More Fruit Means Healthy Babies [Opinion]
July 6, 2012 
Recently I caught a couple things in the news that reminded me why people should feel really good to be in the fruit business. With all the negative news that seems to be swirling around — whether because of the state of the economy or the fact that it’s an election year or, more likely, both — it’s a good time to accentuate the positive.
First, there was a new posting on the Alliance for Food and Farming’s blog by guest bloggers Dr. Richard Reiss and Dr. John DeSesso highlighting scientific research showing the benefits of eating a diet rich in fruits and veggies during pregnancy. This was of interest to me because there are two close friends of my family expecting, though any reason for anyone to consume more fruit is a good thing.
The good doctors report that maternal nutrition during pregnancy has long been known to be important for fetal growth and healthy offspring. In contrast, lower birth weights are associated with higher neonatal mortality, risks for cognitive or neurological impairments, and risks for chronic diseases later in life. Fortunately, simply improving one’s diet during pregnancy can improve birth weights and is associated with reduced risk for numerous negative health effects.
Specifically, several large studies have found significant associations between maternal fruit and/or vegetable consumption and healthy birth weights and other infant measures such as increased birth length and head circumference. The largest study included 43,585 pregnant women in Denmark. The women who ate the most fruit and vegetables had babies that were, on average, 51 grams heavier at birth, compared to the group with the least fruit and vegetable consumption.
Even more specifically, the doctors write that the good news doesn’t stop with healthy birth weights. Numerous studies have also associated fruit and/or vegetable consumption during pregnancy with other positive outcomes, including reduced incidences in offspring of such problems as leukemia and brain tumors.
Additionally, the doctors report that a Mediterranean diet or generally health conscious diet during pregnancy, both of which include significant fruit and vegetable consumption, has been associated with reduced risk for high blood pressure during pregnancy, reduced incidence of postpartum depression, and a reduced risk in offspring for spina bifida.
Be sure to share this news with that woman with a special glow you may know. I know I will; the world needs more healthy babies.
The Sincerest Form of Flattery
Anyone who produces food that makes new moms and their babies healthy is someone to be admired. It wasn’t a huge surprise then to see a news story from The Associated Press noting that many current state legislators running for election here in California this year were not exactly forthcoming about their status on the recent primary ballots. What was interesting was that instead of “assembly member” or “senator,” the occupation of choice is “small business owner” or “farmer.”
An assemblyman running for state senator who grows grapes near Modesto, Bill Berryhill, has taken that route. “It’s not something I’m proud of, being a California legislator these days, quite frankly,” he told the AP in explaining that below his name the only occupation listed is “farmer.”
“The voters are frustrated with our inaction and our inability to work together up here in Sacramento,” said Berryhill, whose father, Clare Berryhill, served as director of the California Department of Food and Agriculture. “We’re not held in very high esteem, whereas farmers, people trust. Legislators, they don’t have much trust for, and understandably so.”
Amen to that.
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