Planning motherhood? Getting the right nutrients, with a higher intake of calcium and zinc three months before conceiving can help avoid dangerous blood pressure disorders such as preeclampsia during pregnancy, finds a study.
The study by US researchers highlights the importance of focusing on nutrition before conceiving — not only during pregnancy — as it can often take time for the body to correct deficiencies or imbalances.
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is one of the most common disorders of pregnancy and can harm both the pregnant person and the developing foetus. Taking antihypertensive medications during pregnancy may also cause potential adverse effects on the growing foetus. Thus, the researchers focused on opportunities to prevent preeclampsia via modifiable factors like nutrition.