The best time for pregnant women to take calcium tablets

Although it is now recommended that pregnant women take some calcium supplements during the preparation for pregnancy and pregnancy stages, it does not mean that the more calcium supplements you take, the better. Pregnant women should take appropriate calcium supplements. Before taking calcium tablets, pregnant women can do some tests to determine whether they need calcium supplements, how much calcium supplements to take, and how to supplement. They should communicate with their doctors and follow the doctor's instructions to get more ideal results.

The best time for pregnant women to take calcium tablets

1. The early pregnancy is the period when the embryo's tissues and organs are formed. The nutritional status of the pregnant mother is crucial to the continued growth and normal development of the fetus. At this time, the calcium requirement of pregnant women is roughly the same as that of normal people, so there is no need for special calcium supplementation.

2. Calcium supplementation starts from the second trimester. At this time, pregnant mothers can eat some easily digestible foods, such as biscuits, steamed buns, toast, cakes, etc., and eat more water-rich vegetables and fruits to replenish water, vitamin C, B vitamins and inorganic salts such as calcium and potassium, which can reduce the feeling of discomfort during pregnancy.

3. In the second trimester, starting around the fourth month of pregnancy, the pregnant mother's daily calcium requirement gradually increases to 1000-1200 mg. At this time, the amount of calcium contained in the daily diet can no longer meet the baby's growth needs, so the remaining calcium required must be obtained from calcium-containing foods or high-quality calcium supplements.

4. The late pregnancy is the period of fastest fetal growth and development. Calcium intake should be increased by 700 mg per day, and pregnant mothers should eat more calcium-rich foods. At this time, the growth rate of the fetus begins to accelerate, and he needs calcium. However, the calcium content in the pregnant mother's daily diet cannot meet his requirements, so he "steals" it from the pregnant mother's body. During this period, pregnant women should match their nutrition according to their own physical conditions.

How to supplement calcium for pregnant women

1. Maintain appropriate amount of outdoor activities:

Vitamin D can regulate calcium and phosphorus metabolism and promote calcium absorption. Outdoor activities can get more sunlight, and as long as you spend more than half an hour outdoors in sufficient sunlight every day, you can synthesize enough vitamin D. However, overdose may cause side effects such as loss of appetite, fatigue, arrhythmia, nausea, and vomiting.

2. Reduce oxalic acid intake:

After pregnancy, many pregnant mothers begin to pay attention to eating more vegetables and fruits. However, some astringent vegetables contain oxalic acid, which can combine with calcium in the intestines to form insoluble precipitates, affecting calcium absorption. Therefore, it is recommended that pregnant mothers eat 500-750 grams of vegetables and fruits every day. You can also blanch these vegetables in water to remove the astringency before cooking.

3. Reduce the intake of phytic acid, such as rice and white flour:

The phytic acid contained in rice and white flour combines with calcium in the digestive tract to produce phytic acid calcium magnesium salts that cannot be absorbed by the human body, greatly reducing the body's absorption of calcium. Therefore, pregnant mothers can soak the rice in an appropriate amount of warm water for a while, so that the phytase in the rice will decompose most of the phytic acid; and the phytase secreted by the fermented pasta can also hydrolyze the phytic acid in the flour, avoiding affecting the body's absorption of calcium.

4. Reduce the intake of phosphoric acid:

Carbonated drinks, cola, coffee, hamburgers, etc.: Under normal circumstances, the calcium: phosphorus ratio in the human body is 2:1. However, if pregnant mothers consume too much carbonated drinks, cola, coffee, hamburgers, pizza, animal liver, French fries and other foods containing a lot of phosphorus, the calcium: phosphorus ratio can be as high as 1:10-20. In this way, excessive phosphorus will "drive" calcium out of the body.

5. Reduce fatty acids and oily foods:

Fatty acids (especially saturated fatty acids) produced by fat decomposition can form insoluble substances with calcium in the gastrointestinal tract, reducing the absorption rate of calcium. Therefore, pregnant mothers should arrange their meals reasonably and avoid eating too greasy food.