what are the benefits of prenatal vitamins when not pregnant

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What are the consequences of not taking prenatal vitamins?

What Happens If You Do Not Take Prenatal Vitamins? 1. Folic Acid Deficiency Folic acid, a type of vitamin B, can be found in leafy green vegetables. Deficiency of this... 2. Calcium Deficiency Baby's bones and muscles cannot develop properly without calcium. The lack of this mineral is... 3. Iron ...

Is it safe to take prenatel vitamins if your not pregnant?

You may be tempted to take prenatal vitamins because of unproven claims that they promote thicker hair and stronger nails. However, if you're not pregnant and not planning to become pregnant, high levels of certain nutrients over a long period of time may actually be more harmful than helpful.

Are prenatal vitamins harmful to you if are not pregnant?

Yes, she says, but there's a catch: The levels of certain nutrients in prenatal vitamins could also cause issues for someone who's not actually pregnant, including kidney stones and constipation.

Do pre natal vitamins cause weight gain if not pregnant?

There is no evidence that prenatal vitamins can cause weight gain when taken by non-pregnant women. While trying to get pregnant, prenatal pills may be recommended to make sure that your vitamin and mineral levels are sufficient to support a possible pregnancy.

What Are Prenatal Vitamins?

The vitamin aisle at your local pharmacy contains a huge assortment of vitamins for different genders and ages. Prenatal vitamins are specifically...

How Are Prenatal Vitamins Different from Traditional Multivitamins?

Lots of different prenatal vitamin types are available on the market. While there’s not a specific formulation for all prenatal vitamins, you’ll li...

When Should I Take Prenatal Vitamins?

Always talk with your doctor before starting to take prenatal vitamins. If you’re trying to conceive or are pregnant, your doctor will likely recom...

Can I Take Prenatal Vitamins If I Don’T Want to Get Pregnant?

Prenatal vitamins are specific to the needs of pregnant and breastfeeding women. They’re geared to make up the common nutritional deficiencies a pr...

Misconceptions About Prenatal Vitamins

Many women claim that prenatal vitamins affect hair and nail growth. Some claim that taking prenatal vitamins makes hair grow thicker or faster, an...

What are prenatal vitamins?

On the other hand, prenatal vitamins are specifically formulated to meet the needs of pregnant women. Pregnant women have unique nutritional needs in order to support a healthy pregnancy, so they require more nutrients than at other life stages. Prenatal vitamins include larger amounts of some vitamins and minerals, such as folate, calcium, ...

Why do women take prenatal vitamins?

Calcium prevents bone density loss. Women are at increased risk of experiencing a loss of bone density compared to men, and bone density loss is more likely to occur during pregnancy. Prenatal vitamins offer a higher amount of calcium in order to support the development of strong bones and teeth in a growing fetus, which means they can also be helpful for women who are not pregnant but want to support strong bones and bone density. A developing baby will leach calcium from its mother if it does not receive an adequate supply, so women who aren’t pregnant but could become pregnant in the future can benefit from taking prenatal vitamins when they are not pregnant because the vitamins can help prevent a calcium deficiency.

What are the effects of vitamin B12 on pregnancy?

Vitamin B-12: Inadequate levels of vitamin B-12 can cause women to give birth prematurely, contribute to low birth weights , and contribute to the development of congenital birth defects. Prenatal vitamins should contain at least 6 mcg of vitamin B12 for women who receive vitamin B-12 through their diets. Women who adhere to a plant-based diet or are deficient in vitamin B-12 may need to increase the amount of vitamin B12 they consume during pregnancy.

What is the difference between prenatal and multivitamins?

If you’re interested in taking a dietary supplement but are not sure about the difference between multivitamins and prenatal vitamins, you may be unaware of how prenatal vitamins can benefit women regardless of whether or not they are currently pregnant. Multivitamins are designed to meet the needs of the average adult, and some are specially formulated to meet the needs of the average male or average female specifically. These vitamins are formulated based on the daily recommended intake for adults in general. On the other hand, prenatal vitamins are specifically formulated to meet the needs of pregnant women. Pregnant women have unique nutritional needs in order to support a healthy pregnancy, so they require more nutrients than at other life stages. Prenatal vitamins include larger amounts of some vitamins and minerals, such as folate, calcium, and iron, and exclude other vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin A, from their formulas entirely based on the specific requirements of pregnant women. However, just because prenatal vitamins are marketed for use during pregnancy doesn’t mean they can’t be useful when you’re not pregnant.

