Superfoods are awesome, right? And, they are a subject of great interest in the primal and real food communities. So, what exactly is a superfood? According to Google, the term indicates “a nutrient-rich food considered to be especially beneficial for health and well-being,” and “superfood” first starting seeing usage in the 1960’s, with a steep rise since 1987.
The idea of a food that packs in nutritional value and benefits wellbeing is a great one, especially when considering the astronomical task of building another human body from the nutritional building-blocks of one’s own body.
This concept is what fueled this list of 8 superfoods to support a healthy and happy primal pregnancy:
- Liver: Liver is one of the most nutrient-dense foods available. Rich in folate, B12, Pantothenic Acid, riboflavin, niacin, and Vitamin A, liver contains many of the key nutrients required for a healthy pregnancy and conception. Liver is in fact the best food source of Folic Acid.
- Cod liver oil: Cod Liver oil is gaining popularity again after skipping a generation or two. One of the highest dietary sources of Vitamin A and Omega-3’s, cod liver oil also contains more Vitamin D than any other food source! Vitamin D is imperative for women’s health and fertility.
- Caviar, Roe, & Fish Eggs: Yes, they have a reputation for being expensive luxury foods, believe me – they don’t have to be! Fish eggs are incredibly nutrient dense. And, in 1 oz of salmon roe, there is 8g of protein and 55% of your daily B-12. They are also high in Omega-3’s, Vitamin D, selenium, magnesium, and a small amount of calcium.
- Greens, green soup, green juice: Detox that liver, Baby…and Mama, before you get pregnant and cannot STAND the sight of a vegetable. Sound crazy? I was pounding greens for years before I conceived to nourish my liver and blood, and although, yes, I was queasy as all get out at times those first 12 weeks, I actually never once threw up or gagged. Does it have anything to do with the liver? A New York Times article as far back as 1982 shows that studies prove that 100% of women with gall bladder issues experience nausea in their pregnancy. The gall-bladder’s job is to produce bile, which acts as a detergent to help digest fats and cleanse toxins from the blood. Greens help cleans the gallbladder and liver, support the body in removing fats, and boost all-around radiance and wellbeing. So yes, greens greens greens – get them now while you can stand the sight of them!
- Fatty Cold-Water Fish: Long-chain Omega 3 fats are crucial for fertility and pregnancy in terms of brain development and neuron formation. Seafood, and especially salmon, mackerel, and sardines are the best ways to intake your EPA & DHA.
- Spirulina: High in B vitamins, including outrageous amounts of B12, naturally rich in Iodine, which supports thyroid function (considered the master gland), amino acids, EFA’s, and high protein content. Add it to smoothies, even take tablets if the taste is not so much for you.
- Egg yolks: Egg yolks from pasture-raised chickens are profoundly rich in nutrients. They contain choline – an essential nutrient which aids in brain development. Egg yolks are also rich in saturated fats and amino acids.
- Grass-fed dairy: If you can digest dairy, have at it. Especially butter from grass-fed cows, like Kerrygold. Grass-fed dairy contains saturated fats, Vitamins A, D, K2 & E, and Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) – which converts to EPA and DHA in your body. Yogurt and kefir also contain probiotics, key in developing a healthy gut for mom and baby.
Looking for more pregnancy advice? Check out this post.
