Every woman dreads stretch marks, and yet they’re told there’s nothing they can do to prevent them. Stretch marks are genetic, you either get them or you don’t. However, this situation is not totally hopeless and there are some things you can do for how to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy.
How to Prevent Stretch Marks during Pregnancy: Changing Your Diet
Common ingredients and products around the home can be used as an effective method to prevent stretch marks while pregnant. These safe and effective products will not only help to prevent stretch marks from occurring but they will also work to moisturize the skin while treating other skin issues such as blemishes, fine lines, sunburns and age spots.
An increase in collagen production is essential for the improvement of skin elasticity. In order to increase the skin’s collagen production you can eat gelatin. Eat gelatin two to three times a day in order to promote collagen formation. Gelatin will not only work for improving the skin’s elasticity but it also has a number of other health benefits such as the ability to fight free radicals, improve insulin sensitivity and digestive health and it can reduce intestinal inflammation and joint pain.
Bone broth can also be helpful for improving skin elasticity. You can use bone broth to make sauces, soups and gravies. Use bone broth to cook your rice, giving it added flavor. You can also use gelatin powder.
Keeping your body well hydrated during pregnancy is important, not only for your health and the wellbeing of your growing baby, but it will also ensure that your skin remains more flexible. Try to consume at least eight to twelve glasses of water daily.
Coconut oil is commonly used to treat stretch marks. Coconut oil is full of saturated fatty acids. This oil can be applied directly to the affected areas or it can also be consumed and used as a substitute for other types of cooking oils.
How Vitamin C and Zinc can Work to Prevent Stretch Marks
The body uses vitamin C to form cartilage and collagen. Vitamin C is also very effective in minimizing damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals will consume elastin and collagen. It’s best to get vitamin C from natural food sources instead of taking it in supplement form. Foods that are high in vitamin C include broccoli, citrus fruits, parsley greens, and kale, guava and green and red bell peppers.
A zinc deficiency is one of the main reasons a person is at risk for acquiring stretch marks. Zinc is a natural trace mineral and is considered one of the most abundant minerals that can be found in the body. Zinc is also responsible for collagen production.
These home treatments are not guaranteed to prevent the formation of stretch marks; however they can greatly reduce your chances of acquiring them.