Well if it isn't one of my favorite pregnancy indulgences: the cupcake. This is a strawberry cupcake from Miss Mamie's. Pretty, isn't it? Now, I'm not going to tell you that you can never have a treat during pregnancy. That would be really mean. What I am going to do is educate you on this little addictive ingredient: sugar. Perfect timing for my glucose test (to check for gestational diabetes) that I have coming up in the next couple of weeks.
A few facts about sugar:
More than 50% of Americans consume 1/2 a POUND of sugar a day. (source)
High blood sugar levels can cause premature aging. (source)
The average American colon processes 100 pounds of sugar a year. (source)
Our bodies were designed to run on glucose, however now the main source of sugar in our diet is fructose.
- Fructose is dangerous because it has to be metabolized through your liver. If your liver spends all its time metabolizing sugar, then it no longer can function properly. The liver's job is to get rid of toxins. It sees the fructose as a toxin, so all of the other toxins are left hanging out in your body. (source)
Sugar and Pregnancy:
Sugar is often pushed in pregnancy and is totally socially acceptable, unlike caffeine and other stimulants.
Sugar goes straight to your bloodstream when you are pregnant causing major spikes in insulin which are released from the pancreas. (source)
Excessive sugar intake can take a toll on your weight and your baby's. A bigger baby means you are at higher risk for having a c-section. Rapid weight gain also increases your chances of stretch marks.
Between 2 and 10% of expectant mamas get gestational diabetes. It's the most common pregnancy health condition.
-With diet (here's a healthy eating plan) and exercise you can typically keep your levels normal, even if you are diagnosed, without the aid of medical intervention.
-Even though gestational diabetes will most likely not stay with you after pregnancy, it raises the risk of you getting diabetes down the road. (source)
Bottom line? Keep treats to a minimum for you and your baby's sake. Something that's keeping me sane right now is buying a bar of dark chocolate on monday and having that to last me all week. It is really satisfying and doesn't have a lot of sugar in it. If you must indulge, DO IT (otherwise you'll binge), just don't do it every day.
Starting next week I'm going to be starting a new series: Getting Ready for Baby. I'm almost in my last trimester, so I thought it would be a great time to discuss: nesting, freezer meals, organizing, tips for older siblings, etc. If you have any tips you want to share, leave them here and I'll make sure and include them in a post. Thanks in advance!
twitter/ facebook/ pinterest/ instagram
