Prenatal Nutrition with Bundle Organics + Giveaway

We love meeting cool new brands, especially when they are providing great, healthy products for mamas! When Bundle Organics sent us some of their organic juices, fortified with vitamins and minerals to support a healthy mom and baby, we knew we had to share the love. Their juices are shelf stable, so they can be shipped and stored without refrigeration, but we popped ours into the fridge to chill prior to drinking. There wasn't a flavor we didn't like, but around the Zoe Organics HQ, the Kale-Apple-Lemon-Ginger (green bottle) was our favorite!

We asked Kwany, co-founder of Bundle Organics if she would share some tips for optimal prenatal nutrition and she delivered! And stick around because Bundle Organics and yours truly have teamed up to give away some organic goodies to nourish your body inside and out! 

Nutrition during your pregnancy

by Kwany Lui, co-founder of Bundle Organics

It’s no surprise that during pregnancy – probably more than at any other time in your life – you need to eat well. Nutrition in pregnancy is a delicate balance of taking in the correct nutrients while maintaining a reasonable caloric intake. Dr. Errol Norwitz, Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, and an advisor for Bundle Organics, informed us that for expecting moms, prenatal vitamins won’t necessarily meet 100% of your daily vitamin and mineral needs. In addition to providing for your own health during pregnancy, you also need to take in large amounts of extra minerals and vitamins that are required to grow a healthy baby. Although a well-balanced diet will provide all the required nutrients, there are certain nutrient supplements that may be required in special situations:

Iron: Iron is necessary for making hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to the other cells. Many women are iron deficient, before, during and after they have children. Since blood is lost during childbirth and every month during menstruation, many women have reduced iron stores throughout their childbearing years. 

Calcium: Calcium is necessary for the developing baby’s bones and teeth, and is most needed in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy when bone formation occurs. A daily total of 1,200 mg of elemental calcium is recommended during pregnancy. If you’re taking a prenatal vitamin, you’re probably getting at least 150 to 200 mg of calcium, whereas, 8 oz. of skim milk provides about 300 mg of calcium. Therefore, many women end up having to take a separate calcium supplement.

Vitamin D: Vitamin D is essential for calcium to be absorbed into the body. It also plays a role in mineralizing the baby’s skeletal system. Exposure to sunlight activates vitamin D, but if you are pregnant during the winter months, this exposure is often limited and you may be advised to take a vitamin supplement or to increase your dietary intake.

Folic Acid: Folic acid is a vitamin B-complex group and is important for baby’s cell division and blood formation. It has been shown to prevent spina bifida (also known as neural tube defects) and related birth defects that occur during early pregnancy. It is often recommended that women start taking folic acid at least two to three months before conception and throughout their pregnancy. There can be a considerable loss of vitamins due to oxidation when food has been stored for more than a few days, making it difficult to obtain a large amount of folic acid through food sources alone.

For moms who are looking for ways to supplement their nutritional intake during pregnancy, we hope you’ll give Bundle Organics a try. Bundle Organics juices are designed specifically for expecting and new moms, made with organic fruits and veggies and fortified with OB/GYN-recommended nutrients that complement daily prenatal vitamins. Plus, all the nutrients in the juices are good for pre-conception and breastfeeding too!

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Kwany Lui, is the co-founder of Bundle Organics, a new line of organic prenatal juices that are specially designed to address the unique nutritional needs of expecting and new moms.  The juices are packed with organic fruits and veggies, plus an extra bump of essential vitamins like iron, calcium, vitamin D, omega 3, and folic acid to support a baby's healthy development. You can find the juices online or through their store locator for your nearest Babies R Us and Buy Buy Baby store.