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Nutritional Requirements for the Pregnant Exerciser and Athlete

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Exercise and Sporting Activity During Pregnancy

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to identify special groups of pregnant exercisers and pregnant athletes such as (1) athletes practicing aesthetic sports, weight competing sports, and sports of long duration, (2) pregnant exerciser women who restrict or prohibit certain dietary practices or the consumption of important sources of energy and nutrients, (3) adolescent pregnant exercisers, and (4) other pregnant exerciser women in high-risk categories. In addition, risk factors as eating disorders or low energy availability related to their energy and nutritional requirements are also included. Micronutrients’ needs increase much more than for macronutrients. Even prior to conception, an increased average intake of folate, iodine, and iron is recommended. However, only in the beginning of the second trimester, a marked increase in vitamins and minerals is observed. A pregnant exerciser or athlete who continues to train during pregnancy may have total energy expenditure quite high; this will depend on the type, intensity, frequency, and duration of the activities performed. Therefore, dietary intakes before, during, and after physical exercise are crucial for the maintenance of adequate energy availability. In addition, some unhealthy behaviors such as the consumption of alcohol, smoking, caffeine, and/or non-nutritive sweeteners and the lack of sleep should be avoided.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Health Sciences, University Fernando Pessoa, Porto, Portugal

    Maria-Raquel G. Silva

  2. Research Centre for Anthropology and Health, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Maria-Raquel G. Silva

  3. Tu Gestor de Salud for Nutrition and Sport, Madrid, Spain

    Belén Rodriguez Doñate & Karen Nathaly Che Carballo

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  1. Maria-Raquel G. Silva
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  2. Belén Rodriguez Doñate
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  3. Karen Nathaly Che Carballo
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Correspondence to Maria-Raquel G. Silva .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Sport Sciences School of Rio Maior, Polytechnic Institute of Santarém, Rio Maior, Portugal

    Rita Santos-Rocha

  2. Laboratory of Biomechanics and Functional Morphology, Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Human Performance, Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, Cruz Quebrada-Dafundo, Portugal

    Rita Santos-Rocha

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Silva, MR.G., Doñate, B.R., Carballo, K.N.C. (2019). Nutritional Requirements for the Pregnant Exerciser and Athlete. In: Santos-Rocha, R. (eds) Exercise and Sporting Activity During Pregnancy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-91032-1_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-91032-1_11

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