Eating kiwi during pregnancy: is it safe and okay?

Pregnancy is an interesting thing. Waiting for your baby to arrive, of course you as a parent will prepare everything for the best for your little one's health. Not only that, maternal nutritional intake is also of great concern. To improve your health during pregnancy and the fetus, eating kiwi regularly during pregnancy has many benefits for both the mother and the fetus.

You can eat kiwi while pregnant with the skin the same as an apple, but most people prefer to cut it in half and then just scoop out the fruit filling. Or another alternative is to peel the skin and cut the fruit slices.

Whichever way you eat kiwi while pregnant, what is more important is to wash the kiwi before consuming it. Because the kiwi skin contains various kinds of bacteria or harmful chemicals that can interfere with fetal development.

What are the nutrients contained in kiwi fruit?

Who doesn't know kiwi fruit? This one fruit is one of the fruits with a lot of nutritional content. The following is a list of the nutritional content of kiwi fruit that is good for the health of the future mother's womb.

1. Folic acid

Folic acid is a type of vitamin B (B9) which is important in the development of the nervous system and cell growth. Lack of folate consumption during pregnancy can increase the risk of birth defects, eg spina bifida .

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , pregnant women are recommended to consume 400 micrograms of folic acid per day. Consumption of folate should be started one month before pregnancy to prevent defects in the baby's brain and spine. Well, kiwi fruit turns out to be a natural and safe source of folic acid.

2. Vitamin C

Vitamin C also has an important role during pregnancy. This is because vitamin C can boost immunity as well as trigger the production of collagen, a protein that keeps skin supple and supple. Mothers need collagen and vitamin C to prevent cellulite in the mother's stomach.

Kiwi is a good source of vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can protect the body from the dangers of free radicals and has an antimicrobial effect that prevents the growth of bacteria, viruses, or parasites.

3. Vitamin K

Vitamin K is a vitamin that is essential for blood clotting and accelerates wound healing. Based on MedlinePlus , this vitamin also has a role in maintaining bone strength.

Getting enough vitamin K during pregnancy is very important because bleeding will often occur during childbirth. Excessive blood loss due to long clotting time can be life threatening.

4. Natural sugar

Kiwi has a natural sugar component that helps control your cravings for unhealthy sugary foods. With a low glycemic index, kiwi does not cause insulin spikes. Controlling blood sugar is important, given the many cases of gestational diabetes during pregnancy.

5. Good for digestion

As a pregnant mother, of course you know that constipation (difficulty defecating) and hemorrhoids often occur during pregnancy. Kiwi is a great source of prebiotics. Prebiotics contain enzymes, fiber and components phenolic . So consuming kiwi is good for preventing constipation, diarrhea, ulcers, nausea, and abdominal pain.

6. Increase immunity

Kiwi is rich in antioxidants, which help protect fetal DNA and RNA from harm. These antioxidants are tasked with fighting free radicals in the body and are able to fight disease so that pregnant women and their babies will stay healthy. Antioxidants also have a function to protect cells from free radical damage. Well, this property is one more reason to eat kiwi while pregnant.

7. Hormone balancing

Fluctuating hormone levels often occur during pregnancy. One time you feel very emotional and explosive, but suddenly you calm down at once. This emotional turmoil is caused by hormonal imbalances.

Depression, fatigue, and stress are not good for pregnant women. Eating kiwi during pregnancy can overcome this problem because kiwi has the property of balancing hormones in pregnant women.

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