We’ve heard it a million times: eat your fruits and vegetables. Fruits and veggies provide a wealth of disease fighting compounds including phytochemicals, vitamins, and minerals. During pregnancy, a balanced diet rich in veggies and fruits is imperative as they provide 
excellent sources of nutrients needed for a healthy pregnancy like vitamin C and vitamin A. Eating well during pregnancy just got an added benefits, as a new study discovered.
Consuming at least seve servings of vegetables and fruits per day during pregnancy was found to reduce the risk of getting an Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (UTRI). The study, by Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), found that at least 6.7 servings of produce daily resulted in a moderate reduction in the risk of developing a UTRI. The current recommendation for expecting women is to consume at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day.
UTRI’s include the common cold as well as sinus infections, which can lead to lower respiratory problems like asthma or pneumonia. Most UTRIs are uncomplicated, but pinpointing ways to reduce their occurrence is important because colds are the most common reason for school and work absences. During pregnancy, cold prevention is even more poignant as many symptom relieving medications are contraindicated during pregnancy.
It has been shown that eating a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables can improve overall immunity but has yet to be linked to UTRIs during pregnancy. Researchers studied over 1,000 expecting women discovering that women who ate the most vegetables and fruit were 26% less likely to have a UTRI when compared with women who ate less.
According to the study, it was the combination of both fruits and veggies that reduced UTRI risk, as neither alone proved significant. Expecting women, in particular, need more fruits and vegetables due to increased nutrient requirements and demands on the body. Pregnant women everywhere would agree having a cold during pregnancy is a bit more uncomfortable that when not expecting, and the study provides even more incentive to eat your and fruits and vegetables.
Tags: immunity
