| Pregnant
women who eat sugary or highly processed foods, known as high
glycemic index foods, may have an increased risk of neural tube
defects such as spina bifida, in their newborns. The risk doubled
for women who ate a lot of these foods, and among obese women
the risk quadrupled.
The results suggest that foods that cause blood sugar levels
to surge may be linked to neural tube defects, and further
validate previous evidence that a problem in blood-sugar control
might be involved in the defects. For instance, it has been
suggested that a mother's obesity or diabetes could raise
the risk of neural tube defects.
Scientists believe that the sudden release of large amounts
of glucose that occurs after eating sugary or highly processed
foods may interfere with the baby’s development in the
womb, specifically the formation of the tube of bone around
the spinal column.
Researchers suggest that the best approach for pregnant women
is to eat a variety of foods with a focus on fruits and vegetables.
American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition November, 2003;78(5):972-978
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