Is the DASH diet safe during pregnancy?

This Premium Q&A, reviewed and published, features a real conversation between an iCliniq user and a physician.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I am 22 weeks pregnant woman. My age is 28 years and I wanted to know about the DASH diet. Is this diet safe to be followed during pregnancy? My fetus's health and growth are good according to reports. However, I want to take care of my health and follow a nutritious diet. Will the DASH diet be a good choice for providing the essential nutrients to me and my baby?

Kindly help.

Answered by Bhanushali Sonali Suresh Tara

Education:

Diploma in Dieticians and Applied Sciences

Professional Bio:

Miss Bhanushali Sonali Suresh Tara is an experienced Dietitian and Fitness Specialist with eleven years of clinical experience. She holds a Diplomate in Dietetics and Applied Sciences from The University of Mumbai. Currently, she practices at Bhanushali Clinic, a well-known healthcare facility located in Pune, Maharashtra. Miss Bhanushali specializes in providing personalized diet plans tailored to meet the unique nutritional needs and medical conditions of her patients. With her expertise in dietetics and applied sciences, she offers valuable guidance and support to individuals seeking to improve their overall health and well-being through proper nutrition and fitness. Her diet charts are designed to ensure that patients receive the necessary nutrients while taking into account their specific dietary requirements and health goals. Miss Bhanushali is dedicated to helping her patients achieve optimal health through balanced nutrition and a healthy lifestyle.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com

When we talk about DASH "Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension" diet for people with kidney stones is recommended but when it comes to trends and sustainable healthy living I suggest the MIND diet which is a combination of the Mediterranean diet and the DASH diet. But at this stage, you need to take care of yourself and the fetus too for a healthy pregnancy and easy delivery.

  1. Eat small and frequent meals.
  2. To eat a rainbow of foods with fibers like in salad add more vegetables like cucumber, onion, tomato, broccoli, lettuce, carrot, and radish.
  3. Calcium is needed to support the development of bones, so take more milk and milk products.
  4. Involve more dark green leafy vegetables (involve spinach, kale, broccoli, etc). These are rich in iron and will help maintain hemoglobin levels.
  5. Involve antioxidants daily just to destroy free radicals, so consume soaked almonds and walnuts.
  6. Involve omega 3 fatty acids as it will help in the neural and cognitive development of the baby. Thus include foods like soaked walnuts and eggs.
  7. Increase protein intake as it is the building block of the body such as pulses, soya, paneer, milk, and probiotic yogurt if you are non-vegetarian then eat chicken and eggs.

Kindly check for aversion due to pregnancy then add in diet.

Hope this helps.

Medically reviewed by iCliniq medical review team
Published At February 13, 2024
Reviewed At February 13, 2024

Education:

Diploma in Dieticians and Applied Sciences

Professional Bio:

Miss Bhanushali Sonali Suresh Tara is an experienced Dietitian and Fitness Specialist with eleven years of clinical experience. She holds a Diplomate in Dietetics and Applied Sciences from The University of Mumbai. Currently, she practices at Bhanushali Clinic, a well-known healthcare facility located in Pune, Maharashtra. Miss Bhanushali specializes in providing personalized diet plans tailored to meet the unique nutritional needs and medical conditions of her patients. With her expertise in dietetics and applied sciences, she offers valuable guidance and support to individuals seeking to improve their overall health and well-being through proper nutrition and fitness. Her diet charts are designed to ensure that patients receive the necessary nutrients while taking into account their specific dietary requirements and health goals. Miss Bhanushali is dedicated to helping her patients achieve optimal health through balanced nutrition and a healthy lifestyle.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Education:

Diploma in Dieticians and Applied Sciences

Professional Bio:

Miss Bhanushali Sonali Suresh Tara is an experienced Dietitian and Fitness Specialist with eleven years of clinical experience. She holds a Diplomate in Dietetics and Applied Sciences from The University of Mumbai. Currently, she practices at Bhanushali Clinic, a well-known healthcare facility located in Pune, Maharashtra. Miss Bhanushali specializes in providing personalized diet plans tailored to meet the unique nutritional needs and medical conditions of her patients. With her expertise in dietetics and applied sciences, she offers valuable guidance and support to individuals seeking to improve their overall health and well-being through proper nutrition and fitness. Her diet charts are designed to ensure that patients receive the necessary nutrients while taking into account their specific dietary requirements and health goals. Miss Bhanushali is dedicated to helping her patients achieve optimal health through balanced nutrition and a healthy lifestyle.

This doctor is not available for online consultations on the platform anymore.

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