Eating healthy is especially important during pregnancy. This is a time when every woman starts paying extra attention to the food she consumes throughout the day.
To make things easier, we’ve rounded up the top 10 fruits to eat during pregnancy.
Fruits are good for our bodies in general. During pregnancy, fruits can help you get extra nutrients that are precious to the baby growing inside of you. Here’s a list of fruits we recommend.
Bananas
Bananas contain a lot of potassium, which helps maintain the balance between fluids and electrolytes in your body during pregnancy. Bananas can help calm cramps and fatigue.
Oranges
Oranges are full of vitamin C, folate, and fiber. They’re refreshing fruits and full of water, which keeps you hydrated. Vitamin C helps you absorb iron; the intake of fruit packed with vitamin C is very important.
Avocados
Avocados are also an excellent source of folate. Consuming folate at least one month before conception, as well as during pregnancy, helps prevent significant brain and spinal cord birth defects. Therefore it is one of the most highly recommended fruits to eat during pregnancy.
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Cherries
Besides containing a lot of vitamin C, cherries increase and improve blood supply to the placenta and baby. Cherries also contain melatonin, which stimulates cell growth and helps with sleep. Since some moms-to-be experience problems with anxiety and sleeplessness, eating this fruit can really make a difference.
Apples
Apples are good for the immune system during pregnancy and are rich in vitamins C, A, E, D, and zinc. Apple has antioxidants, which are primarily important during the period of rapid growth for the baby. Some studies show that eating apples reduce the risk of asthma and eczema, which can affect your child later on in life. Apples are also an excellent source of fiber, which is good for your digestive system.
Pears
Apart from folate, pears are a great source of fiber, which is crucial for maintaining regular balance in your body during pregnancy. A lot of expecting women have problems with constipation. Eating fiber-rich foods and fruits can help you prevent this. It will also help you feel less bloated. Remember, as you increase your daily fiber intake, you also need to increase your water intake during pregnancy.
Watermelons
Watermelons are essential for keeping your body hydrated while also consuming needed vitamins, magnesium, and potassium. And eating watermelon during the last trimester reduces muscle cramps, so this fruit is a must on the list of the top 10 fruits to eat during pregnancy.
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Apricots
Apricots are rich in vitamins, beta-carotene, calcium, iron, and potassium – all of which help your baby grow and develop properly. Iron is essential for making hemoglobin and allowing regular blood flow which is very important for pregnant women. As the need for iron increases by up to 50% during pregnancy, apricots are highly recommended.
Grapes
Magnesium from grapes helps reduce cramps during pregnancy. It also helps and there with digestion. Grapes also contain folate, fructose, and lots of vitamins — all ingredients that, when combined together, benefit the metabolism.
Mangoes
Mangoes are rich in iron, potassium, vitamins C, A, and B6. Since mangoes are naturally sweet, they are replacements for cakes or candies. On the other hand, some women develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy, in which case the intake of fruits rich in sugar should be under the supervision of a doctor.
Pregnancy is a challenging time for women. As the body’s metabolism changes, the need for different vitamins also changes during pregnancy. It is essential to pay attention to your diet and take advantage of fruit as natural sources of vitamins and minerals. These fruits could also help you fight — or reduce — pregnancy-related problems as well.
Sources:
www.livestrong.com
www.momjunction.com
