While fiber is known to be a great addition to any diet as it promotes gut health, another unwitting benefit is that it may lower the risk of babies contracting celiac disease. The Norwegian celiac epidemic in children that came about in the late 90s and early 2000s propelled scientists from around the globe to determine whether there was a change in the mother’s diet prior to the epidemic.
A study on 88,000 children found that expectant mothers with a high fiber intake of more than 45 grams were 34% less likely to have children diagnosed with celiac disease.
For moms-to-be, nutrition goes beyond just opting for gluten-free food.
Fruit and vegetables are high on the list
Mothers who don’t have celiac and worry that the consumption of gluten may affect their unborn baby can rest easy for a little longer. The Norwegian study further confirmed that there was no known link between the mother’s consumption of gluten and the baby’s chance of developing celiacs. Mothers who are gluten intolerant or who have been diagnosed with celiacs may want to steer clear of certain grains when it comes to boosting their fiber intake. The safest options are fruits and vegetables, gluten-free whole grains, nuts, seeds, lentils, and legumes.
An easy transition after birth
Keeping up with the fiber intake after pregnancy is still vitally important in terms of maintaining gut health, but it’s also important for nursing moms to keep nutrition up in order for their nursing babies to enjoy all the benefits of their diet. Certain fiber-rich foods are also known to be superfoods for breastfeeding moms and include gluten-free oats, leafy green vegetables and legumes. Once moms are ready to introduce solids into their baby’s diet, the transition is pretty simple and whipping up a baby-friendly puree with these ingredients is fast and simple.
Nutrition, especially fiber, can easily be overlooked when you’re faced with cutting out a substantial component in your diet. Fiber can easily be replaced for those who’ve needed to make changes to their diets.
