Healthy high-fiber diet could reduce preeclampsia risk

A healthy diet rich in fiber is generally recommended, but new research shows it could be even more important during pregnancy to promote the wellbeing of the mother and child.

Plant-based fiber is broken down in the gut by bacteria into factors that influence the immune system.

Researchers from the University of Sydney's Charles Perkins Centre, the Barwon Infant Study from Deakin University, Monash University, James Cook University and the Australian National University collaborated to investigate the role of these metabolic products of gut bacteria during pregnancy.

Senior author of the study Professor Ralph Nanan said the simple recommendation to 'eat real food, mostly plants, and not too much' might be the most effective primary prevention strategy for some of the most serious conditions of our time.