World Health Day 2025

Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures

In this hustle and bustle of life, what we neglect the most is our health. We do not realise its importance till it is compromised. We forget to invest in our healthcare and then get forced to spend a lot on sick-care management.

Prioritising our health is essential for personal well-being and societal progress. Health awareness days, such as World Health Day, highlight the importance of preventative care, early intervention, and the adoption of healthy lifestyles.

So, here is a reminder to take care of your health over and above everything.

Every year April 7 is observed and celebrated worldwide as an anniversary of the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO) back in 1948. Under the theme of "Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures", this year WHO focuses on a specific public health concern to create awareness across the globe, to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths, and to prioritise the long-term health and wellbeing of women.

Let's talk about the fundamental requirements during pregnancy for a healthy baby.

• Protein: Requirement of protein increases by 30% after the second trimester. Including low fat dairy products, pulses and legumes along with cereal protein makes it a high biological value (HBV) protein for the vegetarians. Including eggs, fish and lean chicken for non-vegetarians comprises a good source of protein.

• Minerals:  Calcium and iron are the two minerals, the need for which is urgent. Calcium requirement increases during the third trimester of the pregnancy. Low fat dairy products are the primary source of calcium and additionally from sesame seeds, ragi, green leafy vegetables, broccoli, okra, legumes and pulses, tofu, dried nuts and dried figs, and sardine fish and other seafood. Iron requirement increases from the second trimester onwards. For vegetarians, absorption is always an issue as compared to non-vegetarians. Hence, apart from food sources, the physician usually recommends intake of iron supplements to dietary sources to meet the daily iron requirements. Vegetarian females should increase the consumption of nuts and seeds, dates and prunes, dark leafy green vegetables, bajra millet, beans and lentil, chia seeds, and edamame.

• Vitamins: All the vitamins especially Vitamin A, B complex, C, and D's requirement increases throughout the pregnancy. The most crucial one is Folic Acid (B9). Folic acid supplements should be started as per the physician's recommendation before conception itself (while planning a pregnancy) to prevent neural tube defects (birth defects of brain and spinal cord), DNA synthesis, prevent anaemia, and for healthy foetal and placental growth. Green leafy vegetables, broccoli, asparagus, beetroot and beetroot greens, citrus fruits, eggs, avocado, pulses and legumes, whole grain cereals and fortified cereals, nuts and seeds are the common food sources and easily available in the market.

  Before I conclude, I would like to recommend checking thyroid hormone profile and blood glucose levels before and time-to-time after pregnancy is highly recommended as it affects a child's mental and physical development while in the womb itself.

  Remember, the future of the child and its health starts before conception. Shed extra weight before conception, eat healthy, exercise, drink plenty of fluids and sleep well. A happy and healthy mother produces stronger babies.