Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological disability that can cause a person’s brain to develop differently, especially concerning developmental delays in sociological functioning. There are many complications that can arise from having to deal with autism, both for the child and the parents. ASD is caused by a variety of factors that are both genetic and developmental. This means that you can affect the occurrence of autism in your children to an extent. The best way to do this as an expecting mother is to focus on eating the right foods. Read on to see what the best foods to eat during pregnancy are, if you want to help prevent ASD.
Eat A Nutritious Diet
The first step to eating healthy while pregnant is to make sure that you are getting the right combination of nutrients. Part of that is making sure to eat organic foods. Eating organic makes sure that your food is free from potential toxins that can affect your child’s brain development.
You want the majority of the diet to consist of green veggies and fruits that contain antioxidants. Make sure to get at least 80 grams of protein a day from lean sources of meat, such as chicken or turkey. You should also use some plant sources of protein. Avoid ‘white foods’ such as, refined sugar or white bread.
Finally, make sure your diet includes omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D, which you can get from fatty fish and dairy products respectively. Whatever your diet consists of absolutely make sure that it is not making you gain an excess of weight. While it is normal to gain weight during pregnancy, too much can be a bad thing. Anywhere between 25-35 pounds of weight gain is typically acceptable.
