To be born and later born babies healthy, prospective mothers must eat food health advocates in the pregnancy such as seaweed. When talking about the seaweed, which meant the brown type of algae and red algae. Brown algae that live in cold waters, whereas red algae in the tropics. So far, more seaweed known for fabric gelatin or pudding. Nutritional composition of seaweed is very complete, very suitable for pregnant and lactating mothers.Food technologists from IPB, the book Prof.Dr.Made Gynecology Astawan Aneka Food Nutrition, said the nutritional composition of seaweed varies depending on the species, which grows, and the season.
The main content of the fresh seaweed is the water that reaches 80-90 percent, while the levels of protein and very little fat. Although low levels of fat, the fatty acid composition is very important for health.
Fat-rich seaweed omega-3 and omega-6. Both these fatty acids are fats that are important to the body, primarily as a membrane-forming brain tissue, nerve, retina, blood plasma, and reproductive organs.
Calories in seaweed is very low. Of the total carbohydrates, less than a quarter that can be absorbed by the body. Therefore seaweed and agar-agar is very good for those who want to lose weight.
Seaweed is also known to be very rich in iodine element. Iodine content of seaweed around 2400 to 155,000 times more than the iodine content of vegetables grown on the mainland.
Lack of iodine will cause various health problems, especially the incidence of goiter (enlarged thyroid gland). Iodine deficiency during pregnancy can result in fetal defects, the child becomes mute and deaf, the brain is less developed, small, stunted growth and mental retardation.
To prevent problems due to iodine deficiency, the recommended consumption of iodine is 150 micrograms for adults, 175 micrograms for pregnant women, and 200 micrograms for breastfeeding women.