A study published in the British journal Archives of Pediatric Diseases reports that women who ensure a healthy diet before and during pregnancy can help reduce their baby’s risk of developing congenital heart disease. Nearly 20,000 women in the United States participated in a questionnaire conducted by researchers at the University of Utah, and half of them had babies with congenital heart disease. Researchers compared the women’s diets and found that the healthier they ate before and during pregnancy, the less likely their babies were to develop congenital heart disease. A healthy diet consists mainly of fresh fish, fruits, nuts and vegetables. Pregnant women can also take appropriate micronutrient supplements, such as folic acid and vitamin D, which can help make their babies healthier and reduce the risk of congenital diseases. The researchers noted that healthy eating habits should be formed before pregnancy because physical defects, including congenital heart disease, can develop earlier in pregnancy. If a woman does not start eating healthy until after she is pregnant, it may be too late.