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Pregnant? Broccoli and eggs could make your baby healthier

That’s according to a new study done at Cornell University. Researchers there found that “increased maternal intake of the nutrient choline could decrease their children’s chances of developing hypertension and diabetes later in life.” Choline is chemically kind of like a B-Vitamin but isn’t one officially. Our bodies make small amounts of choline, but in order to have enough, most people need to get some in your diet. Choline is found in meats and seafood (especially the livers), broccoli, eggs, cauliflower, soy, flax seed, pistachios, and chocolate (even chocolate cake).
Here’s the complete press release from Cornell.
Pioneering study shows prenatal choline may ‘program’ healthier babies

ITHACA, N.Y. – Pregnant women may have added incentive to bulk up on broccoli and eggs now that a Cornell University study has found increased maternal intake of the nutrient choline could decrease their children’s chances of developing hypertension and diabetes later in life.

In a study led by Marie Caudill, associate professor of nutritional sciences, and graduate student Xinyin Jiang, a group of third-trimester pregnant women consumed 930 milligrams of choline, more than double the recommended 450 milligram daily intake. The result for their babies was 33 percent lower concentrations of cortisol – a hormone produced in response to stress that also increases blood sugar – compared to those from a control group of women who consumed about 480 milligrams of choline.

Caudill believes this happened because the choline changed the expression patterns of genes involved in cortisol production. The work, published online this week in The Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, is the first human study to suggest a role for choline in the “programming” of key biological processes in the baby.

“The study findings raise the exciting possibility that a higher maternal choline intake may counter some of the adverse effects of prenatal stress on behavioral, neuroendocrine and metabolic development in the offspring,” Caudill said.

This could be especially useful for women experiencing anxiety and depression during their pregnancy, as well as conditions such as pre-eclampsia.

“A dampening of the baby’s response to stress as a result of mom consuming extra choline during pregnancy would be expected to reduce the risk of stress-related diseases such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes throughout the life of the child,” she added.

She said additional studies are needed to confirm the study findings and further explore long-term effects.

Dietary sources of choline include egg yolks, beef, pork, chicken, milk, legumes and some vegetables. Most prenatal vitamin supplements do not include choline.

“We hope that our data will inform the development of choline intake recommendations for pregnant women that ensure optimal fetal development and reduce the risk of stress-related diseases,” Caudill said.

 



Armin Brott

 

Armin Brott

Dad of three, best-selling author, speaker, nationally syndicated columnist and radio host, Marine Corps vet, spokesperson, and, generally speaking, a pretty nice guy.

Website: http://www.dadsoup.com

Twitter: mrdad

update – staffing and PTSD

I feel like I am worn out…

I talked to one of David’s caseworkers today.  Explained about the forced vomiting that he is doing.  She thinks that it is attention seeking.  I explained why I didn’t think so.  She agreed that the problem appears to be deeper.  So we are working on getting in touch with the psch team regarding his behavior.  No real answers yet, but it was nice to talk to someone about it to get another perspective.

We also discussed the rewards that David gets for positive behavior.  I explained about allowing him computer or Wii access after 24 hours of not stealing.  He gets right to the end of the period and then steals something.  Not sure what this is about.  She thought that we ought to try decreasing the period.  Go from 24 hours to 12.  I explained that I am all the way down to 6 hours and he is still getting right to the end of the period and stealing things.  So we are trying to come up with something else, because obviously withholding computer time isn’t a threat to him.

signs and symptoms ptsd

I mentioned that a friend told me that I might have PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or whatever… She agreed that it was very possible, as I am on the front line of dealing with David everyday.

Alas, tomorrow is another day. On a side note, I managed to get some cleaning done… 🙂  That is always a good thing.

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can you hear the music?

Active tipping area of an operating landfill i...The silence.  David is gone with his mentor right now.  It is so incredibly quiet.  While he is gone, I took a few minutes to dig in his roomm.

Eww.  bugs. food.  cat food containers.  eww.  I have neglected it for too long.

So today after I get done cleaning carpets, guess what I am going to do?  yep.  enter the landfill.

The OCD in him is incredible.  If only we could target that into something productive.

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