That's Fit

For the moms-to-be out there who are trying to include more folic acid in their diet, the March of Dimes recently created a seal to help finding foods rich in this B vitamin that much easier to spot.

Breads, flours, cereals and other foods must contain at least ten percent of the recommended daily intake of folic acid in order to be given the official Folic Acid for a Healthy Pregnancy seal. The seal itself is quite easy to notice; it's purple and white color scheme make it very different from the labels found on most food packaging.

In addition to helping to ensure a healthy pregnancy, consuming the recommended amount of folic acid can also help ward off stroke, heart attack, anemia, and certain types of cancers.

Every year, the March of Dimes holds a 5 to 6 mile walk to raise money for their organization. This year, though, they're changing the name of the event to draw awareness to what they do. Walk America, as it used to be called, is now the March for Babies.

Most people recognize the March of Dimes, but believe that the organization only exists to support families of babies born prematurely or with health problems. But the March of Dimes wants us all to know that money donated to the non-profit organization goes towards programs that support the healthy birth and development of all babies. They've even launched a new, attractive website called March of Dimes Baby where expectant parents can find the answers to their most pressing questions.

Because walking or running in several charity events was one of my goals for this year, I've already signed up for March for Babies in my area. If you're interested in participating, here's the link.

Caffeine during pregnancy or not? A controversial issue for certain. I've had friends give up the caffeine buzz entirely when pregnant, while another had her obstetrician's approval to have a modest amount of caffeine daily. Existing studies have not been conclusive on the caffeine debate, but a new study publishing on Monday indicates pregnant women and those trying to conceive may want to give it up.

The study found nearly double the risk of miscarriage for women consuming 200 milligrams or more caffeine per day -- the amount in a 10 ounce cup of coffee or a larger 25 oz mug of tea. Researchers interviewed 1,063 pregnant women. Of 264 women who self-reported no caffeine, 12.5 percent miscarried (typical rate), while 24.5 percent of the 164 women who consumed 200 milligrams or more suffered a miscarriage.

March of Dimes is reportedly changing it's official message to advise pregnant women or those trying to conceive to limit daily caffeine to 200 milligrams or less. Whether or not this study impacts official recommendations from other professional groups, such as the American College of Obsetricians and Gynecologists, remains to be seen.