How many calories does an expectant mother require?
In the early months of pregnancy, a pregnant woman does not need to change her diet. However, as the pregnancy advances, she might need to increase calorific intake by 500 additional calories a day. This normally happens in the second and third trimesters, but if you eat more than this amount, you will gain unnecessary weight. You should avoid junk foods like burgers, fries, or cookies, as these constitute empty calories. What you need is a sufficient amount of proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins. However, your pregnancy does not entitle you to eat for two. In fact, if you do eat for two, you will gain too much weight. In this case, you will not only be inviting unnecessary complications, but you might also have difficulty in shedding your excess weight after pregnancy. A recent study has shown that in addition to a normal diet of 1,500-2,000 calories, a pregnant woman needs to take only 300 additional calories per day. That is as many calories as one additional bottle or c
