An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
We pretty much all know this saying. But have you ever really thought about it or what it means? While the saying may be old and almost a cliche, it’s words are very true. It is easier to prevent something from happening in the first place then it is to fix it once it has happened.
In some cases, stretch marks may be preventable. If you read my article on causes of stretch marks, you’ll know that stretch marks can happen for many reasons including puberty, quick weight loss/gain and other medical reasons. Most often in these cases since you’re not aware that you may get stretch marks they are typically unavoidable.
But stretch marks from pregnancy are different. Not that the stretch marks are any different, just that you are forewarned that your body is going to change at a rapid rate and it is something you can expect to happen. Because of this, you can take steps to prevent or at the very least minimize the stretch marks.
Top Five Ways to Prevent Stretch Marks
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DietEspecially when pregnant, modifying your diet can do you a world of good. Not only for yourself and your baby, but your Eat foods containing:
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Apply a natural skin creamEating foods that are healthy for you and your skin is one part of the equation. It’s a good idea to get at the |
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HydrateThis is something we should all be doing anyways. Maintaining good hydration in the body is important for so many aspects of our well being but probably one of the largest is to replenish moisture in our skin. Skin is the largest organ we have and also one of the thirstiest. Several studies in recent times have shown that the old adage of drinking eight glasses of water a day wasn’t necessary. Like so many other studies in the past that have been published and later found to be wrong, I personally choose to believe in staying hydrated with at least 8 glasses of water or alternatives per day. Besides, drinking water is not harmful in anyway and is zero calories. Hydration is even more important during pregnancy especially. That little wonder growing inside you is taking a ton of resources out of your body. There are lots of people that don’t like to drink a lot of water and would find it hard to drink up to 8 glasses per day. Here are some suggestions to stay hydrated without having to drink all that water:
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ExerciseI know, I know. A lot of times during pregnancy the last thing you want to think about is exercise. But you know and I know that exercise is important for all of us and during a pregnancy even more so. A healthy mother is a healthy baby. Here are some ideas for some low impact exercises you can do during pregnancy.
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GelatinYou may not have realized it, but gelatin is a great method of preventing stretch marks. As you learnt reading the causes of stretch marks, the primary chemical required to maintain skin elasticity is collagen. Gelatin is rich in collagen and is highly recommended part of your diet, especially during pregnancy. Using gelatins such as this in every day foods such as soups, gravies, sauces, etc. is an excellent way to increase your gelatin intake. You can use gelatin to make jellies or other sweets as well. Do a quick internet search for recipes using gelatin and you will see that there are hundreds if not thousands of ways you can use gelatin in your everyday meals. There are even gelatins like this one that you can add to your drink and it will not gel up. |
If you follow all five of the steps above, you are on the road to eliminating or at least reducing greatly your stretch marks during pregnancy. While everyone is different and there is no guarantee you will be free of stretch marks, these steps will undoubtedly help a lot. Do the best you can and feel good about yourself and be happy that you are trying. That is all you can ask of yourself and no matter what, you will feel better. Best of luck, I really mean it!