Evidence-Based Prenatal Nutrition | Lily Nichols | Metabolic Link Ep. 25

This week's episode of The Metabolic Link features an eye-opening discussion between Metabolic Health Summit organizer Victoria Field and prenatal nutrition expert Lily Nichols, RDN, CDE. Lily is the author of two bestselling books - Real Food for Pregnancy and Real Food for Gestational Diabetes. Her work focuses on evidence-based, critical analysis of conventional pregnancy nutrition recommendations.
In this episode, we cover:
-Evaluating macronutrient needs in pregnancy, including research suggesting carbohydrate intake recommendations may be set too high, and protein intake targets too low
-The use of nutritional ketosis in pregnancy
-The latest research on preventing gestational diabetes and preeclampsia through diet
-How to eat for a healthy postpartum recovery - it's about way more than breastfeeding!
-The fascinating science of how prenatal nutrition impacts gene expression in babies
-Lily shares paradigm-shifting insights from her clinical experience and extensive research. Her balanced approach debunks outdated advice while offering practical solutions. Expect an illuminating conversation that will change how you think about nourishing yourself and your future baby!
Don't miss Lily's talk at the Metabolic Health Summit 2024 in Clearwater Beach, Florida! Register now before spots sell out at metabolichealthsummit.com.
In every episode of The Metabolic Link, we'll uncover the very latest research on metabolic health and therapy. If you like this episode, please share it, subscribe, follow, and leave us a comment or review on whichever platform you use to tune in!
You can find us on all your major podcast players here and full episodes are also on
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Google: podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1ULC...
Amazon Music: music.amazon.com/podcasts/78f...
Buzzsprout: www.buzzsprout.com/2103269/13...
Thanks for listening! Follow us on social media @metabolichealthsummit for the latest science on metabolic health and therapy. Please keep in mind: The Metabolic Link does not provide medical or health advice, but rather general information that does not serve as a substitute for a licensed healthcare professional. Never delay in seeking medical advice from an appropriately licensed medical provider for any health condition that you may have.

[@healthyandwellinformed]

Having now read several books referencing ADHD, Autism etc on the increase, and the proven links to prenatal malnutrition and moms consumption of highly processed foods and excess carbohydrates...this is essential information that all moms to be should at least be made aware of. Thanks to Lily Nichols...another book will soon be in my library. Thank you both for an enlightening interview! I will share.

[@groworforage342]

I eat a lowish carb (not keto) diet, definitely sub 150g and failed my 1hr test. My OB wasn't worried when I wanted to do blood sugar testing instead of the 3hr test because she said I passed the first trimester a1c screening, she thought I would pass the 3hr. Low and behold I was spiking regularly if I ate ANYTHING with grains or starch even at low levels of intake and had ever increasing fasting blood sugars but not until after 30 weeks. In hindsight I had late onset GD in my first pregnancy which seems obvious now w/ my 2 week early 9.5lb baby w/ all the measurement red flags of GD. I was following a low carb diet then too and trying to hit 120g of protein a day and limiting to one processed "carb" serving like toast or small amount of pasta per day. Of course now that I'm dx my GD counselor pushed 175g carb low fat diet which I tried for a couple of weeks (with terrible results) before finding Lily's book and interviews. I've gone back to my old low carb way of eating plus very careful restriction of grains and starch (which normally I eat fair amount of winter squash) and I still need overnight insulin for fasting blood sugars but my daily sugars are great. I also feel WAY better than I did in my first pregnancy with so much less swelling and no blood pressure issues still going late into the 3rd trimester. I think it's important for people to know you CAN get GD if you eat low carb and that late onset GD is not that uncommon but almost always missed. Considering the availability of CGM it seems silly we don't have a better way of screening considering how negative the outcomes for uncontrolled sugars can be.

[@marielaleon2041]

Do we take prenatal vitamins plus keto diet?

[@bert_buikema]

I don't think ketosis is a 'backup mechanism'. I think ketosis is our normal and preferred state of metabolism, and we drop out of ketosis when we overload our bodies with carbohydrates because elevated glucose levels are toxic and that's why our bodies will burn the surplus glucose or convert it into fat with priority. As a side note, it has been established that the placenta can produce ketones for the fetus. Why would it do that if it would not be essential for fetal development?

[@PalinaZ]

Right! If carbohydrates were our first choice, we wouldn't have to cultivate plants and breed them for thousands of years to make them edible. We wouldn't have to import plants to us from all over the world in order to have a year-round supply of carbohydrates.