BALANCE NUTRITION DURING PREGNANT WOMEN

1. Definition of Nutrition
Nutrition is a substance in food that is needed by an organism to grow and
develop properly according to its function. Nutrition is obtained from the results of the
breakdown of food by the digestive system. and often referred to as food saris.
Nutrition is divided into 2 groups, namely macronutrients and micronutrients.

2. Function of Nutrition

Nutrition functions are:

a. Energy sources.

b. Support and regulate metabolic processes.

c. Maintain metabolic balance.

d. Forming body tissue cells.

e. Repair damaged cells.

f. Maintain bodily organ functions.

3. Types of Nutrition

a. Carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are your main source of energy in carrying out every day's
activities. Your body will use carbohydrates to produce glucose which can be
used immediately or store it as an energy reserve. The amount of glucose
produced in excess will be stored by your body as fat.

There are two types of carbohydrates that are beneficial to the body,
namely simple and complex. Simple carbohydrates can be found in sugar,
while complex carbohydrates are found in starch and fiber. In addition, you
can also consume rice, corn, wheat, cassava, sweet potatoes, potatoes, and
sago as a source of carbohydrates.
b. Protein
Protein is very beneficial for your body to help build and maintain other
muscle and nerve tissue. This compound also functions to produce hormones that
are useful for the body. Like carbohydrates, the excess consumption of protein will
be stored in the body in the form of fat.

According to the source, protein can be divided into vegetable and animal.
Types of vegetable protein that can be consumed include nuts, grains and
vegetables. Meanwhile, you can consume animal protein from animal meat.
However, the consumption of protein in the form of meat should also be done
sufficiently to minimize the risk of developing cholesterol.

c. Fat
Another type of nutrition needed by your body is fat, both saturated and
unsaturated. Unsaturated fats are the safest type of fat for you to consume.
Although basically unsaturated fats can also turn into saturated fat when the
refining process is done.
Unsaturated fatty foods that can be consumed are coconut, candlenut,
olives, peanuts and avocados. Then, saturated fats that can be consumed are
meat, eggs, milk, fish, butter and fish oil. But excessive consumption of saturated
fats is not recommended because it has the potential to increase cholesterol
levels.

d. Vitamin
Your body also needs these types of nutrients to help your body's
metabolism, increase energy and help smooth thinking. Every vitamin you
consume certainly has different benefits for the body. There are even some
vitamins that are efficacious to minimize the risk of certain diseases.
An example is the use of vitamins A, C and E which help prevent coronary
artery disease, where all three continue to strengthen the arterial wall.
Furthermore, it is vitamin B1 which is beneficial for smoothing your body's
digestive and nervous systems. Vitamin B2 helps normalize cell growth. Vitamin
 B3 functions as a detox for your body. Then, vitamin D helps absorb calcium and
vitamin K can freeze blood.

e. Mineral and Trace Element

The body also needs a supply of nutrients derived from minerals and other
trace elements. Both are useful in helping to work the organs of the body. Mineral
chlorine, for example, can help produce your body's digestive juices. Then,
phosphorus can make your bones stronger.

You can find both of these minerals in food consumed, but due to trace
elements the body only needs a small amount. The last nutrient that is also
needed by your body is salt. However, in consuming this one nutrient should not
exceed 2400 milligrams per day because it can increase blood pressure.

f. Water
The existence of water as one of the nutrients in the body is obviously so
important. Water serves as a substitute for lost body fluids after doing daily
routines. Besides that, water can also control the number of calories, facilitate
kidney function, increase energy to get rid of toxins.

4. Balanced Nutrition
Daily food arrangements that contain nutrients in the type and amount that
are in accordance with the needs of the body, taking into account the principles of
food diversity, physical activity, clean living behavior and monitoring body weight
regularly in order to maintain normal weight to prevent nutritional problems.

5. Balance Nutrition for Pregnant Woment

a. Eating a variety of foods is more useful for meeting energy needs, protein and
vitamins and minerals as a maintenance, growth and development of the fetus
and reserves during lactation.
b. Limit eating high salt foods to prevent hypertension because it increases the
risk of fetal death, placental detachment, and growth disorders
c. Drinking more water supports fetal circulation, production of amniotic fluid and
increased blood volume, regulates the body's acid-base balance, and regulates
 body temperature. Drinking water intake for pregnant women is around 2-3 liters
per day (8-12 glasses a day).
d. Limiting drinking coffee, cafein content in coffee increases urination which
results in dehydration, increased blood pressure and increased heart rate. At most
2 cups of coffee / day

6. Balance Nutrition Benefits for Pregnant Women

a. Meet the nutritional needs of the mother and fetus.

b. Achieving the nutritional status of pregnant women under normal conditions, so

they can undergo a pregnancy well and safely.

c. Form a network for fetal growth and development and maternal health.

d. Overcoming problems during pregnancy.

e. Mothers get enough energy that functions to breastfeed after the birth of a
baby.

7. Food Types Contain in One Eating Meal

How to apply, namely by consuming five food groups every day consisting of
staple foods, side dishes, vegetables, fruits and drinks. Consuming more than one
type for each food group every meal will be better.

a. Basic food as a source of carbohydrates, namely grains or cereals such

as rice, corn, and wheat; sago; tubers such as yams, cassava and taro; and
processed products such as flour, noodles, bread, macaroni, oatmeal, and
vermicelli.
b. Sources of protein, namely sources of animal protein, such as meat,
chicken, eggs, milk, and cheese; and vegetable protein sources such as
beans in the form of soybeans, peanuts, green beans, kidney beans, and tolo
beans; and oalahan results such as tempeh, tofu, soy milk, and oncom.
 c. Source of regulatory substances in the form of vegetables and fruit.
Vegetables are preferred in green and orange yellow, such as spinach,
cassava leaves, katuk leaves, kale, carrots and tomatoes; and legumes, such
as beans, beans, and winglets. Preferred fruits are orange yellow, rich in fiber
and sour in taste, such as papaya, mango, pineapple, jackfruit, cooked
jackfruit, guava, apple, soursop and orange.

8. Frequency of Eating in Day

Often a person doing a meal in a day either main food or even interlude, as
many as 3 main meals and 2 times a snack or small portion but often and must be
in proportion.

a. Rice or substitute = 4-6 plates

b. Animal side dishes (chicken, meat, fish) = 4-5 servings
c. Vegetable side dishes (tempe, beans, tahu) = 2-4 medium pieces
d. Vegatables = 2-3 bowls
e. Fruits = 3 servings

9. Food Avoid and Limited By Pregnant Women

a. Avoiding preserved foods because they usually contain food additives that are
less safe
b. Avoiding cooked meat / eggs / fish because they contain germs that are
harmful to the fetus
c. Limiting coffee and chocolate, in which there is a caffeine content that can
increase blood pressure
d. Limiting foods that contain high energy such as those that contain lots of sugar,
fat for example: chips, cake
e. Limiting gas-containing foods, for example: jackfruit (cooked and raw),
cabbage, sweet potatoes, because it can cause complaints of heartburn in
pregnant women
f. Limit consumption of soft drinks (soft drinks), because they contain high
energy, which results in excessive weight gain for pregnant women and
large-born babies