Pre-eclampsia is a serious illness that can pose a great risk to both mother and baby during pregnancy. The first sign is often high blood pressure that exceeds 140/90, followed by severe headaches and urinary issues. It's a condition that no pregnant woman wants to experience.

Now, an Australian study has found that eating a high-fiber diet while pregnant can significantly reduce the risk of the illness, according to the Straits Times. The University of Sydney's Charles Perkins Center, the Barwon Infant Study fro Deakin University, Monash University, James Cook University and the Australian National University all had a part to play in the study, which was released back on July 10th.

So, why exactly does it matter if an expectant mom is getting enough fiber, and how does this effect her risk of pre-eclampsia? Senior author Professor Ralph Nanan says it's all to do with one vital compound. Acetate is found in the gut of moms as they break fiber down. Researchers looked at the amount of acetate found in the guts of moms with pre-eclampsia, and those without. They discovered that moms without the illness had a much higher level of acetate in their gut. This prompted them to look at pregnant mice, and how the thymus was impacted when mothers had pre-eclampsia.

Babies born from pre-eclampsia often have issues with their immune systems as they grow. Scientists were able to discover that these babies often had a much smaller thymus, which could explain why they were prone to issues later on in life. The thymus produces cells that prevent allergies and autoimmune disease, so if it's not working at its full potential, it's only natural that problems can occur. Dr. Nanan puts it down to the Western diet, which is often low in fiber.

The authors of the study hope that this knowledge encourages moms to inject more fiber into their diets. Nanan goes on to suggest that pregnant women should avoid processed foods, while focusing on plant-based meals with only some meat and fish included. By sticking to a diet similar to what's found in China, moms could reduce their chances of getting pre-eclampsia, thus giving their babies a better start in life.

Related: Breastfeeding May Reduce High Blood Pressure And Preeclampsia In New Moms