Deemed "Unsafe" for Pregnancy

All the restrictions that are placed on pregnant women for the sake of "safety" are really starting to chaff my thighs. You can't go near a pregnancy site without walking a way a little more fearful of the potential fetal risks associated with the lunch you just consumed. All this fear-mongering is ridiculous!

You may be interested to know that the government refusal to do studies on herbal supplements contributes to the outlook that ALL herbal supplements are considered not safe during pregnancy. In fact, many of them are essential, but since no tests are done, no definitive statements can be made. Meaning -- THEY DON'T KNOW!!

Yesterday, I was given a Go-Girl energy drink. So, I looked up the "dangerous" ingredients and how bad they really were. Basically it boils down to this:

Taurine (800mg): Oh my! That sounds very dangerous! Actually, Taurine is an amino acid naturally present in our bodies. In fact, taurine is one of the most abundant free amino-acid-like compounds found in the heart, the skeletal muscles and the nervous system. It supports neurological development and helps regulate the level of water and mineral salts in the blood. Up to 3,000 milligrams a day of supplemental taurine is considered safe. Any excess taurine is simply excreted by the kidneys.

Garcinia Cambogia (200mg): Basically, this is the main ingredient in curry. Since spicy foods are thought to stimulate contractions and labor, the fear-mongers are really raising their heads. But really, curry and other spicy foods will only bring on labor if you are ready for labor. Basically, it's just another wives-tale, but if there is some merit to it, then GC won't affect you until you are 41 weeks and ready to push.

Inositol (100mg): A fine word for Vitamin B8. Found in yeast, most fruits & vegetables, some nuts, as well as many whole-grains. Helps promote functioning of the muscles, nerves, cell membranes, and fat metabolism in the liver. Proven to prevent neural tube defects (in rats).

Caffeine (100mg): Some people say up to 200mg per day, others 300mg. Either way, this is below the "allowed" amount. I'm safe here.


A Word On Sugar Substitutes

Aspartame: EQUAL & NUTRA SWEET; Commonly found in most Diet Soft-Drinks. When eaten, aspartame is metabolized into its original amino acids. (One exception is moms-to-be who have a genetic disease called phenylketonuria, or PKU. These moms need to avoid aspartame completely because PKU prevents them from breaking down the phenylalanine in their diet.)

Saccharin: SWEET N LOW; It has been shown that saccharine crosses the placenta and takes longer for the baby to process, increasing the risk of bladder problems or even cancer in the baby. This sweetener is not considered to be safe to use during pregnancy. or wait... is it?

"Saccharin, one of the first artificial sweeteners, is much less common today than it once was. Saccharin has not been shown to cause birth defects.

Animal studies in the 1970s suggested a possible link to bladder cancer, but larger animal studies in the 1990’s didn't find this, and saccharin was later removed from the list of possible cancer-causing agents by the National Institutes of Health.

The National Cancer Institute says there's no scientific evidence that any of the artificial sweeteners approved for use in the United States cause cancer." -- Babycenter.com article by Lori Wolfe, Genetic Councelor

Hmm.... who to believe??

Sorbitol: A sugar alcohol that is naturally found in many stone fruits and berries from the genus "Sorbus." No, that can't be good for you.

Stevia: a plant. That's it, really. It's a group of plants that have "sweet" leaves.

Sucralose: SPLENDA; Made with 95% dextrose and maltodextrin that the body easily processes. The 5% "chlorinated" atoms are extremely stable and would only pose a risk with EXTREME temperatures (that is impossible during normal digestion).

The REAL truth is this:

"...according to the National Cancer Institute and other health agencies, there's no sound scientific evidence that any of the artificial sweeteners approved for use in the United States cause cancer or other serious health problems. And numerous research studies confirm that artificial sweeteners are generally safe in limited quantities, even for pregnant women. As a result of the newer studies, the warning label for saccharin was dropped." -- www.mayoclinic.com

Most "Truth about..." sites are sponsored by special interest groups (i.e. The Sugar Association, an organization representing sugar beet and sugar cane farmers in the United States) that have a monetary interest in scaring you away from sugar substitutes. They could care less about your health.

My take: There are MILLIONS of products and foods that have NOT been tested, therefore cannot be declared 100% safe. It doesn't mean that they are not safe (and in fact, usually are), it just means that a declarative statement cannot be made. Better safe than sorry, is the attitude.

Well, safe yes -- but I'm not going to be running scared adding stress to my body about the ridiculously small chance there might be of harming my baby.

Thank you very much, I'll have my one Go-Girl for the day.