![]() | By: Patrick Holford Susannah Lawson Binding: Paperback Publisher: Piatkus Books ISBN: 0749924691 ISBN-13: 9780749924690 Released: 25 Mar 2004 RRP: Average Rating: ![]() |


I made the mistake of reading it when I was already pregnant and, although I've always considered my diet pretty healthy, was consumed by guilt at how I'd failed my baby already. Still, at least I'll know for next time! And Patrick Holden does assure readers that if any problem does develop (with either yourself or your baby), every situation can be bettered considerably with optimum nutrition. So alll is not lost!
A great sourcebook - but just read it several months before you decide to conceive so you can enjoy a healthy as well as guilt-free pregnancy.

Quite complex to read though, & certainly doesn't claim to provide a 'nutritional prescription'. Excellent reference material, but you reallly need to read the whole book cover to cover to find the relevant bits of info & bookmark them.
At first, the book seems to condemn such a lot of "toxic" foods & environments that you could be forgiven if you ended up terrified of eating ANYTHING or going ANYWHERE in case you were damaging your unborn (and even yet to be conceived) child!
You reallly need to dilute it with a bit of real-life practicality & make use of the bits that work for you. It's worth remembering that Yes, it's good to do the best you can, but millions of women have given birth to perfectly healthy, happy & intelligent babies, while still enjoying the odd cuppa or having to work in a smog-filled city. Don't let it scare you into starving yourself!
The bottom line, pregnant or not, is try to get some of ALL the vitamins, give yourself a zinc boost, & you won't go far wrong. You won't get a magic list of special vitamins from any book - we need a little of everything for optimum nutrition.
On the whole I'd highly recommend this book as I think it's always good to be informed, but for anyone who's looking for more of a quick overview of what fruit & veg they should be eating during pregnancy, this book isn't what you're looking for.
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