Science

Meet Choline, an Essential Nutrient for Pregnancy

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What is Choline?

Choline is a water-soluble essential nutrient that works alongside Folate to support neural tube development during pregnancy. Choline can be found in foods like eggs, beef liver, salmon, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts. Despite Choline’s availability in foods, it can actually be difficult to get enough Choline from food when pregnant, regardless of your diet.*

Despite the fact that the Institute of Medicine recognized Choline as an essential nutrient in 1998, the FDA didn’t establish a recommended daily intake (RDI) for Choline until 2016.*

What Choline Does

Choline has many functions inside the body. It is a major component of the cell membrane and works with Folate. As the precursor for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, Choline is a key nutrient.*

Choline is Important for Pregnancy

Choline, and Omega-3 DHA help support fetal brain development—which is why we include it in Essential Prenatal. We also include 250 mg of Choline in Essential Protein Pregnancy & Postpartum.*

Ritual’s Form of Choline

Essential Prenatal contains VitaCholine, a fermented Choline in the Choline bitartrate form, which means that it is Choline molecules joined with tartaric acid salt molecules. This is the same form of Choline found in healthy foods, and efficient for the body to utilize. Unlike other forms of Choline found in supplements, the tartaric acid salt in our form is derived from wine grapes, which matches the naturally-occurring form of tartrate.*

Meet our Expert

WhoWeAre-Mastaneh

Dr. Mastaneh Sharafi, PhD, RD, VP of Scientific Affairs at Ritual

Dr. Mastaneh Sharafi has a PhD in Nutritional Sciences and is a Registered Dietitian. She received her training from Penn State University and University of Connecticut where she researched dietary patterns, chemosensory perception and community nutrition. Her dietetic work is focused on promoting healthy eating habits by translating the science of nutrition into practical information for the public.

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WhoWeAre-Mastaneh

Dr. Mastaneh Sharafi, PhD, RD, VP of Scientific Affairs at Ritual

Dr. Mastaneh Sharafi has a PhD in Nutritional Sciences and is a Registered Dietitian. She received her training from Penn State University and University of Connecticut where she researched dietary patterns, chemosensory perception and community nutrition. Her dietetic work is focused on promoting healthy eating habits by translating the science of nutrition into practical information for the public.

LinkedIn

Meet the Author

vhoff

Victoria Hoff, Writer

Victoria Hoff is an accomplished writer, journalist, and former wellness editor who has covered a wide variety of health, nutrition, and wellness topics during her tenure. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts from New York University, and after writing for Vogue, Elle, Byrdie, The/Thirty, and more, channeled her editorial skills into a marketing career.

LinkedIn
vhoff

Victoria Hoff, Writer

Victoria Hoff is an accomplished writer, journalist, and former wellness editor who has covered a wide variety of health, nutrition, and wellness topics during her tenure. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts from New York University, and after writing for Vogue, Elle, Byrdie, The/Thirty, and more, channeled her editorial skills into a marketing career.

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