What you consume becomes very important during your pregnancy. Since what you eat can have an impact on the little life growing inside of you it is even more important to make sure what you eat is healthy and safe.  During pregnancy it is recommended that women eat a balanced diet high in fiber rich foods, plenty of fruits and vegetables, lots of calcium, plenty of protein and lots of water.  That being said, there are also fairly strict recommendationsg regarding healthy weight gain during pregnancy.  To help avoid putting on more weight than they should many women turn to artificial sweetners to help keep their sugar intake down.  But are they safe?

Due to a lack in research into the effects of the artificial sweetners, aspartame (marketed as Nutrasweet and Equal) and saccharin , on a developing fetus most doctors recommend that you avoid these artificial sweetners during pregnancy if you can or at the very least limit how much you consume.  The other common artificial sweetner, sucralose, marketed under the brand name Splenda, is at this time considered safe for consumption during pregnancy.

For the most part natural foods such as unprocessed meats, diary, fresh fruits and vegetables, natural sweetners like sugar and honey, and whole grain breads and cereals are your best bets for a safe, healthy pregnancy diet. If you are concerned about any of the foods you are eating, or have questions about what is safe to eat during pregnancy and what is not, talk to your doctor or midwife.  If you are worried that you are not eating healthy enough consider asking your doctor for a referral to a nutritionist for a consultation on healthy pregnancy eating habits.