How to Choose Nutritional Drinks During Pregnancy?

A nutritional drink is a specially created drink with a high concentration of essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients including essential fats. Though we can derive all these nutrients from various food sources, it is not easy to get them all together. Nutritional drinks during pregnancy bridge this gap and help you get all essential nutrients in one go – in one simple glass of drink.

Why Are Nutritional Drinks Important During Pregnancy?

A pregnant woman needs more essential nutrients to support the growing fetus. She needs to be conscious about what she eats or drinks and ensure she consumes enough nutritious food. Sometimes, or most times this can be difficult due to various reasons including lack of time, lack of energy to prepare nutritious foods, inability to eat solid foods, or just plain food aversions.

The body also finds it difficult to absorb the various nutrients from the solid foods that we eat. Nutritional drinks are an easy way to ensure you get sufficient nutrients, on a daily or regular basis. Nutritional drinks with supplements help the body derive and absorb these essential nutrients better.

When Should One Start Consuming Nutritional Drinks During Pregnancy?

Some nutrients need to be consumed even before conception. If you are planning to have nutritional drinks with natural ingredients, you can start them right from day one too. Do consult your doctor to know what you should avoid and what you should consume more. If you are experiencing morning sickness or aversion towards some food items in the first trimester, it is best to wait for a few weeks and try again.

[Read : Food Aversions During Pregnancy]

Are Nutritional Drinks Safe During Pregnancy?

Yes, they are safe as long as you use naturally occurring ingredients like fruits, vegetables, and nuts. If you are planning to use supplements in your drink, you need to consult your doctor first.

While supplements are a more concentrated source of various nutrients, they can lead to an overdose. When you are pregnant, you will increase your intake of various sources of nutrients. This intake along with concentrated supplements might sometimes lead to overdosage.

So, it is important to consult your doctor and get dosage recommendations for the various supplements you are considering consuming.

Amazing Benefits of Nutritional Drinks During Pregnancy

Nutritional drinks are the easier way to consume all the essential nutrients and to ensure you meet your daily requirements of these nutrients.

Here are a few benefits of consuming nutritional drinks during pregnancy

1. Increased Water Intake

All drinks have water or milk as a base. Drinking these nutritional drinks will increase your water intake; which is very important during pregnancy.

2. Easier Digestion

These drinks are easier to digest than solid foods. Pregnancy can cause digestive issues. Nutritional drinks can help aid digestion.

3. Your Choice

You can choose which nutritional drinks to have. You can customize your drink based on which nutrients intake you need to increase.

4. Power Drink

Since these drinks are rich in essential nutrients, just a glass of these beverages can be a power-packed drink.

5. Convenient

Let’s not forget, it is very convenient to just blend all those ingredients and carry it with you, in a good-looking sipper.

6. Tasty

Since you have control over the ingredients and the quantity, you can always play around with the combination and ratios to make a delicious drink.

7. Healthy Snack

It can be a good supplement for those pregnancy hunger pangs. You can reduce your snacking.

What Should Nutritional Drinks Contain?

So, what exactly should these drinks contain to be classified as good nutritional drinks? Here are some essential nutrients a good nutritional drink must contain. You need not include all these in one single drink. Just ensure your drink is rich in at least one of these nutrients

1. Calcium

An essential nutrient for the development of bones, teeth, and nails in the fetus. A pregnant woman needs more calcium than regular women, as her bones need to be stronger. Her body needs to carry the extra weight too. A drink, rich in calcium can be very beneficial for a pregnant woman.

2. Iron

Iron is essential for producing hemoglobin – a protein in red blood cells. These cells are responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body and to the baby inside. A drink fortified with iron can help the pregnant woman get most of her daily iron requirement.

3. Vitamin C

An important vitamin for the development of the baby. Vitamin C helps boost the mother’s immunity too. Citrus fruits are rich sources of Vitamin C. A simple lemonade or orange juice can do the trick and also add some flavor to other drinks.

4. Zinc

Zinc is very important for the growth of the baby’s cells and brain development. A deficiency of this mineral can cause a lot of harm to the baby. Zinc supplements are prescribed for pregnant women. Adding it in the form of a juice or food source can be very beneficial for both mother and baby.

5. Copper

Another nutrient essential for the formation of red blood cells. Copper also plays an important role in the formation of the baby’s blood vessels, skeletal system, nervous system as well as heart. Nuts and seeds are rich sources of copper. You can add some nut powder to that nutritional shake to make it healthier and tastier.

[Read : Copper During Pregnancy]

6. Vitamin B6

This vitamin helps reduce morning sickness during pregnancy. Starchy vegetables, lean meat, and nuts are good sources of Vitamin B6. Add some nuts to your vegetable juice to increase your Vitamin B6 intake naturally.

7. Vitamin D

This is a very important vitamin. It is responsible for regulating the calcium and phosphate content in the body. These nutrients are essential for bone, teeth, and muscle health. Though the sun is a good source of Vitamin D, adults cannot get the required amount of Vitamin D by just standing under the sun, especially when they are pregnant. So, ensure your drink is fortified with Vitamin D.

Top 4 Best Nutritional Drink Brands in India

Among many, we have tried to list a few brands that offer the best nutritional drinks

1. Mother’s Horlicks Plus Health and Nutrition Drink

This nutritional drink comes in a vanilla flavor and contains all the essential nutrients required for a pregnant woman. Enriched with 25 vital nutrients, it supports your baby’s brain development and promotes a healthy birth weight.

2. Protinex Mama

Protinex mama comes in two tasty flavors – vanilla and chocolate. It contains, iron, calcium, and other essential nutrients that aid in a healthy pregnancy.

3. SimMom Plus Maternal Nutrition With DHA Health Drink

SimMom plus health drink is specially designed for pregnant women. It helps attain the nutrition balance required during pregnancy. It helps in aiding digestion and immunity of the mother and aids in the better brain development of your baby.

4. Pro 360 MOM Protein Powder

Pro 360 MOM protein powder is a complete package of nutrition and is a great supplement for pregnant women. It also helps in controlling blood sugar levels during pregnancy and is a great nutrient supplement.

Nutritional drinks help the body get all its essential nutrients without having to put in too much effort. The body does not have to derive bits of nutrients from various food sources as the drink itself is filled with items that are rich in nutrients. This is an easy and effective way for a pregnant woman to get all the nutrition she needs to support the life growing inside her.