Why do babies need calcium?

Calcium: Growing babies need calcium in order to develop strong bones and teeth. In fact, this nutrient is so essential that a fetus will leach calcium from its mother in order to meet its own needs for the mineral. Therefore, pregnant women need to have an adequate supply of calcium in order to avoid compromising their own bone density. Look for a prenatal vitamin that contains at least 150 mcg of calcium to supplement the amount that you receive from your daily diet.

How much vitamin D is needed for a baby?

A good prenatal vitamin should contain at least 600 IU, or 15 mcg, of vitamin D in order to ensure that you and your baby are receiving an adequate amount of this vitamin.

Can you get pregnant with prenatal vitamins?

You can get pregnant at any time. The most critical reason to take prenatal vitamins when you’re not pregnant is because if you are in your childbearing years and are able to conceive, you can theoretically get pregnant at any time, even when taking birth control. After all, the only form of birth control that is 100 percent effective besides abstinence is a hysterectomy, which means there is always a chance of pregnancy. Most women do not find out they are pregnant until at least four weeks into the pregnancy, at which point the baby’s development would already have been impacted by any nutritional deficiencies.

What vitamins are best for pregnant women?

Prenatal vitamins are formulated specifically for women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, and women who are breast-feeding, with particular emphasis on: Folic acid.

How much calcium is in prenatal vitamins?

Because prenatal vitamins are intended to supplement calcium you get in your diet, they generally contain only 200 to 300 mg of calcium. If you rely on prenatal vitamins to meet your calcium needs, you likely won't get enough, raising your risk of osteoporosis and other health problems.

Do you need to take multivitamins if you are healthy?

Generally, if you eat a healthy, balanced diet, taking multivitamins of any sort isn't necessary.

Can you take prenatal vitamins while pregnant?

You may be tempted to take prenatal vitamins because of unproven claims that they promote thicker hair and stronger nails. However, if you're not pregnant and not planning to become pregnant, high levels of certain nutrients over a long period of time may actually be more harmful than helpful. Prenatal vitamins are formulated specifically ...

What are the benefits of prenatal vitamins?

The extra amounts of iron and other nutrients contained in prenatal vitamins, as compared with standard vitamin supplements, aid in preventing fatigue during menstruation as well as reducing the risk of potential anemia. The higher amounts of calcium found in prenatal vitamins also help women in preventing conditions such as osteoporosis.

Why are prenatal vitamins important?

Small sized prenatal vitamins are beneficial to pregnant women because they contain higher amounts of iron, folic acid, and calcium when compared to regular vitamin supplements. Taking prenatal vitamins while not pregnant can allow you all the same nutrients and more.

Why do doctors prescribe prenatal vitamins?

Doctors will typically prescribe small prenatal vitamins to pregnant women in order to ensure that she is receiving the proper amount of vitamins and nutrients to keep her and her baby healthy throughout the pregnancy.

Does iron depletion affect menstrual cycle?

Iron depletion, especially for those with dietary restrictions or during a menstrual cycle, can be aided by taking prenatal vitamins and thus resulting in increasing a woman’s mental energy and physical strength.

Do prenatal vitamins help with pregnancy?

In these cases, small sized prenatal vitamins will ensure sufficient amounts of vitamins and minerals for a woman regardless of whether she is pregnant or not. It is an unfortunate fact that most women do not take in the sufficient amount of minerals and nutrients their body needs to properly function. Women who are not pregnant can benefit in ...

Why is it important to consider the amount of vitamins in prenatals?

Because if it doesn't, the extra doses of nutrients could actually do more harm than good.

Is prenatal vitamin good for pregnancy?

2 Pro: You can prepare your body for pregnancy. “If you’re planning on having children any time in the future, even in the next 5-10 years, there’s a benefit to taking prenatal vitamins," Ryann Kipping, RDN, CLEC, and owner/founder of The Prenatal Nutritionist, tells Woman's Day.

Can you take folate with no B12?

