Page 41 - April Issue
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on the way
a sickness in the pathological Cornell biologists, women with No Morning Sickness mother, baby & child April 2011
sense. We should change the morning sickness are shielding
name to ‘wellness insurance’. the developing unborn from Moreover, the Cornell biologists
Flaxman, a Cornell biology the harsh chemicals by vomiting emphasise that their findings
graduate student, says the and by learning to avoid certain on the usefulness of morning
analysis of hundreds of studies foods altogether until the fetus sickness should not alarm
covering tens of thousands develops beyond the most women without NVP. “The lack
of pregnancies suggests that susceptible stage. of NVP symptoms does not
morning sickness and the portend pregnancy failure any
aversion to potentially harmful “Our study, which tested more than experiencing NVP
foods is the body’s way of theories and predictions about guarantees that the pregnancy
preserving wellness of the the nature of parent-offspring will have a positive outcome.”
mother at a time when her conflict in human pregnancy, Instead, the Cornell biologists
immune system is naturally shows that nausea and vomiting say, pregnant women and
suppressed (to prevent rejection in pregnancy is beneficial their physicians should derive
of the child that is developing by expelling such foods as a two-part message from the
in her uterus) and has reduced meat and strong-tasting large-scale study of pregnancy
defenses against food-borne vegetables that historically outcomes: First, attempting
pathogens. and still may contain harmful to alleviate the symptoms of
toxins and microorganisms “normal” (not severe) NVP
By creating food aversion, that could potentially sicken probably will not improve the
NVP also protects against the woman and damage her outcome of a pregnancy -- and
toxins and from microorganisms fetus just when its organs could have the opposite effect
and other teratogenic (fetal are developing and are most if treatment interferes with
organ-deforming) chemicals, vulnerable to chemicals,” said the expulsion or avoidance of
Sherman says. “At that same Sherman, who is an expert in potentially dangerous foods.
time, in the first trimester of Darwinian medicine -- viewing Then, encouraging women to
pregnancy, the cells of the tiny diseases from an evolutionary eat foods they dislike during
embryo are differentiating and perspective. pregnancy also will not improve
starting to form structures. the pregnancy outcome, and
Those developing structures “(Morning sickness) could increase the embryo’s
and organ systems -- such as doesn’t occur just exposure to pathogens and
arms and legs, eyes and the harmful chemicals and the
central nervous system -- at this in the morning, nausea and vomiting declines
critical stage of a new life could but at any time after 18 weeks of pregnancy,
be adversely affected by the during the waking as the foetus becomes less
teratogenic phytochemicals in hours, and i’ts vulnerable to the effects of
some food plants,” Sherman not a sickness in chemical disruptions. Women
says. These chemicals are the pathological with the most severe morning
secondary compounds sense. We should sickness have lower rates of
that plants make to defend change the name spontaneous abortion than
themselves against disease and other pregnant women. Only
insects. to wellness human beings experience
insurance.” morning sickness, as far as is
Although phytochemicals known, because, the researchers
have no known nutritive suggest, of their “extraordinary
function for humans, most broad diet,” compared with
people tolerate their presence other primates and mammals.
in food. (Small amounts of “We are not suggesting that
these chemicals might even pregnant women cut meat and
be beneficial because of their vegetables out of their diets,”
antioxidant properties and says Sherman. “In other words,
trace elements.) But during listen to your body.”
pregnancy, according to the
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