Natural Remedies for
Preeclampsia in Pregnancy

Foods, vitamins and tonics for preventing preeclampsia

Ideally, you should begin with a highly nutritious preconception and pregnancy diet several months or more prior to conception. The earlier the better! Because although the symptoms of preeclampsia don't show up until later in pregnancy, the syndrome is thought to begin in the first trimester with the implantation of the placenta.

Here's what you should be sure to include in your balanced pregnancy diet to prevent preeclampsia in pregnancy:

• Plenty of fish and good fats: One theory of what causes preeclampsia points to the burden of building the large human brain, which is 60% fat. Don't be afraid to load up on low mercury fish and traditional fats like real butter, coconut oil, olive oil and small amounts of minimally processed seed oils like flax, sesame and sunflower.
• Eat at least 75 grams of protein daily: According to the Brewer diet, this is the most important thing you can do to prevent preeclampsia in pregnancy.
• Salt your food to taste: This is another main component of the Brewer pregnancy diet. While swelling can be caused by too much salt, it can also result from inadequate salt intake. If you are eating a whole foods diet, the latter is more likely and you should be sure salt your food to taste with a natural salt source. (I recommend Celtic sea salt.)
• Get your vitamin D: A new study has shown vitamin D deficiency to be a risk factor in developing preeclampsia in pregnancy. Most Americans have less than optimal levels of vitamin D and it may be helpful to get a vitamin D test to check your levels.

  I recommend getting your vitamin D two ways:

  • Sunlight and vitamin D daily: Build up to getting at least 20 minutes of full-body midday sun without sunscreen or sunglasses.
  • Fermented cod liver oil and butter oil blend: These two superfoods work synergistically for optimal assimilation and absorption of nutrients. In addition to vitamin D, these supplements provide natural vitamin A, brain building fatty acids EPA and DHA, and other important nutrients.

• Proper balance and amount of calcium and magnesium: Calcium during pregnancy is important, however there are mixed findings on the benefit of using supplements. Therefore, I suggest getting your calcium from foods like dairy, canned salmon w/ bones, bone broths and leafy greens.

  Magnesium, however, is very safe to supplement especially when applied to the skin by soaking in an epsom salt bath or rubbing magnesium oil into it. Natural Calm is an easily absorbed supplement taken orally. Magnesium also happens to be highly beneficial for other complaints like pregnancy leg cramps and headaches.

• Eat at least 2400 calories per day: The energy and nutrient demands of pregnancy can only be met by consuming enough nutrient-dense, quality calories. Not meeting those needs consistently may lead to preeclampsia in pregnancy.
• Drink herbal tea for pregnancy daily: Whether you make your own or purchase a pregnancy tea blend, it should include red raspberry leaf, nettle leaf and dandelion leaves to supply minerals and other nutrients to support your pregnancy.
• Stay well-hydrated: Drink according to thirst, aiming for 2-4 quarts of water, herbal teas and juices. I recommend beginning the day with the juice of 1/2 lemon added to one cup of warm water. Follow this with 2-3 more cups of pure water over the next hour. The rest of the day sip from one quart of water and one quart of your pregnancy tea infusion. Limit juices to small amounts of fresh squeezed/juiced or diluted with naturally carbonated water for a spritzer.

Keep in mind, time is of the essence with this dangerous complication, so being closely monitored by your care provider and implementing these recommendations as quickly and as fully as you can are essential to optimizing your outcome.

• Consume potassium-rich foods such as potassium broth, potato peels and bananas.
• Consume up to 4 ounces daily of raw beet juice and/or incorporate raw, grated beet salad into your meals.
• Take B vitamin supplements. Wise Woman Herbal recommends 100 mg of vitamin B6 daily plus a high potency B-complex.
• Supplement with seaweed- Spirulina or Chlorella- up to 3 TB per day.
• Drink Dandelion leaf tea and/or eat dandelion greens daily.

Learn about Causes of Preeclampsia

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