One In Ten Expecting Mothers Eat Organic Food, Survey Finds

journal BioMed Central Public Health, Norwegian community health, Survey

A study undertaken by Norwegian community health experts has found that a significant portion of pregnant women eat organic food, and that most were either below the age of 25 or over the age of 40.

Published in the journal BioMed Central Public Health, the survey indicates that approximately 10 percent of pregnant women eat organic food. These results were obtained after researchers questioned more than 65,000 women about their dietary habits.

The team found that pregnant women are most likely to eat organic vegetables – though fewer than 1 percent considered themselves vegetarians – and organic eggs.

Women who consumed organic food during gestation tended to have normal or low body weight, to exercise an average of three days a week, and to be either middle aged or below the age of 25.

Researchers pointed out that approximately 11 percent of organic consumers drank alcohol during pregnancy and 8 percent smoked. They added that these numbers indicate that eating organic food is "not unambiguously associated with what is perceived as a healthy lifestyle," meaning that eating organic food is an important way, but not the only way, to stay healthy when carrying a baby.

Currently, half of all U.S. shoppers buy organic foods, according to the Food Marketing Institute.
Source: http://www.betterhealthresearch.com/news/one-in-ten-expecting-mothers-eat-organic-food-survey-finds-2-800374840/