There are many aches and pains that come with pregnancy.  There was a time when many doctors just brushed them aside and said that is part of pregnancy, but now more and more doctors are recommending a well-balanced diet to help ease those aches and pains.

Here are just a few pregnancy ailments that a good diet can help:

Tooth and gum problems.  To help keep your teeth healthy and your baby’s teeth healthy, make sure you get enough calcium and vitamin C.  To satisfy your need to chew on something, keep some sugarless gum near you or chew on some nuts and cheese.

Dizzy or Lightheaded. It’s not uncommon for many women to feel dizzy or lightheaded during pregnancy, especially if they have gone too long without eating. This is why its so important to eat throughout the day.  Keep your snacks as healthy as possible and stay away from junk food and processed foods. These foods will give you a quick rush of energy but ultimately leave you feeling worse than you did before you ate them.  Keep yourself hydrated with regular tap water.  Snacking and drinking will help boost your blood sugar and keep you hydrated which can help you combat dizziness.

Leg cramps. Sometime during your second trimester, you may find yourself awakening in the middle of the night to leg cramps. Leg cramps can come from not getting enough calcium. Some say that the leg cramps is a shortage of magnesium while some say that dehydration can be the cause. Either way, make sure you are getting enough calcium and magnesium. If you suffer from leg cramps you might find it helpful to drink a glass of milk or have a piece of cheese before you go to bed at night. Make sure you drink at least 8 glasses of water throughout the day to keep yourself hydrated.

Swelling. Another pain in pregnancy. While severe swelling could be a sign of preeclampsia, there is a certain amount of swelling that is normal and healthy during pregnancy. In fact, more than 75% of all pregnant women experience some sort of swelling. The most common cause is too much water retention. Staying away from salty foods and drinking extra water will help you keep the swelling to a bare minimum.

Dry skin. Some women experience dry skin, which can be cured by making sure you drink plenty of fluids to increase moisture. If you have flaky skin, eat more omega-3 rich foods or seeds and nuts. There are some who experience skin discoloration and too much blotchiness could be a folic-acid deficiency.  This is another reason why it is so important to make sure you are taking your prenatal vitamins.

Hair – too much, too little, too limp. Some women are blessed with a great head of hair, others find that their hair is suddenly limp and hard to manage. Pregnancy causes hormonal changes and that affects the hair. Throughout pregnancy, it is important that you get enough vitamin A, B and C. Vitamin A will keep your hair and scalp healthy. Vitamin B will help with your hair growth and vitamin C is needed for strength. Make sure you are getting enough of this in your diet.

Eating healthy throughout pregnancy not only ensures your chances of a healthy pregnancy but it will also help you avoid some of the more uncomfortable aspects of pregnancy too.