7 Good Fruits to eat while Pregnant

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Pregnant women need to be extra careful regarding their immunity. Summer is on its way and it brings with it hotness in the air and the wetness in the atmosphere, happiness, and greenery in the environment. Along with the summer season comes a whole bunch of fresh fruits and vegetables in the local markets. In this article, you will read about 7 good fruits to eat while pregnant.

Seasonal fruits have their properties; for example, oranges and pomegranate are extensively available during winters and are packed with vitamin C and antioxidants, which are known to boost immunity and keep infections at bay. During summer, moisture in the air increases, making it humid and susceptible to diseases like rashes, dengue fever, typhoid, heatstroke, or hyperthermia; to combat this and protect ourselves, fresh fruits and vegetables (especially the vitamin C and water-rich fruits) will advantage us. 

Vitamin C fruits like orange, guava, kiwi, etc. help to boost the immune system and helps to fight against different viruses and bacteria. And if you are expecting and planning to have a baby, these are your friends that must include in your diet. 

Here are 7 of the good fruits to eat while pregnant

Orange

Oranges are well known for their nutritional benefits. Since oranges are rich in vitamin C, consumption regularly will help in boosting our immune system. Vitamin C helps in preventing skin damage and it can also help in iron absorption which is considered one of the most important nutrients during pregnancy. Folate/folic acid is known to help in preventing neural tube birth defects and oranges can be added to a salad, fresh juice, and other fruits.

Pomegranate

This fruit is full of crystal-shaped beads/seeds. Iron helps in overcoming iron deficiency in the body and Pomegranates are considered rich in iron. During pregnancy, it also helps in increasing hemoglobin levels. 

It is also a fiber-rich fruit. 

It helps in keeping the digestive system healthy and preventing constipation. The best way to consume is by adding pomegranate with beetroot and consume as juice. You can also add pomegranate with other fruits to increase the nutritional value and help in iron absorption.

Make delicious juice with pomegranate fruit.

Custard Apple

Also known as 'Sitaphal' - is loaded with essential nutrients, vitamin A and C. During pregnancy, Vitamin A helps in structuring eye vision of the growing baby and mother, and vitamin C helps in boosting the immune system of both mother and the baby. The best form to have custard apple is to eat it as a whole fruit or along with the milk in the form of sitaphal rabadi/kheer, which will also help boost your calcium level.

Apple

Apples, whether red, green, or royal delicious, are one of the most popular fruits during mid-summer, especially during August month in Bhutan. It is one of the delicious fruits that is overloaded with nutrients like vitamin C, A, and potassium. It also contains Pectin, a pre-biotic which helps feed the good gut bacteria. Consumption of apples helps in poor digestion as they are rich in insoluble fiber and ultimately lose weight. It helps to reduce heartburn also. 

Kiwi

Kiwis are jam-packed with adequate amounts of vitamin E, vitamin A, folate, and vitamin C. It helps keep the skin healthy as vitamin C plays a wonder on the skin. Consuming it in pregnancy will help to improve the intellectual development of babies. It can be included in our diet as kiwi lemonade, smoothie, or infused kiwi and mint in water.

Kiwi fruit is loaded with fiber and helps digestion. Read more about 8 impressive health benefits of kiwi fruit for your health.

Indian gooseberry (Amla)

Indian Gooseberry is also rich in vitamin C, and also has other essential vitamins and minerals like vitamin E, vitamin A, iron, calcium, and fiber. Try to include it in your diet regularly to build immunity against flu, common cold, and other viral infections. 

During pregnancy, consumption of Indian gooseberry helps in reducing morning sickness, maintains good blood hemoglobin levels, and may even reduce the risk of developing gestational diabetes. It can be added to mint chutney or to a glass of vegetable juice to strengthen it further with vitamin C. Additionally, you can dry and make gooseberry candy.

Amla is also known as Indian gooseberry.

Berries

Berries like blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, mulberries, and blackberries come in different shapes, sizes, and colors with excellent health benefits. Berries contain an excellent amount of vitamin C, antioxidants, fiber, potassium, and folate. Berries are also considered antioxidant-rich fruit and help in protecting against the cell damage that free radicals cause. It can also help you in building strong immunity against flu, common cold, and viral infections.

Which fruits to avoid during pregnancy?

It is obvious that the consumption of fruits is healthy for our body and most of the nutritionist recommend but it is not same for pregnant women. There are certain fruits we should avoid during pregnancy due to premature contractions by latex, enzymes affecting the texture of the cervix, and body heat generation during the final trimester of pregnancy. The list of fruits to avoid during pregnancy are as follows;

Papaya – premature contractions by latex

Pineapple – change of texture of cervix by enzymes

Grapes – heat generation by body

Here are 8 of the best fruits to eat while pregnant in summer

1. Watermelon to avoid dehydration
2. Apples to avoid fatigue
3. Oranges to build strong immunity
4. Lemons against morning sickness
5. Bananas against leg cramps
6. Berries to avoid constipation
7. Cherries to keep insomnia at bay
8. Avocado against hunger