Program Your Baby's Health: The Pregnancy Diet for Your Child's Lifelong Well-Being (Paperback)

by Barbara Luke ScD. M.P.H. R.D. (Author), Tamara Eberlein (Author) "Suppose a pregnant woman could take a pill that would program her unborn baby for a long and healthy life free of heart disease, hypertension,..." (more)
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Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The most important period of your child's health is the nine months  before birth.

Cutting edge research in a new field known as "metabolic programming" reveals a startling new fact: what a mother eats during pregnancy has a far greater effect on her child's future development, overall health, and resistance to disease than was previously thought. In fact, adult chronic illnesses long blamed on an unhealthy lifestyle or genetic influences are now believed to be a direct result of the uterine environment during pregnancy.

Now, thanks to this pioneering new book, you can "program" your baby's future health by eating right, gaining the appropriate amount of weight, and avoiding toxins--starting even before conceiving. Dr. Barbara Luke, a nationally recognized expert in the field of public-health nutrition, provides a complete, practical nutrition and lifestyle program that covers your entire pregnancy, month by month--and the first two years of your baby's life. Here is everything you need to know to raise the healthiest baby possible, including:

- What to eat when you're trying to conceive and when you are pregnant
- Practical strategies that protect your child against hypertension, diabetes, and obesity
- Special dietary needs for women in every age group, from under 25 to over 40
- Quick, easy menus, helpful charts, and checklists
- Replenishing fluids: how much do you need to drink?
- The nutritional needs of mothers carrying twins or "super-twins"
- New strategies for overcoming morning sickness
- Helping your growing child eat right and stay healthy

Pregnancy is your window of opportunity to boost your baby's health at birth, through childhood, and beyond. Let this book help you take the most advanced, scientific approach to preventing disease and optimizing health!

From the Inside Flap
The most important period of your child's health is the nine months before birth.

Cutting edge research in a new field known as "metabolic programming" reveals a startling new fact: what a mother eats during pregnancy has a far greater effect on her child's future development, overall health, and resistance to disease than was previously thought. In fact, adult chronic illnesses long blamed on an unhealthy lifestyle or genetic influences are now believed to be a direct result of the uterine environment during pregnancy.

Now, thanks to this pioneering new book, you can "program" your baby's future health by eating right, gaining the appropriate amount of weight, and avoiding toxins--starting even before conceiving. Dr. Barbara Luke, a nationally recognized expert in the field of public-health nutrition, provides a complete, practical nutrition and lifestyle program that covers your entire pregnancy, month by month--and the first two years of your baby's life. Here is everything you need to know to raise the healthiest baby possible, including:

- What to eat when you're trying to conceive and when you are pregnant
- Practical strategies that protect your child against hypertension, diabetes, and obesity
- Special dietary needs for women in every age group, from under 25 to over 40
- Quick, easy menus, helpful charts, and checklists
- Replenishing fluids: how much do you need to drink?
- The nutritional needs of mothers carrying twins or "super-twins"
- New strategies for overcoming morning sickness
- Helping your growing child eat right and stay healthy

Pregnancy is your window of opportunity to boost your baby's health at birth, through childhood, and beyond. Let this book help you take the most advanced, scientific approach to preventing disease and optimizing health!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Wellspring/Ballantine; 1st edition (April 3, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345441990
• ISBN-13: 978-0345441997
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #761,960 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars from a registered dietitian, November 4, 2003

By A Customer

This book has solid information based on well-established research. I recommend it. I decided to write this review because another reviewer didn't understand the concept of metabolic profiling. The scientific data for malnourished mothers and babies comes only from times of war and famine and other natural disaster times because it is simply not ethical to malnourish a human fetus or pregnant mother to see what results. The concept of metabolic programming is forward thinking, but the concept of giving a baby what it needs from day one is common sense. Under different circumstances and in different environments humans adapt based on what is available- so why not start that thinking in utero??

I think this book treats mothers with respect, instead of over simplifying nutrition concepts. Good Stuff!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Invaluable Reference Book, November 3, 2001

By	Carina Walker (Sierra Madre, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I found myself referring back to this book time and time again, since I am a big believer in proper nutrition during pregnancy. This book was an excellent reference on what to eat, what not to eat, and how various nutrients affect your unborn baby. Other nutritional books I've found tend to be more superficial, just giving you the basics you probably already know like vegetables are good for you, and folic acid is important.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for expectant moms, especially high risk pregnan, December 22, 2001

By A Customer

Dr Luke has written a highly superior pregnancy nutrition book,
it is the best on the market right now. The recommendations on how to eat in this book are easy to follow and understand. Dr Luke doesnt talk down to women and her book even has some great recipes in the back.
I had preeclampsia and hellp in my first pregnancy and and my daughter was born at 25 weeks and left us after 20 days in NICU. I followed the diet in this book and had no preeclampsia or hellp with my son. He was a 36 weeker but weighed a robust 6 pounds 15 oz. I attribute superior eating to my sons healthy size and to not getting hellp/severe PE again. She also has good advice on infant and toddler nutrition which I have found to come in handy with a picky 1 yr old!

After losing my daughter I did a lot of research on how to have a good pregnancy. Good nutrition is imperative to a baby not only in utero but well into adulthood. The advice on how to eat in this book is similar to the Bradley method but in my opinion Superior to the Bradley method as it is more updated. This book covers ALL the bases of pregnancy nutrition.