What pregnant mothers eat affects the skin health of newborns

Saturday, April 03, 2010 by: Ethan A. Huff, staff writer
Tags: skin health, newborns, health news

(NaturalNews) A recent study conducted by researchers from Fukuoka University in Japan found that babies born to women who eat high amounts of green and yellow fruits and vegetables, and those rich in beta carotene, have a reduced risk of being born with eczema, a type of condition where dry, itchy red patches emerge on skin.

Most people recognize, even without a study, that eating habits affect a person's health. Nevertheless, Dr. Yoshihiro Miyake and his team evaluated 763 women and their babies to see if there was a link between the mothers' eating and lifestyle habits and the health of their children.

The women who participated in the study were roughly 30 years old and about 17 weeks pregnant when they were asked to provide pertinent information about their lifestyles and medical history. When their babies were between 16 and 24 months old, researchers gathered a second set of data from the women regarding birth and breastfeeding history, family information, and if their children were exposed to any second-hand smoke.

Researchers discovered that women whose diets were rich in green and yellow vegetables, citrus fruits, and others foods rich in beta carotene during their pregnancies bore children who were less likely to come down with eczema.

Taking into account other eczema risk factors, the team found that 54 percent of children from mothers whose diets were the lowest in these key foods developed eczema while only 32 percent of infants born to mothers who ate the most of these foods did. They also found that a diet rich in vitamin E helps to reduce the likelihood of having an infant with a wheeze.

This study and others have led experts to conclude that eating key foods during pregnancy can go a long way in preventing children from developing allergic disorders.

Though no specific mention was made in the report, healthy women who breast feed ensure that their child receives the most wholesome nutrition possible. Breast-fed babies are typically born with fewer or no allergies when compared to their formula-fed counterparts. Breast milk contains important immunoglobulins, antibodies and colostrum that are crucial to newborn development.

No matter how enriched, there is no formula capable of matching the life-giving nutrients that are passed on from mother to child in breast milk. Especially from women who eat nutritionally-dense foods, numerous studies show that breast-fed babies grow to be healthier, stronger, and more allergy-free than babies fed artificial formulas.

Sources for this story include:

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61I47T...

http://www.llli.org/NB/NBJulAug98p100.html