Dates are nutritious fruits you should include in your daily diet during pregnancy. In addition to their high levels of minerals and antioxidants, they also contain a lot of fiber, which helps with digestion and lowers your risk of illness.
Dates are nutritionally beneficial for pregnancy because they produce the essential vitamins and minerals necessary for good health during this crucial state.
This article will teach you about eating dates during pregnancy, its benefits, side effects, and how many you should eat during this period.
Read: Cervical Check During Pregnancy: A Detailed Guide
What are the dates?
Dates are nutritious fruits from the date palm. They are one of nature’s most delicious fruits making them a naturally occurring sweetener.
When it comes to satisfying your sweet appetite, the fruit is a more nutritious option than a candy bar. It is advisable for you to include them in your diet as you prepare to deliver your baby.
Watch Bridget Teyler – How To Prepare for Labor by Eating DATES, EPISIOTOMY, All about VACUUM Birth + FORCEPS.
What are the benefits of eating dates during pregnancy?
1. Helps you during labor
Childbirth is a process that requires the release of the oxytocin hormone to induce contractions. Dates have a role in pregnancy because they contain chemicals that bind to oxytocin receptors and imitate the actions of oxytocin in your body.
You can rely on dates to supply the natural sugar and calories you’ll need to keep yourself going for the duration of your childbirth.
2. Supplies energy
As a pregnant woman, you need more energy to survive every day. Consuming a few dates each day will provide the necessary carbohydrates and other essential elements to keep you strong.
3. Helps to produce healthier babies
Dates are excellent sources of folate which protect your baby against brain and spinal cord abnormalities. To reduce the risk of congenital disabilities, the World Health Organization recommends that you take folate supplements and eat foods high in folate before and throughout pregnancy.
4. Provide iron for your body
Because of their iron content, dates may help you to prevent anemia. Both you and your baby’s immune systems will benefit from an iron-rich diet.
5. Helps your bowel health
Dates are high in fiber and as a result, assist your body in maintaining a healthy digestive tract. It also alleviates the discomfort of constipation that is often associated with pregnancy. They fill you up, lower your cholesterol, and help you maintain a healthy diet.
6. Source of vitamin K for your baby
Another benefit of eating dates during pregnancy is the provision of vitamin K, which assists in blood clotting and bone growth. Breastfed babies may receive some of this vitamin if their mother eats dates before, during, and after her pregnancy.
7. Regulates your water balance during pregnancy
Dates help to keep your body’s water-salt in equilibrium, maintain blood pressure and prevent muscle cramps due to its righ potassium content.
8. Source of magnesium that is good for bodybuilding
Magnesium aids in the development of strong teeth and bones in the fetus, making it another crucial mineral. Besides that, it helps you maintain healthy blood sugar levels and blood pressure.
During pregnancy, it is advisable to include dates in your diet to prevent magnesium shortage and hypertension, preeclampsia, placental malfunction, and early delivery.
Read: Is Mucinex Safe During Pregnancy
Side effects of eating dates during pregnancy
Pregnant women can eat dates since they are both nutritious and safe. During the trimesters of your pregnancy, there is no evidence that dates have a detrimental effect.
Contrary to popular belief, eating dates can improve your health and well-being, particularly if you’ve been suffering from fatigue or constipation.
Some women may decide to try dates for the first time while pregnant due to claims that they make birth easier.
However, dates can initiate an allergy in your body. You may notice tingling, itching, or swelling around your lips or tongue if you’ve had an allergic response. Quit consuming dates immediately if you have any of these symptoms.
If your physician advises controlling your calorie consumption or blood sugar levels, don’t overindulge in dates because they are similarly heavy in carbs and calories. You should not go on more than six dates a day.
Final words
Your diet and lifestyle are super important to your health during pregnancy. If you’re looking for a source of fiber and other nutrients, dates are a fantastic option.
According to preliminary studies, eating dates during pregnancy may increase your odds of spontaneous, natural child delivery.