What makes the Bellybar Prenatal chewable vitamin different from other prenatal vitamins?

The Bellybar Prenatal chewable vitamins are chewable - finally! For all of you who have struggled with swallowing a horse pill or given up taking a pill because you were not feeling well, here is a solution: a tasty, easy-to-swallow and completely enjoyable chewable prenatal vitamin. A complete multivitamin created for you and your baby, the Bellybar Prenatal chewable vitamins are a great-tasting alternative to large pills (or multi-pills). In just two yummy wafers, you can get all the vitamins and minerals you and your baby need - plus some extra Vitamin D!

 

What are some of the benefits of the vitamins and minerals on the Bellybar Prenatal chewable vitamin?

The Bellybar Prenatal chewable vitamin is packed full of OB/GYN recommended vitamins and minerals. Here are some of the benefits:

• Vitamin A supports healthy eye development and infection resistance
• Vitamin B6 supports your babyís skin and tissue development
• Vitamin D and calcium build your baby's strong bones and teeth
• Folic Acid reduces the risk of neural tube defects and other birth defects
• Iron is essential for healthy red blood cell formation
• Vitamin C and zinc enhance your immune function and your baby's healthy DNA growth

 

Why has the Bellybar changed to Bellybar Boost?

With the launch of the Bellybar Prenatal chewable vitamin, we wanted to make sure that our products were easy to understand and use. So, we renamed Bellybar as Bellybar Boost - it's a perfect complement to the Bellybar Prenatal chewable vitamins or to your other prenatal vitamin. We changed the vitamin and mineral recipe based on advice from our PhD nutritionist to make Bellybar Boost the perfect mix with your prenatal vitamin - you won't get too much or too little of any vitamins!

 

What specifically changed in the vitamin recipe of Bellybar to Bellybar Boost?

Bellybar Boost is now packed with key nutrients, such as Choline, Vitamin C, Calcium, Vitamin D, Iodine, Magnesium, and Zinc. These are all very important nutrients that are often not found in prenatal vitamins or that you need throughout the day. The original Bellybar formula contained DHA - which can be found in our delicious Bellybar Chews - as well as other prenatal nutrients - which can now be found in our Bellybar Prenatal chewable vitamin!

 

How do all of Bellybar's products work together?

All Bellybar products are formulated to be complementary, delivering a beneficial balance of key vitamins and minerals to your daily diet. It's a nutritional foundation for you and your baby! Start your day with our great-tasting Bellybar Prenatal chewable vitamins. Then, grab a Bellybar Boost for a healthy, tasty snack when hunger hits - plus it's packed with additional important vitamins and minerals, such as choline, vitamin D and iodine. And enjoy our delicious Bellybar Chews for a healthy (and yummy) dose of Omega-3 DHA.

 

How is Bellybar Boost different from other snack bars?

Bellybar Boost is uniquely fortified to provide key additional prenatal vitamins and minerals women need before, during and after pregnancy. We conducted extensive research to identify the optimal combination of nutrients and natural ingredients to ensure nutritional efficacy and maximum benefit - and to complement your prenatal vitamin. The combination of nutrients are unique to Bellybar Boost, and they are specific to women's special nutritional needs pre-conception, during pregnancy and while nursing. And, taste for yourself, but we're pretty sure you'll decide it tastes better than any other bar available -- and that may be the most important difference of all!

 

What is DHA and why is it important?

Omega-3 DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is one of the critical Omega-3 fatty acids. It serves as a primary building block for the brain and the eyes and supports brain, eye and cardiovascular health throughout life. DHA has been shown to support a healthy pregnancy and nursing, and to play a role in brain, eye and nervous system development in infants. In order to meet the recommended levels (200-300mg/day), most pregnant and breastfeeding women must take DHA in addition to her prenatal vitamins. Each Bellybar Chew and Bellybar Shake contain 32mg of DHA and is a convenient and delicious way to help you achieve the recommended amounts!

There is a large and growing body of scientific evidence demonstrating that people of all ages, from infants to aging adults, benefit from an adequate supply of DHA in their diets. Scientific reviews have noted the importance of DHA in proper brain and eye function, and there are studies currently underway to investigate its role in decreasing the prevalence of certain neurological disorders. Yet despite its importance, Americans have among the lowest dietary intakes of DHA in the world.

