4 Things To Look For When Choosing Your Prenatal
What we put in our bodies has a profound impact on our health. This is especially true when we are trying to conceive or are pregnant. Research shows again and again that there are positive outcomes correlated with a nutrient-rich diet and its effects on the body: whether you are trying to get pregnant, pregnant or even your ability to recover postpartum. However, because of the changes in our food system and the nutritional value in foods today compared to 50 or 100 years ago, food alone is no longer enough for most people to meet nutritional demands. Even when you prioritize nutrient-dense foods, studies show that some crops have lost up to 38% of key nutrients since the mid-1900s. That’s why understanding the power of additional supplementation during the time when you need it most to support a healthy pregnancy journey is critical. Yet, determining which prenatal to take out of the hundreds on the market can feel overwhelming and daunting.
Prenatal vitamins can provide essential nutrients in addition to a whole food-rich diet to support egg quality and overall fertility. These prenatals fill in large gaps that many of us are unaware of. One study showed that 90% of pregnant women do not receive adequate nutrients during pregnancy from food alone and must look to supplements to fill that deficit. Because a quality prenatal vitamin can is such an incredible opportunity for a sort of ‘nutrient insurance policy’, WeNatal has formulated its prenatal for Her with clinically significant dosages of the key nutrients one would need to have a positive impact on fertility and pregnancy.
Let’s break down the most important things to keep in mind when choosing a prenatal, and how WeNatal keeps each of these top of mind to ensure you and your future baby have the best start:
Dosages
When formulating WeNatal, it was very important to include key nutrients in adequate, bioavailable (aka more easily absorbable) dosages so they could truly be effective.
A great example of this is vitamin D. Vitamin D is rarely found in abundance in foods; we can get vitamin D from the sun but sunscreen will block that process. Additionally, vitamin D recommendations increase in pregnancy. Research has shown that it is recommended for pregnant women to take 4,000 IU of vitamin D daily to meet that increased demand, so WeNatal included just that!
Choline is another great example. Choline is a nutrient that is crucial for baby brain development, supporting healthy placental function and preventing neural tube defects, and yet most women are not meeting the recommended intake of 450mg in pregnancy and 550mg in lactation. This is why WeNatal for Her includes 400mg of choline in each serving, to ensure mom is meeting her needs.
Third Party Tested
Supplements in the United States are not well regulated. Because of this, WeNatal participates in third-party testing for heavy metals and contaminants. This testing also provides an unbiased evaluation to determine that the nutritional contents listed on the label are in fact truth. It’s important to ask brands for their third party testing documents to ensure that they are transparent about results. Email WeNatal and they will send you theirs!
No Fillers
If you’re doing your best to avoid fillers and artificial ingredients in your food, why should they be in your prenatal?! This is why WeNatal’s ‘Other Ingredients’ section of the nutrition label is very short (just hypromellose, or veggie capsules); we choose to steer clear of fillers, artificial additives (like flavors and dyes) as well as preservatives.
Should Men Be Taking a Prenatal Too?!
YES! Research shows that men account for about 50% of infertility. What a man eats and how they live directly impact their sperm’s health.
Adequate vitamins, minerals and specific antioxidants have been proven to protect against sperm damage. Those antioxidants include selenium, CoQ10, N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC) as well as vitamins A, C & E. They work together to neutralize and reverse oxidative stress, which directly impacts sperm dysfunction and male infertility. One study found that antioxidants may increase male fertility four-fold and can increase the chance of a successful pregnancy by up to FIVE times.
Men create new sperm every 74 days or so. So during those 3 months prior to conception, they have this incredible opportunity to optimize their sperm for the future. It is crazy that it has really taken until now for people to realize that fertility is a team sport!
Whether you're trying to conceive, already pregnant, or in your postpartum journey, proper nutrition plays a vital role. WeNatal includes the key nutrients – in both bioavailable forms & adequate dosages – to support fertility, pregnancy and postpartum with their prenatal for Her & for Him. The formulations are free of synthetic dyes, fillers, preservatives and artificial ingredients.
By prioritizing quality, purity, and science-backed formulations, WeNatal helps ensure that both partners have the nutritional support they need for their fertility and pregnancy journey.
WeNatal has an amazing offer for you, head to this link: wenatal.com/livepurely to receive a FREE 30-day supply of their Omega DHA+ fish oil ($35 value) with purchase of any subscription order.
