High-Fat Diet in Pregnancy Reduces Beneficial Gut Microbiota for Offspring

Eating a high-fat diet during pregnancy could alter the population of gut microbiota in offspring, which may have negative implications for nutrition and development. This is the conclusion of a new study published in the journal Genome Medicine.

It is well established that what women eat and drink during pregnancy can influence the health and development of their child.

For example, it is recommended that expectant mothers consume 0.4 milligrams of folic acid every day in order to help prevent certain birth defects, and current advice says a healthy, balanced diet is best for both mother and baby.

Read more: High-Fat Diet in Pregnancy Reduces Beneficial Gut Microbiota for Offspring

Women who eat a high-fat diet in pregnancy may be putting their offspring's health and development at risk,
say researchers.

Source: medicalnewstoday

Still too high in fat and sodium in kids' meals.

What will it take to get children to choose fruit instead of ice cream when eating out? Despite a move by many restaurants toward healthier kids' meals, research published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior shows that while calorie ratings have improved, there is still a way to go in reducing fat, sodium and sugar.

For many American children, eating out is routine.

Studies show that, while home-prepared food has more nutritional value than restaurant meals, the diets of most children in the US already lack fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy items.

The options available in restaurants, meanwhile, often contain excess calories, solid fats, sodium and added sugar.

Many restaurants have already begun offering healthier choices for children, in anticipation of legislation that will require calorie counts to be included on menus from December 2016.

For the past 6 years, healthier children's dishes have been among the top 10 food trends in the National Restaurant Association's annual survey of chefs.

Read more: Still too high in fat and sodium in kids' meals.

Fat and sodium still feature excessively in kids' meals.

Source: medicalnewstoday