Note that the odds of this are relatively rare, and this would only affect an individual who was B12 deficient and taking a prenatal vitamin with no B12 but with high amounts of folate.

Is it good to take prenatal vitamins?

If you’re breastfeeding or currently trying to get pregnant, taking a prenatal vitamin is a good idea. Otherwise, there isn’t much of an added benefit to justify the change in your vitamin regimen. They won’t make your hair ready for a Pantene Pro-V commercial, and outside of pregnancy the doses of nutrients are higher than what’s necessary and what your body is able to utilize.

Do prenatal vitamins help with hair growth?

If you’re taking prenatal vitamins to boost hair growth, you’re likely going to be disappointed. "While prenatal vitamins get a lot of credit for a woman's thick pregnancy hair, these changes are actually due to hormonal differences that cause hair and nails to grow faster and make hair less likely to fall out," Megan Casper, M.S., RDN, owner of Megan Casper Nutrition and writer for Nourished Bite, tells Woman's Day. "This is also why, once hormones start to go back to normal, women tend to shed their glorious pregnancy mane a few months after having their baby, even though many women continue to take prenatals while nursing."

Can you swallow prenatal vitamins?

Some prenatal vitamins are very large, and certain people may have issues swallowing them , Sekhon says. “ It’s undue discomfort since they could probably just be taking a smaller, normal multivitamin," she adds. "Some people also complain about constipation due to higher levels of iron than what’s needed.”.

How much lower risk of autism is there for prenatal vitamins?

A recent study published in the journal Epidemiology revealed a 60 % lower risk of autism in children born to mothers who took prenatal vitamins during the three months prior to conception and continued into pregnancy, versus those born to mothers who did not. For more information on this study, go to WebMD at http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/news/20110601/prenatal-vitamins-may-lower-autism-risk.

Can you take folic acid before pregnancy?

It has been known for some time that adequate intake of folic acid by a mother before conception and into pregna ncy can prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida and meningomyelocoele. Folic acid is a prominent component of all prenatal vitamins. The March of Dimes recommends that mothers “take folic acid before you’re pregnant.” You can see their full discussion of this at http://www.marchofdimes.com/pregnancy/folicacid_before.html.

Is prenatal vitamin a multivitamin?

Prenatal vitamins are among the best multivitamin formulas available. Also, there is nothing really gender specific about them. More than a few male Obstetricians who recognize the quality of their favorite prenatal vitamins take them as their own multivitamin supplement.

What is the best supplement for a baby?

Omega-3 fatty acids, a type of fat found naturally in many kinds of fish, help promote a baby's brain development. If you don't eat fish or other foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, your health care provider might recommend omega-3 fatty acid supplements in addition to prenatal vitamins.

What is the role of iron in the development of the placenta?

Iron supports the development of the placenta and fetus. Iron helps your body make blood to supply oxygen to the fetus. Iron also helps prevent anemia, a condition in which blood has a low number of healthy red blood cells.

What is the best way to get vitamins and minerals?

A healthy diet is the best way to get the vitamins and minerals you need. But during pregnancy you might fall short on key nutrients. If you're pregnant or hoping to conceive, prenatal vitamins can help fill any gaps.

Why do we need folic acid?

Here's why: Folic acid helps prevent neural tube defects. These defects are serious abnormalities of the fetal brain and spinal cord. Ideally, you'll begin taking extra folic acid at least 3 months before you become pregnant. Iron supports the development of the placenta and fetus. Iron helps your body make blood to supply oxygen to the fetus.

Can you take extra vitamins while pregnant?

But in general, avoid taking extra prenatal vitamins or multivitamins with dosing in excess of what you need on a daily basis. High doses of some vitamins may be harmful to your baby. For example, extra vitamin A during pregnancy can potentially cause harm to your baby.

Side Effects Of Prenatal Vitamins When Not Pregnant

Suppose you are using prenatal vitamins to boost nails and hair growth. In that case, you will likely be greatly disappointed as the opposite of your expectations might be the result you get due to the difference in hormones, such as hair falling out, skin shed, etc.

More On Prenatal Vitamins

Prenatal vitamins or other vitamins may consist of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin b12, and docosahexaenoic acid with some other compounds. It is advised to see the OB/GYN to help prescribe the exact vitamins that are great for you.