Folate's Long Lost Cousin: Choline

Choline falls into the B family of vitamins, though it doesn't have a "b" name like b12, b9, etc. More about choline: Choline in mom: builds cell membranes supports nerve function DNA synthesis cell messaging fat transport and  metabolism in mom Choline for baby Builds the nervous system,  Brain development, especially the hippocampus and memory health Placental health Positively impact life-long gene expression.   Choline works in tandem with omega-3 fat, DHA and enhances how DHA is incorporated into the cells.  Choline rich foods tend to also be high in DHA   Risks of not enough choline: 94% of pregnany women in the USA do not consume enough choline. Deficiencies are clearly linked to neural tube defects & cleft palate. Optimal choline levels are linked to prevention of preeclampsia Our bodies do not produce enough choline for essential functions, therefore we must get it through diet (or supplementation if Vegan). Recommendations: Current research shows the amount of choline consumed in pregnancy should be closer to 930 mg per day. For women with MTHFR gene mutation, choline needs to be substantially higher than 450 mg.     Foods Rich in Choline: visit the page for episode 14   The standard recommendations do not lead to pregnancy, birth, infant or life-long health.     This is why I offer prenatal nutrition inside of Sage Motherhood Mentorship.  I'm shortening the learning curve of a whole foods approach to health and offering specific information for pregnancy and lactation.     You deserve the best and so does your little one.   You won't get it from the standard of care.    Check out The Road Not Taken: my masterclass on taking a different approach to birth, and why it's an uphill battle to get a natural birth in the hospital.  Links The Road Not Taken Pregnancy Nutrition in Sage Motherhood Mentorship Real Food for Pregnancy * Real Food for Gestational Diabetes * Real Food for Pregnancy, by Lily Nichols National Institutes for Health * I am an Amazon Associate and may earn a commission on products you purchase through this link at no additional cost to you.  Thank you for supporting my small business.