Bellybar has partnered with Martek Biosciences Corporation to provide DHA for Bellybar products. Martek's life'sDHA™ is unique in the market because it is derived from a sustainable and vegetarian source. Made from microalgae under tightly controlled manufacturing conditions, life'sDHA™ is free of oceanic contaminants that may be present in certain fish or fish oils. Microalgae is the best vegetarian source of DHA, the key Omega-3 for brain and eye development and function.

 

How much DHA is in the Bellybar Chews and Bellybar Shakes?

Each Bellybar Chew and Bellybar Shake contain 32mg of vegetarian, Omega-3 DHA.

 

I have heard mixed reviews about Vitamin A - which source do you use in the Bellybar Prenatal chewable vitamin?

Vitamin A is important for aiding cell and organ development in the fetus. Many women are slightly deficient in Vitamin A, thus requiring a low level of supplemental Vitamin A. Beta-carotene, the Vitamin A source in Bellybar Prenatal, is a water soluble, natural source that is converted to Vitamin A in the body. The body converts the amount of Vitamin A needed, and excretes any excess.

Adverse effects have been observed with consumption of high levels of Vitamin A during pregnancy; however, such effects are only evidenced when Vitamin A is consumed from a retinyl source, such as Vitamin A Palmitate. Beta-carotene, however, does not have the same risks of "overdose". Bellybar provides the recommended amount of supplemental Vitamin A to fill the gap observed in most diets, and it is included in Bellybar Prenatal as a natural beta-carotene source.

 

Why should I consume Bellybar Prenatals and Bellybar Boosts before I'm pregnant?

Bellybar [rpdicted are designed to provide critical pre-conception nutrients, such as folic acid and iron. The United States National Institute of Health (NIH) recommends that adult women consume at least 400 mcg of folic acid daily prior to conception, because "folate deficient women who become pregnant are at greater risk of giving birth to low birth weight, premature, and/or infants with neural tube defects". Folic acid is critical during the first 6-8 weeks of pregnancy - a time when many women don't even know they are pregnant. Therefore, women of childbearing years should ensure their diet is sufficient in folic acid. Also, many women enter pregnancy iron deficient, and the iron in the Bellybar Prenatal chewable vitamin should help women increase their iron levels prior to conception.

 

Is it ok if my husband eats Bellybar products?

Many men can't keep their hands off Bellybar products - especially our bars! Bellybar Boosts are fortified with key nutrients women need before, during and after pregnancy; however, many of the nutrients in Bellybar Boosts are beneficial to adult health in general. So, although Bellybar products are not specifically designed for him, he can certainly enjoy their delicious tastes - if you are willing to share! (Individuals should of course review ingredient information prior to consuming any snack food to make sure you do not have any personal allergies or intolerances.)

 

How much sugar is in Bellybar products?

One serving of the Bellybar Prenatal chewable vitamins (2 wafers) contain 1g (less than 1% of the Daily Value) of sugar. The sweetness in Bellybar Boosts primarily comes from brown rice syrup, which is 50% complex carbohydrate, and is therefore absorbed more slowly into the bloodstream than refined sugar. There is a very small amount of refined sugar in Bellybar, and it comes as a sub-ingredient in some of the premium ingredients we use, such as the real chocolate in the chocolate flavors. Bellybar Chews contain 2g of sugar and Bellybar Shakes contain between 20-22g of sugar (much of this comes naturally occurring in the nonfat milk used in the product). We always strive to include the most nutritious and delicious ingredients, and to provide the best possible sources to deliver a great tasting snack!

 

Is the nonfat milk powder in Bellybar Boost pasteurized?

Yes, the small amount of nonfat milk powder in Bellybar Boost is pasteurized.

 

Do you use non-GMO soy in Bellybar Boost?

Yes, we do use non-GMO soy in Bellybar Boost.

 

Are your products kosher?

Yes, Bellybar products are kosher.

 

Are any of your products gluten-free?

We do make a gluten-free claim on the Bellybar Prenatal chewable vitamins.

 

Where can I purchase Bellybar?

Bellybar is available at fine retailers in the United States and online. Please visit the Find a Store page to locate our retail partner nearest to you.

 

If you have any other questions about Bellybar, simply email us at info@nutrabella.com.