Mommies-To-Be: Eat Your Wheaties

If you are pregnant—or plan on getting pregnant—consider the benefits of cereal to prevent a common pregnancy complication.

A new study by researchers at the University of Washington found that high-fiber cereal can help lower your risk for pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure), which can be dangerous for pregnant women.

The researchers found that women who ate 21g of fiber a day lowered their risk of developing pre-eclampsia by 70 percent compared with those who ate less than 12g a day.

That fiber, found in fruits and vegetables as well as cereal, probably works to lower blood pressure in pregnant women the same way it brings down blood pressure and cholesterol in people who are not pregnant.

Most of us only get about 8 to 12g of fiber a day, so start your day with a bowl of high-fiber cereal, and add fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to your diet to boost that number.