M.D. The latest research show that pregnant women should eat lots of nuts, seeds, whole grains, beans, fruits and vegetables, restrict added vegetable oils and and avoid all packaged foods that contain partially hydrogenated fats. Essential fatty acids are found in all nuts, seeds, beans and whole grains, but not in refined flour used for most bakery products and pastas. Pregnancy depletes folic acid, and a deficiency can cause birth defects.
Folic acid is found in leafy greens, nuts, seeds and beans.
These fats deplete the body of omega-3 fatty acids and therefore should be avoided by pregnant women. Essential fatty acids in mothers and their neonates. N Mulliez, W Gaoua, V Cormier, F Chevy, D Citadelle. Role of cholesterol in embryonic development. S, pp 1270S-1279S. TO Scholl, WG Johnson.