In our country, bananas have long been considered an exotic and inaccessible fruit, despite the fact that they grow far beyond its borders. Malaysia is the birthplace of bananas, but now it is cultivated in many countries of the world.
Bananas are very tasty and healthy, they are given as food for young children, and are used for diseases of the intestines and stomach. This product is also not prohibited for pregnant women, with the exception of some cases.
Bananas during pregnancy
Pregnancy is a special period in the life of every woman. And, of course, during this period, the future mother thinks about what foods can be eaten, and which ones are better to refuse. After all, not always exotic fruits and intricate desserts, no matter how delicious they may be, are useful for the body of a pregnant woman. Yes, and many doctors do not recommend eating exotic fruits in large quantities. Doubts in women are caused by such a fruit as a banana. Let's try to figure out whether there is any benefit from eating bananas during pregnancy and what harm is possible from them.
Is it possible for pregnant bananas
Most gynecologists believe that eating banana during pregnancy is very useful. This is especially true for women who are suffering from toxicosis. It is this fruit that can be their salvation. The banana pulp contains almost all the vitamins and minerals a woman needs during pregnancy. Also this fruit is rich in proteins and carbohydrates.
You need and, of course, you can eat bananas during pregnancy during severe toxicosis. Thanks to a mild and unobtrusive smell, it is very well tolerated at a time when eating for the expectant mother becomes real torture, and pungent smells cause new attacks of nausea and vomiting.
It is also important that a banana, getting on the mucous membrane of the stomach, helps eliminate heartburn attacks, which are often found in pregnant women.
Calorie Banana
Banana is a very nutritious fruit. Eating one banana per day during pregnancy, a woman provides her body with the daily norm of almost all vitamins and nutrients. And this helps the baby to fully develop inside the uterus. The calorie content of one banana is approximately 100 kcal, this provides about 3% of the daily energy requirement of a pregnant woman.
How many bananas are allowed to eat during pregnancy?
You can eat banana during pregnancy during early toxicosis in unlimited quantities, if the woman is no longer able to eat anything. Thus, she will be able to support the body's strength. In the second and third trimester, the use of bananas should be reduced to one fruit per day.
Bananas during pregnancy: benefits
In addition to protein, banana is rich in carbohydrates, iron, zinc, folic acid, as well as B vitamins and vitamin C.
Protein is the main building material that ensures the full development of the fetus in the womb. In order for the pregnancy to proceed safely, the expectant mother should consume about 15 g of protein per day, and the flesh of one fruit provides the body of a pregnant woman with about 1.5 g of protein.
Carbohydrates stimulate the production of serotonin, better known as the hormone of happiness. Thanks to what the expectant mother feels a surge of energy and a mood lift.
However, this is not all that a banana is useful for during pregnancy; the fruit contains a number of microelements and vitamins:
- Zinc - improves the condition of the hair and nails of a pregnant woman, provides the speedy healing of cracks in the skin and small wounds.
- Folic acid - a deficiency of this substance in the body of the expectant mother, especially in the first weeks of pregnancy, can lead to disturbances during the formation of the neural tube in the embryo. The consequence of this may be a possible pathology of the intrauterine development of the baby.
- Magnesium - prevents the possible occurrence of seizures in the calf muscles of a pregnant woman, and also stabilizes the state of the nervous system and helps improve mood.
- Fiber - A banana is especially rich in this substance. Using bananas for constipation during pregnancy, the expectant mother will be able to forget about this problem for the entire period of bearing the baby.
- Calcium - a lack of this substance in the body of a pregnant woman leads to impaired formation of the skeletal system of the fetus, as well as the destruction of the tooth enamel of the future mother and possible nightly cramps of the calf muscles. Just eating one banana per day will help a woman maintain her body's calcium levels. And if you supplement the fruit with cottage cheese or milk, you can get not only a super-healthy dessert, but also an incredibly tasty treat.
Contraindications to the use of bananas during pregnancy
The benefits of banana are undeniable. But there are also cases where the use of it can cause irreparable harm to the body of a pregnant woman.
It is not recommended to use bananas if the expectant mother:
- Diabetes mellitus - in this case, the amount of sugar and carbohydrates contained in the pulp of a banana can provoke a sharp increase in blood glucose in a woman, which will only lead to a deterioration in her condition.
- Food allergy. Despite the fact that bananas are not an allergenic product, with a burdened allergic history, you should refuse to use this fruit while your baby is waiting.
- Overweight in a pregnant woman: you should remember that bananas are a high-calorie product, and expectant mothers who have problems with excess weight should limit themselves in the use of this fruit. After all, every extra kilogram gained during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of the fetus getting injured during labor, as well as possible perineal tears in the woman in labor.
To buy a banana should also be approached with all seriousness, you must choose a ripe fruit. An unripe fetus can cause indigestion and abdominal pain during pregnancy.