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Todays’ menu:

1) Hidden deficiencies: expecting moms and modern diets

2) Holiday Hazard: Holiday Season Linked to Childhood Weight Gain

3) Nourishing Babies with B12: Timing Matters

🌱 Hidden deficiencies: expecting moms and modern diets

🔬 Some warning numbers

The wellbeing of a mother before and during a pregnancy has a direct influence on the health, physical development, and intellectual abilities of her unborn child.

A common misconception is that vitamin deficiencies are primarily a concern for mothers in developing countries.

However, many studies have shown that pregnant women in high income countries are already lacking essential nutrients crucial for both their health and their babies' well-being.  And this situation could get worse as more women adopt plant-based diets.

A new study of 1,700 women, aged 18 to 38 in high income countries, found that 90% were missing essential vitamins, including B12, B6 and D, folic acid and riboflavin.

These vitamins, abundant in meat and dairy but less prevalent in plants, are essential for the development of the foetus in the womb.

🥊 Punchline

This study shows that almost all women in high income countries lack key vitamins required for healthy pregnancies and the wellbeing of their unborn children.

The push to reduce consumption of meat and dairy to achieve sustainability goals is likely to make it harder for expecting mothers to consume adequate levels of vital nutrients essential for baby health.

Plant based diets can be healthy but require more careful planning (and supplementation) due to their lower concentrations of vitamins and minerals compared to animal-derived foods. For example, plant-based processed foods (such as vegan sausages and cheeses) are very likely to be deficient in essential vitamins. And so, it’s best to consume the right quantities of ‘real’ plant based foods.

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⚠️ Holiday Hazard: Holiday Season Linked to Childhood Weight Gain

🔁 It’s a matter of habit

Don’t we all love holidays? We all deserve some holiday downtime.

However, too much downtime could have consequences, especially for children.

A new study shows that that holidays are the prime time for excessive weight gain in children.

Children's body fat increased at a greater rate during the holidays, and aerobic fitness declined faster than during the in-school periods. Specifically, the study found that children:

• slept 12 minutes less per day

• spent 12 minutes less per being physically active

• spent an additional 70 minutes per day on screen time.

A key factor contributing to this weight gain over the holidays was the unstructured nature of school vacations. Children have more unsupervised access to food and electronic devices during these periods.

In contrast, during school days, children have a structured routine with a prepared lunch, scheduled physical education classes, and designated playtimes.

🥊 Punchline

The way children spend their time on holidays is very different from the school term and this inadvertently predispose them for weight gain.

The issue lies not in a couple of days of inactivity but when it becomes a consistent routine. Indeed, children who lack adequate exercise and physical movement are more susceptible to developing health problems later in life.

It is crucial to encourage children to remain active and cultivate a balanced approach between downtime and physical activity.

Promoting regular physical activities for children during school holidays and making it a habit could help address the concerns of excessive weight gain and declining fitness levels.

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👶 Nourishing Babies with B12: Timing Matters

🍼 The right balance

Babies and children need vitamins, especially vitamin B12, to help their brains and bodies develop and grow.

Babies depend on maternal levels of vit B12 during lactation to meet their needs.

However, vit B12 deficiency is very common, particularly among expecting and lactating women due to the increased demand for this micronutrient, both for themselves and their babies.

The challenge lies in the limited availability of vitamin B12 in food, especially plant-based sources. While the body can produce some B12, it can be difficult to consume enough of the right food for the body to naturally produce this vitamin.

Hence, expecting mothers are recommended to supplement with B12.

A recent study revealed that taking high doses of vitamin B12 during pregnancy provides short-term benefits on vitamin B12 levels in breast milk. However, taking high doses during lactation leads to a more sustained increase in B12 levels in breast milk, thereby providing longer-term benefits for the baby's health.

🥊 Punchline

This study suggests that postnatal vitamin B12 supplementation has a more prolonged and significant impact on B-12 levels in breast milk. Therefore, it emphasizes the importance for mothers to continue vitamin B12 supplementation during lactation to ensure adequate B-12 intake for their babies and support their healthy growth and development.

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And finally!

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To your health!

Paolo

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