SUGAR drinks are known to cause dental problems, weight gain and chronic diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure.
New research has now revealed the impact that excessive intake of these drinks can have on pregnant women and their fetuses.
The study, published in peer-reviewed journal Nutrientsfocusing on whether excessive drinking among pregnant women is linked to adverse outcomes for mothers and children.
The surveys were carried out between April and June 2022 and 2023 on 4,824 pregnant women from 16 districts in Shanghai.
Just like in person interviews and survey questionnaires, they had to record their drinking intake for each type of drink they consumed during the previous month.
Drinks were classified into groups that included pure fruit juices, carbonated drinks – such as soda and soda – juice drinks and sweetened dairy drinks.
Sugary drinks were consumed by around three-quarters of women, with sweetened milk drinks, pure fruit juices and freshly prepared milk-based tea being the most popular.
The researchers obtained follow-up information on babies born one year after the dietary survey.
Pregnant women who consumed sugary drinks in large quantities were found to be more likely to develop diabetes during pregnancy.
Medically known as gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), it can cause the baby to grow larger than normal, which can lead to birth complications.
It can also cause premature birth, jaundice and even stillbirth, which is rare.
Compared to people who did not consume these drinks, those who consumed them up to three times a week had an increased risk of GDM by 38%.
They also had a 64% higher risk of gestational hypertension (high blood pressure), which can also be serious.
It can lead to less blood to the fetus, which can slow growth, lead to premature birth, or cause damage to the mother’s other organs.
Pregnant women who drank sugary drinks four times a week had a 154% higher risk of diabetes and a 169% higher risk of high blood pressure.
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Consuming these drinks four times a week also significantly increases the risk of macrosomia, when a newborn is much larger than average, as well as ‘large for gestational age’ (LGA) – when a baby is larger than expected. for your age and gender.
Macrosomia and LGA are both associated with the risk of complications during childbirth.
The researchers concluded: “Excessive drinking is linked to increased incidences of gestational diabetes mellitus and gestational hypertension, as well as greater occurrences of macrosomia and LGA babies.”
They added proactive drink control and reasonable food choices that could lessen pregnancy problems.
What a healthy diet looks like during pregnancy
The NHS advises the following tips to help your baby’s development and growth:
Don’t eat for two, even if you feel hungrier than usual. Eating a healthy breakfast every day can help you avoid snacking on foods high in fat and sugar.
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables to get vitamins, minerals and fiber, which can help with digestion and prevent constipation.
Include starchy foods in your diet for energy, vitamins and fiber. Foods like bread, potatoes, breakfast cereals, rice, pasta, pasta, and oatmeal can help you feel full without containing too many calories.
Eat protein-rich foods every day, such as beans, fish, eggs, poultry and nuts. Just make sure the meat is well cooked, avoid eating more than two servings of oily fish per week as it may contain pollutants, and avoid eating raw or partially cooked eggs.
Eat dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt for their calcium content. But some cheeses should be avoided during pregnancy, including unpasteurized cheese.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
