Pregnancy time often creates several doubts as far as food consumption is concerned. You get tons of advices about what all foods are safe to be eaten during pregnancy. Avocados can be your best companion during this time. Avocado is not just good during pregnancy but has a positive impact on the body while you breastfeed. Here let us explore some of its benefits that make the fruit so good for pregnancy:
Nutritional Benefits
Non-saturated Fats: Avocado is a rich source of non-saturated fat, which is often known as the good fat. They lower the cholesterol level in the body and also provide the needed compounds for the baby's growing nervous system, eyes, brain and the fatty tissues.
Potassium: This fruit is immensely rich in potassium, a mineral that plays vital role in controlling the balance of fluid and electrolyte in your body cells. It even helps in keeping leg cramps at bay during this crucial time.
B Vitamins: The B Vitamins are vital nutrients that help your body to convert the food into energy, aid the red blood cells formation and plays an important role in the proper growth and development of the developing baby in the womb.
Fiber: It helps in keeping the major pregnancy side effects such as indigestion, constipation and heartburn at bay. Fiber regulates your digestive system. It even cuts down the risk of preeclampsia (a pregnancy disorder identified by high blood pressure, and excess of protein in urine). It's important for a pregnant woman to include fiber in her daily diet and avocado is indeed a great source of it.
Antioxidants: Major antioxidants such as anthocyanins, flavones, geraniol, nerol, tannins and linalol guard your body against many infections and even boost your immunity during pregnancy. Avocados are rich in antioxidants and thus make for an ideal food choice for the pregnant women.
Folate:It is one important element that your body requires immensely during pregnancy. Folate or folic acid aids in the growth and development of genes as well as new cells during pregnancy. A deficiency of folic acid is known to trigger neural tube defects in the babies. Avocados provide you with sufficient amount of folate.
Added Benefits
Avocados help curb the morning sickness, a common pregnancy problem
They regulate the blood sugar levels in the body of a pregnant woman
Side Effects
Avocados in general are not known to cause any side effect, except that they contribute a lot in weight gain. In rare cases, they can cause some allergies like rash, an upset stomach or facial swelling. It is not recommended to those who are allergic to latex.
Do seek your doctor's advise to ensure avocados will suit your body and pregnancy type!