Researchers from the University of Turku in Finland, 256 pregnant women enrolled in the study of weight gain, and divide them into three groups during their first trimesters.

Women in both groups received dietary counseling in accordance with what doctors recommend for a healthy weight and optimal fetal development.

They also have been sent back home with large eat foods such as salad dressings with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, as well as pasta and breakfast cereals rich in fiber.

Women in one of the two groups also received a daily capsule containing Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, probiotics are most often used – the bacteria that help maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in the gut. Another group received dummy capsules along with counseling.

The third group received dummy capsules and do not get diet counseling.

All women are weighed at the beginning of the study weight. They were weighed again ke12 month after birth; researchers then measured the waist circumference and skinfold thickness of each woman.

Center of obesity – defined as body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more and circles the waist of more than 80 centimeters (31.5 inches) – have been found in 25% of women who had been given probiotics and advice about what to eat.

They are not given probiotics seem not so good. Central obesity was found in 43% of women who only received dietary counseling and 40% of women who did not receive probiotics or dietary advice.

The average percentage of body fat in probiotics group was 28%, compared with 29% only on the recommended diet group and 30% in the third set.

“The women who received probiotics is the best,” said Kirsi Laitinen, a nutritionist and senior lecturer at Turku. “One year after giving birth, they have central obesity levels are lowest and the lowest body fat percentage.”

Central obesity combined with a “particularly abdominal fat in particular is considered not healthy,” Laitinen said.

He added that further research is needed to confirm the positive potential role of probiotics on abdominal fat. In addition, he said that the research team will continue to track women and their infants to determine whether the provision of probiotics during pregnancy have an influence on children’s health.

Diet Express for Christmas is rich in:
• Protein: fish, skinless chicken, lean red meat, seafood, egg, tofu.
• Vitamins and minerals, vegetables, legumes and fruits.
• Unsaturated fats: olive oil as carbohydrate and high in fiber.

Turn on the Diet Express for Christmas and avoid gaining weight this season.

- BREAKFAST.
Choose one of the following options
• Option 1: Coffee or tea with skimmed milk and saccharin.
• Option 2: Whole wheat bread with olive oil / bread with 2 slices of turkey / cheese bread with fresh / natural bowl of cereal with skim milk / yogurt with 2 pieces of fruit (eg, an orange and a kiwi) .

- Morning Media.
• Option 1: Candy bar snack.
• Option 2: yogurt
• Option 3: 1 piece of fruit.

You can accompany your choice with tea or coffee.

- FOOD.
First course:
• Option 1: Vegetables sautéed, broiled or grilled (broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini ratatouille, grilled vegetables, cream of pumpkin).
• Option 2: light salads (lettuce, tomato, onion, corn, bean sprouts, shredded carrots). You can make them more palatable by using spices, herbs, mustard, lemon.

Second courses:
Choose from: Beef fillet, grilled beef patty, grilled fish, cuttlefish, squid, mussels, chicken or turkey, eggs.

Tip: Try to ignore the garrison!

- SNACK.
• Option 1: 1 yogurt and 3 almonds.
• Option 2: 2 integral with cheese biscuits.
• Option 3: 2 slices of turkey and 3 nuts.

- Dinner.
• First courses:
Vegetable soup, cream of zucchini or leeks, tomato salad and fresh cheese, egg salad and hard buds.

• Second courses:
Hake, sea bass, chicken, scrambled eggs with shrimp, mushrooms or young garlic, canned, chicken breast.

Tip: Before bed, take one ounce of black chocolate.