Eating Fruits and Vegetables Lowers Upper Respiratory Risks During Pregnancy
Even moderately reducing your risk for upper respiratory tract infections is a good thing, don’t you agree? Especially if you are pregnant! The Boston University School of Medicine has completed a study of more than 1,000 expectant mothers, finding that pregnant women who ate at least seven servings of fruits and vegetables a day moderately reduced their risk for a URTI.
What are some common URTI’s? Sinus infections, colds – all of which can cause worse problems such as pneumonia and lower respiratory infections. In this study, researchers found that the women who ate the most servings of fruits and vegetables during their pregnancy lowered their risk for URTI’s by 26 percent.
If you are pregnant, chances are you have been told to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. This study, however, shows that if you increase this to approximately 7 servings, you can moderately decrease your chances of contracting an upper respiratory tract infection. So the next time you reach for a snack, grab an apple rather than a handful of crackers. After all, every little bit helps!
