The Hemp Connection:
asparagus

The relationship between nutrition and pre-eclampsia is getting stronger! Researchers have reported that using a multivitamin supplement containing folic acid in the second trimester of pregnancy helped to reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia. Personally, since folic acid is also recommended to any woman who is trying to conceive, I'd recommend taking it all the time instead of trying to guess when is the right time.

I've worked with many women trying to conceive, who have trouble changing their food habits. Some, out of fear of those changes or frustration at the challenge, give up, let the reproductive endocrinologist be the primary person fixing the problem, and figure they'll worry about their diet later.

Bad idea.

What you eat when you're preparing to become pregnant, while you're pregnant, while you're nursing, and while you're getting back into shape after all of that, are all vitally important. There's no such logical strategy as putting nutrition on the back burner, letting the doctor fix the problem, and worrying about the food later. It all fits together…and it affects more than just you!

By the way, good sources of folic acid include: lentils (right now is great weather for soup!),boiled collard greens (great if you're a Southern belle), chickpeas (whoo hoo for hummous!), papaya (always great in a fruit salad), frozen peas (easy to keep in the freezer), asparagus (this is the season when it starts getting cheap), broccoli (easy to keep around), strawberries (not a hard thing to have to eat), oranges (a winter favorite).

Wen SW, Chen XK, Rodger M, White RR, Yang Q, Smith GN, Sigal RJ, Perkins SL, Walker MC. Folic Acid in Early Second Trimester May Reduce Risk of Preeclampsia Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2008;198:45.e1-45.e7.

It's that time of year again, asparagus time!

I just love this veggie. You can eat it raw, steam it to go with your favorite fish, saute it and add it to your breakfast omelet, or marinate it in your favorite vinaigrette. If you're grilling your fish, you can put the aspargus out there just before serving time and cook it that way. One of my good friends taught me to cook asparagus in the microwave--just cover it with a paper towel and zap it for a very short time. So easy you'll wonder why you ever thought vegetables are high maintenance.

If that doesn't inspire you, here are 230 more ideas that hopefully will! http://allrecipes.com/Recipes/Everyday-Cooking/Spring/Asparagus/Main.aspx

And did you know asparagus is a decent source of folic acid…which you need lots of if you're even thinking of getting pregnant? It also contains iron, something women can have a hard time getting into their diet.

My mom loves white asparagus, which in her native Germany is called"Spargel". It's a little harder to find here in the United States…but if you have a chance to try it you won't be disappointed. It's essentially a"blond" or"albino" asparagus, grown covered in soil to prevent photosynthesis, resulting in a less bitter version.

Next time you're in the grocery store I hope you think of this post and bring some home for yourself!