How Glutathione May Help You Have A Healthier Pregnancy

Glutathione for a Healthier Pregnancy

by: Priya Shah

All parents-to-be nurture the dream of a healthy pregnancy and baby.

But the modern environment and diet is deficient in many factors essential for the health of mother and fetus. One of those factors is antioxidants.

The Survival Kit For Pregnancy Dresses

During the 9 months of pregnancy, many would-be mothers keep repeating the same mistakes over and again. Here is a survival checklist for all first-time mothers so that your pregnancy wardrobe is stylish and comfortable without pinching your wallet. While shopping for your pregnancy dresses, ensure that you keep this checklist handy.

All pregnancy dresses should be made from soft materials which are natural. Avoid man-made materials like the plague. The material should be almost cotton, preferably 90% and yet it should have some percent of lycra not more than 10% - so that it gives a little stretch during the months when the tummy balloons and flab appears all over the body.

Check the lining of the clothes you buy. It should not irritate the skin and select colors that are soothing to the eye. Opt for hues like cream, off-white, navy, beige, black (just for its slimming effect), and of course, pure white.

Baby pinks, light shades of blue, pastel colors are also choices with which you look good during these months.

Most would-be mothers make the classic mistake of making do with their old clothes. They keep wearing their old clothes till it literally falls apart at the seams. Avoid this at all costs.

Do spend a bit of money and try to spruce up your appearance during the pregnancy months. Not only will you look good, you will also feel good about yourself if you have a good selection of pregnancy dresses.

The role of antioxidants like folic acid in preventing birth defects like spina bifida and cleft palate is well known. It is now included in all prenatal vitamin supplements.

But the role of antioxidants like glutathione and Vitamin E in pregnancy is often overlooked.

Antioxidants and glutathione status play an important role in the development and growth of the fetus, maintenance of a healthy pregnancy - and even before pregnancy, in fertility and conception.

Glutathione is the body's master antioxidant. It helps to regenerate stores of other antioxidants like Vitamin C and E.

It also protects both mother and fetus from the damaging effects of free radicals and oxidative stress.

Many pregnancy complications and birth defects have been linked to oxidative stress, free radical damage and low glutathione levels in the mother and fetus.

The role of glutathione in the development of the foetus and placenta is crucial. Glutathione (GSH) can control cell differentiation, proliferation, and cell death - essential functions in the developing embryo.

In the placenta, glutathione detoxifies pollutants before they reach the developing child. Most substances or factors which cause birth defects (teratogens) are known to exert their embryotoxic effects because they cause oxidative stress.

The human placenta possesses a significant amount of glutathione S-transferase (GST) capable of detoxification or activation of drugs and pharmaceuticals during the critical period of organ development in the fetus.

Some drugs are known to cause birth defects in the growing fetus by generating free radicals, and depleting GSH stores.

In the early embryonic stages, the fetus is sensitive to the toxic and teratogenic effects of chemicals, whereas it is sensitive to carcinogenic effects during late fetal stages.

Carcinogens administered to the mother can be transferred through the placenta and induce cancer in the fetus. Many carcinogens are much more active in the fetus than in adults and they tend to act as abortifacients and teratogens as well.

Environmental and lifestyle factors are known to cause oxidative stress and lower glutathione levels - resulting in birth defects, abortion and miscarriages in pregnancy.

Some of the known teratogens (causing birth defects) in pregnancy include:
Radiation
Pesticides and Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
Air pollution
Heavy metals (mercury, cadmium, arsenic)
Vinyl chloride
Acryonitrile
Excess Oxygen (hyperoxia)
Anti-psychotic and anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs)
Thalidomide
Cigarette smoke
Alcohol (ethanol) consumption

Maternal health factors that increase free radicals and cause birth defects include:
Diabetes
Pre-eclampsia
Infection and Inflammation

Glutathione and other antioxidants attenuate oxidative stress in pregnant women with inflammation or maternal conditions like diabetes and pre-eclampsia, and in fetuses at risk for developing cystic fibrosis.

Supplementation with glutathione precursors and antioxidants can decrease the incidence of birth defects and protect both mothers and the fetus from the damaging and possibly fatal consequences of pregnancy complications.

Glutathione (GSH ) also prevents or minimizes the oxidative stress that occurs during labor and the birth process.

Perinatal or birth asphyxia/hypoxia (deprivation of oxygen supply to the brain) in preterm deliveries and labor can lead to cerebral palsy, respiratory distress syndrome, irreversible brain injury, and permanent neurological and intellectual handicaps.

Administration of the glutathione precursor, N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC), to the pregnant mother partially prevents oxidative stress during the birth process in premature infants.

Currently, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology advises all pregnant women to take a prenatal vitamin containing antioxidants.

In addition, they advise eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, the best sources of antioxidant protection.

For a detailed report with references on the role of glutathione in pregnancy, visit: www.1whey2health.com/glutathione_pregnancy.htm

Copyright © 2004 Priya Shah

About The Author

Priya Shah is the Editor of "The Glutathione Report" For regular updates on the health benefits of glutathione subscribe here www.glutathione-report.com. For a free report on Glutathione in Health and Disease visit www.1whey2health.com

Topics for further research:

early signs of twins in pregnancy
early intervention pregnancy home visit
post tibial nerve damage and pregnancy
viability statistics of a triplet pregnancy

Common Sense Approach To Pregnancy Weight Loss

Dealing With Common Pregnancy Complaints

Fighting the Pregnancy Blahs

Foods To Avoid During Pregnancy

How To Eat A Healthy Diet During Pregnancy

Pregnancy Exercise

Pregnancy Symptoms Signs and Symptoms of Being Pregnant

Pregnancy Weight Gain - The Mystery Solved

Successful Weight Loss After Pregnancy

Weight Gain During Pregnancy Choosing The Right Foods

How to Find the Perfect Nursing Tops

Is Nausea Late in Pregnancy Normal?

Nausea During Pregnancy - What You Need to Know

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