Feeding your Unborn Baby

As we know, what we do before and during pregnancy (and after, if breast-feeding), can affect the health and well-being of our baby. But what we need to break down is what specifically are we doing or not doing to ward off these potential dangers. A recent study was done on umbilical cord blood and detected over 120 different toxins on average, present at birth. We acquire these toxins by the ingestion of harmful chemicals and elements, contact through absorption on the skin, and inhaling fumes.

We can safeguard against this by eliminating household chemicals to the best of our ability, using mattress covers to avoid skin contact with flame retardants, avoid dry cleaning, (skin is the biggest organ and absorption through skin is a major source for toxins to enter the body), conscious breathing ( being aware of your environment so as to keep clear of traffic, smokers, factories, etc).

As for toxins that enter our body due to the choices we make in consumption of food and drinks. Some are obvious, some not so much. Many of the foods today are packaged in nicely decorated packages with millions of dollars spent on advertising, usually geared toward children. In addition to the delightful taste of most of these items, they are often times also desirable because of their "convenience" factor.
However, many packaged foods are laden with methyl-mercury infused high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oils, dyes, synthetic hormones, antibiotics, fillers, fermented ingredients, additives and preservatives, charbroiled items, heavy metals, dioxins, PCB's, etc..... But if some of these are found in our food supply, that means certain supplements can also carry these as well. Pregnant women are encouraged to take omega-3 supplements, but some come from fish oils that contain contaminants. And babies and toddlers are also encouraged to take these supplements as brain development is at it's peak the 1st year of life. So, not only do we have to be careful in the foods we eat, finding the right supplement(s) to ensure it's safety, and essentially establish which, and how much, if any, of a supplement is needed. Ask a Registered Dietitian to help you with these and other concerns you may have. An RD who specializes in holistic nutrition will be the most helpful in this situation.
Lastly, the water we drink plays an important role in whether we are taking in unnecessary toxins. Well ater can be great as long as it is checked for harmful microbes on a consistent basis. Saratoga Springs and nearby residents are fortunate enough to have natural fresh springs to fill jugs with and take home. City water varies, in that traces of chemicals, including medicines have been found and, if you live near a big city, that amount can add up quickly. Drinking distilled, purified, and filtered water is your best bet if you don't have access to natural clean springs, to avoid unwanted chemicals including chlorine in city water.

New 2011 Services

New 2011 Nutrition and Fitness Services Available:

The Rejuvenator: 8 Training Sessions with a Personal Trainer/Individualized $380.00
Includes 1 Individualized Nutrition Consultation AND
Weekly Meal Planner and Nutrition Tips

Add ons: Detox 1 Week Regimen complete with Raw Live Organic Super Juices and
5 Organic Meals and Snacks Prepared $365.00
Supplements Extra Charge if Needed

Organic Meals Range in Price but can be ordered seperately

Detox Supply for 30+ days $60-$190.00

Improving Performance Through Nutrition

Athletes are always looking for that special drink, powder, bar, or gel to help improve their performance. But the truth is, most athletes I see are concerned with putting on unwanted pounds, which leads to them not eating or drinking enough calories.
When you want to maximize stamina, endurance, and output, not only what you eat, how much of it you consume, and how often you take in calories, is critical in enhancing performance. For the endurance athlete, meals and hydration before, during and after a workout can be underestimated. Depending on the type of exercise performed, it is necessary to replace lost nutrients back into the body within15 minutes post workout to promote optimal recovery, as well as to restore muscle glycogen storage. This creates a better scenario for the next workout in that torn muscle tissue is repaired, and the maximum amount of energy is available to the muscle. What percentage of each nutrient and the number of grams needed to make this happen depend on many factors: weight, gender, sport-specific training, % lean body mass, among other variables.
If an athlete is trying to decrease body fat and increase lean tissue, it is crucial to take in enough calories in the form of carbohydrates to prevent the body from using protein as an energy source, but rather for muscle synthesis. This often gets overlooked in that carbs have gotten a bad rap for years...remember not all carbs are created equal!

If you are an athlete who would like to enhance your sport-specific perfomance, contact me or a local Registered Dietitian who specializes in Sports Nutrition, and who has a background in Fitness Training.

Monique Boulet RD, CDN, CPT

518 312 6309

Sustainably Living for Our Bodies and Our Environment

In a time of an ever-growing need to be accountable for the nutrients we take into our bodies, I have decided to create a blog that will inform, educate, and even inspire those of you who want to make a positive impact; not only on your body, but also those you will be a role model for, the soil around you, the planet...