5 Tips to Pick The Best Prenatal Vitamin
Not All Prenatal Vitamins are the same.
Wow!!! So many choices.. some with pretty packaging, some look very clinical. It can be so confusing what to pick.
You know that your conception and baby are a miracle and you want a Prenatal Vitamin that honors that miracle. Unfortunately, the advice you get is often “just pick up a prenatal vitamin from the drugstore “.
So I wanted to give you 5 Tips to Pick the Best Prenatal Vitamin.
1.Take a look at the version of B12 on the label
Look at the B12 listed on the label. If it reads "Cyanocobalamin," you can STOP right there. That is the cheapest and synthetic version of B12. It will most likely be lost in your "bright yellow pee." This version will not be absorbed well, and you will miss out on the benefits of taking B12.
If the prenatal vitamin you are looking at, used the cheapest form of B12, it is highly likely they chose the cheapest, synthetic versions of everything else. You want a prenatal vitamin that contains "Methylcobalamin" or "Adenocobalamin" or "Hydroxycobalamin." These version are more "bio-available" and are already converted to the forms your body will need for optimum use and function.
HOPE Perfect Prenatal uses "Methylcobalamin."
2. Look for "Chelated Minerals"
Many prenatal vitamins use poorly absorbing, inorganic forms of minerals Examples are: Magnesium Oxide and Zinc Sulfate. These are minerals in the inorganic forms. Much like "sucking on a rock" to get your minerals. It's not very effective. Not only are they ineffective, but they are similar to taking "metals" into your body. Think of the white cream of "Zinc Oxide" you apply to your nose in the summer. You don't want that form of Zinc in your prenatal vitamin. You want the minerals in your prenatal to be "Chelated." A chelated mineral is in a form similar to that which exists in nature...in plants. Your body can easily recognize it and absorb it. Here are some examples of what many over-the- counter prenatals contain (unfortunately) vs. what you want in your prenatal:
Magnesium Oxide vs. Magnesium Citrate
Zinc Oxide vs. Zinc Citrate, Zinc Bisglycinate, Zinc Picolinate Iron Fumerate vs. Iron Bisglycinate
Copper "Cupric Oxide" vs. Copper Bisglycinate
HOPE Perfect Prenatal uses ALL Chelated minerals.
3. Folic Acid vs. Folate
The majority of pregnant women know that taking a prenatal with "Folic Acid" is critical to the health of their unborn baby. However, not all versions of "Folic Acid" are the same. It is critically important to ensure that your prenatal vitamin contains a methylated form of Folate. It is estimated that 30% to 40% of Americans have an MTHFR gene mutation that inhibits the methylation of Folic Acid and other B vitamins. If you have this mutation, taking the incorrect form of Folic Acid could be detrimental. However, selecting a prenatal that contains a methylated form of Folate will eliminate the need to even worry about it. Most will show Folate on the label, with a percentage that is from "Folic Acid." You want to see Folate with 100% coming from Folate and NOT any percentage from "Folic Acid."
HOPE Perfect Prenatal uses a patented form of 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate.
4. DHA
A key ingredient extremely critical to the brain development of the fetus is DHA. There are two sources that DHA comes from. DHA is a form of Omega 3 found in fish oil or algae. A common misconception is that taking a "Vegetarian Omega 3" from Flaxseed, Chia Seed, Hempseed and others will suffice for your DHA needs. These are high in the good omega 3 ALA, but do not contain DHA. In addition, less than .5% of ALA is actually converted into DHA in the body. It is important to get your DHA from fish oil or an algae source.
HOPE Perfect Prenatal uses an Omega 3/6/9 Blend with DHA from Deep Sea Fish Oil, Flaxseed Oil and Borage Seed Oil.
5. Vitamin D
It's estimated that up to 50% of pregnant women are deficient, or have insufficient, Vitamin D levels. This is incredibly important because "Mom's Vitamin D Status" activates a gene that creates Serotonin in the baby's brain. Serotonin acts as a "Brainmorphagene." This is critical for the proper mapping of the baby's brain. Therefore, low levels of Vitamin D can lead to neurodevelopmental difficulties. Unfortunately, most prenatal vitamins contain the bare minimum amount of Vitamin D @ 600 IUs per day. This amount will not help to improve the mother's level of Vitamin D in her body. In order to raise levels, current research recommends 2,000 to 4,000 IUs per day.
HOPE Perfect Prenatal contains 3,000 IUs of Vitamin D3.
BONUS! Probiotics
It is estimated that 85% of pregnant women will experience nausea, vomiting and constipation at some point during their pregnancy. This is due to hormonal fluctuations that alter mom's gut microbiome. A recent study at *UC Davis found that taking probiotics during pregnancy significantly improved the symptoms of pregnancy related nausea, vomiting and constipation.
HOPE Perfect Prenatal contains 9 strains of Probiotics and 1 strain of SBO Probiotic.
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