Dietary fiber cuts risk of pregnancy complication

Eating more fiber during the first trimester of pregnancy seems to reduce the risk of developing preeclampsia, a potentially fatal condition characterized by elevated blood pressure.

The finding appears to be another good reason for pregnant women to maintain good fiber intake, one expert said.

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Mediterranean diet in pregnancy may curb allergies

Women who eat a Mediterranean diet while pregnant could help stave off asthma and allergies in their children, a new study suggests.

The traditional Mediterranean diet is rich in plant-based foods -- vegetables, fruits, whole grain breads and cereals, legumes, and nuts -- as well as olive oil and fish. Adherents consume low to moderate amounts of dairy products and eggs, lesser amounts of white meat, and infrequently eat red meat.

Some studies have suggested that such eating patterns can lower children's odds of asthma symptoms and skin and nasal allergies. But it's unclear whether women can affect their children's future allergy risks by following a Mediterranean diet during pregnancy.

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Study Finds Diet During Pregnancy Determines Sex of Baby

We had to go to Londong (via India) for this one: London, April 23: It seems there's some truth in old wives' tales on baby gender, for a new study has revealed that to-be-mom's diet during pregnancy can actually influence her child's sex. A team of researchers from Oxford University and Exeter University has found that women can influence the sex of their child by what they eat around the time of conception, the Biological Sciences journal reported. Full Article