World Health Day celebrated annually on 7th April, is aimed at raising awareness about key public health issues and promoting improvements in health and well-being worldwide. This year’s theme, Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures, focuses on maternal and newborn health, stressing the vital role that nutrition plays in shaping a child’s future. It serves as an important reminder that how we start life has a lasting impact on our health and well-being. The year-long campaign aims to reduce preventable deaths and improve the well-being of mothers and infants worldwide.
Sonal Ratan, Dietitian at FUTURELIFE®, stresses the critical role that nutrition plays during pregnancy in supporting the mother’s health and the development of the baby. “The health of a mother and her child are intricately connected and remain closely linked throughout the first 1,000 days of a child’s life,” says Ratan. “During this critical period – spanning from conception to a child’s second birthday – mothers need additional nutrients to support their baby’s growth during pregnancy and breastfeeding while maintaining their own health and well-being. This is also a time of remarkable development for children, as their bodies and brains grow at an unprecedented rate,” she adds. “Proper nutrition fuels this rapid growth, shaping a child’s physical and mental development and laying the foundation for future learning and well-being. It is during these first 1,000 days that the groundwork for lifelong well-being is also established.
Ratan highlights some of the key benefits of proper nutrition during this time across multiple areas of health:
• Optimal Pregnancy Outcomes: For expecting moms, it reduces the risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth, assisting the baby’s healthy development in the womb.
• Brain Development: Supports the rapid brain development that occurs during this critical period, laying the foundation for learning, behaviour, and cognitive abilities.
• Physical Growth: Adequate nutrients are essential for physical development, including bone growth and muscle development.
• Immune System: Supports the development of the immune system which protects against infections and diseases.
• Long-term Health: Proper nutrition during early development helps protect children from chronic conditions later in life including diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.
“At FUTURELIFE®, we’re passionate about the critical role nutrition plays in this journey. Eating well during pregnancy and breastfeeding is crucial for both mom and baby’s health, but let’s be honest – it’s not always easy,” notes Ratan. “Between morning sickness and unpredictable cravings during pregnancy, and the challenge of fatigue after the baby’s birth, many mothers struggle to get their daily intake of essential vitamins and minerals. To support moms during this crucial time, FUTURELIFE® created MOTHERS FOOD™, a range of shakes and oat bars for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
World Health Day 2025’s focus on protecting maternal and infant health is a reminder that their well-being requires a comprehensive approach – a mission that begins with good nutrition. “When every mother and child have access to this fundamental need, every child will have the opportunity to not just survive but to thrive,” Ratan concludes.
For more information about MOTHERS FOOD™, please visit https://futurelife.co.za/collections/new-mothers-food.