but before using it, you should note the following points:
– Should consultation Consult your doctor before purchasing vitamin B12 tablets.
– Read the label carefully and right Understand the brand of the product to be purchased.
– Check information ingredients on the package to choose the right one for your health status.
– Read the user manual carefully before use.
– Shouldn’t be too abuse Vitamins because it is not always better to drink as much as possible.
Although it is still not widely available in Vietnam, mothers should still save the necessary information, avoiding the situation of using less meat and fish, causing Vitamin B12 deficiency, which adversely affects the health of children.
See more: Should pregnant women eat chicken, duck meat?
