Nov 27, 2008 5:55 pm US/Eastern
Study: Fiber Lowers Health Risks During Pregnancy
(KDKA)
A new study is causing some pregnant women to sit up and take notice of the food they eat.
Researchers say if women want to have a healthy pregnancy, they need to pay attention to how much fiber they eat.
Between three and seven percent of all pregnant women can face a dangerous condition called preeclampsia.
"It consists of high blood pressure developing, and then often the baby will be affected, be growth restricted, and then the mother actually can get very ill from the disease and need early delivery," says maternal fetal medicine specialist, Dr. Tanya Sorensen.
Experts say 1,500 women participated in a study, giving blood samples and filling out a dietary questionnaire to help researchers determine whether dietary fiber could help avoid pregnancy problems.
The study found women who had normal recommended amounts of fiber, around 20 to 30 grams per day, had lower risks of preeclampsia by 70-percent compared to women with lower fiber intake.
"By identifying factors in women, in terms of what their lifestyle is or their diet is, we're hoping that will help us figure out, perhaps, both how to control it, but maybe even what the disease is, where it comes from."
Fruits like raspberries, blackberries, and apples all have lots of fiber. And vegetables like peas, beans, cabbage and corn are good bets.
Researchers say even adding an extra 5 grams of fiber to your diet could reduce the risk of preeclampsia by 14 percent.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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