Milk for pregnant women is not enough to meet daily iron needs

The body uses iron for the formation of red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout the body. During pregnancy, mothers need extra iron intake. This additional substance is needed to help the body produce more blood which is used to provide oxygen for the fetus. Therefore, the role of iron is very important for pregnant women.

Recommended daily iron intake is 27 mg. However, if iron deficiency anemia is diagnosed in a pregnant woman, her daily iron needs must be increased to 120 mg until the hemoglobin level returns to normal.

Iron deficiency anemia is anemia due to iron deficiency in the body. This anemia affects many pregnant women and can cause various other health problems.

Pregnant women can consume iron from a variety of recommended sources, such as green-gray vegetables, red meat and nuts. Milk also contains iron, but cannot be relied on as the only source of iron for pregnant women.

Milk as an iron activator

Milk can indeed be used to increase iron intake in pregnant women, but the amount is not too important. Pure milk contains less iron than the others, around 0.07 mg per cup. Meanwhile, cow's milk which contains fat or non-fat each contains 0.15 mg of iron in a cup.

If you cannot consume cow's milk, almond milk might be the best alternative for choosing milk that contains iron. Almond milk does not contain saturated fat or cholesterol. In addition, this milk is also rich in fiber, iron, calcium and protein. The calorie level is also low and contains antioxidants which can boost the immune system.

This little iron is certainly not enough to meet the daily iron needs of pregnant women. If these needs are not met, pregnant women may have iron deficiency, which can cause iron deficiency anemia.

This condition will put the mother and fetus in danger. When deficiency anemia attacks, the body is unable to produce enough red blood cells. In fact, red blood cells play an important role in oxygen transport in the body and the fetus. Therefore, additional iron supplements are needed to supplement milk to meet iron needs.

Additional iron supplements

Low iron content of milk is not a sufficient source of daily iron for pregnant women. In addition, mothers can take iron supplements.

Oral iron supplements containing 30 to 60 mg of iron are recommended for pregnant women to be consumed every day to prevent iron deficiency anemia, premature birth and low birth weight. Oral supplements are available in capsule or tablet form. Before taking this iron supplement, consult your doctor.

Milk for pregnant women

Although less reliable as a primary source of iron, milk remains an important source of nutrition for pregnant women. During pregnancy, mothers can consume breast milk without fat or low fat. No need to switch to breast milk because it contains saturated fat which can affect the health of the heart and fetus. Choose milk that contains about 1% fat or nonfat.

In addition, to get enough calcium during pregnancy, pregnant women can consume three glasses of skim milk in one day. A glass of cow's milk in a cup contains 8 grams of protein, 25% calcium per day, 10% vitamin A and 25% vitamin D. These nutrients are needed to maintain pregnancy.

For some people, natural sugar in milk (lactose) can cause digestive problems, such as diarrhea, flatulence and gas. This condition is called lactose intolerance. If you have this condition, choose lactose-free milk.

In addition, if you are a vegetarian, are allergic to cow's milk or if you don't like the taste of cow's milk, you can use substitute milk, such as goat's milk, soy milk, or milk. almonds.

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