Banana is one of the fruits for pregnant women that are good for diet and snack. National Institutes of Health gives recommendations to pregnant women to consume 3-4 servings of bananas every day. Because the nutrients contained therein are needed by the mother and fetus.
What are the nutritional contents of bananas?
The list below is the nutrient content of bananas per 100 g :
- Calories 88
- Fat 0.3 g
- Saturated fat 0.1 g
- Polyunsaturated fats 0.1 g
- Monounsaturated fats 0 g
- Sodium 1 mg
- Potassium 358 mg
- Carbohydrate 23 g
- Fiber food 2.6 g
- Sugar 12 g
- Protein 1.1 g
- Vitamin A 64 IU
- Vitamin C 8.7 mg
- Calcium 5 mg
- Iron 0.3 mg
- Vitamin B6 0.4 mg
- Magnesium 27 mg
There are many health benefits of bananas for your body because they contain many good nutrients. All these nutrients also bring health benefits of bananas in pregnancy. Look at all the benefits in the list below.
- Benefits of folic acid
As we often know, the Health Benefits of Folic Acids are very important for pregnant women. Folic acid plays an important role in the development of the nerves and brain, as well as the spinal cord. Bananas are useful in preventing folic acid deficiencies that can cause the baby to be born prematurely or have a disability.
- Overcoming anemia
Banana is one of the Super Fast Anemia Treatments Naturally. Anemia is a common thing experienced pregnant women. One result of an pregnant mother experiencing anemia is that it can cause complications during the late stages of pregnancy and during childbirth. So it requires the benefits of enough iron to meet its needs. Bananas contain an average of 3% iron in 225 grams of bananas. So that iron in bananas can produce hemoglobin to overcome anemia.
- Vitamin B6
Bananas contain vitamin B6 which is a vitamin that dissolves in water. In the fetus, vitamin B6 is useful in helping to improve the development of central nervous system cells. During pregnancy, vitamin B6 is beneficial to reduce morning sickness. 1.9 milligrams is the daily amount needed by pregnant women to get vitamin B6. One medium-size banana can contain 4 milligrams of vitamin B6. Look more about Benefits of Vitamin B6.
- Increases hemoglobin growth
Bananas also have a role in the growth of hemoglobin or red blood cells. In addition to iron, bananas contain vitamin B6 that plays a role in neurotransmitters that are able to increase the growth of hemoglobin in the body.
- Overcoming constipation
Constipation is a common pregnancy disorder. Bananas can reduce stomach bloating problems and can launch a bowel movement. Without taking artificial supplements, pregnant women can increase intake in pregnant women’s diet. This is because bananas contain fiber that causes bowel movements to form feces. Each banana, containing an average of 6 g fiber.
- Smooth the digestive system
Pregnant women often experience heartburn and indigestion during pregnancy, this will cause the growing fetus will experience pressure on the stomach. Eating healthy fruits for pregnant women, will alleviate the difficulty. One of the healthy fruit to facilitate the digestive system is a banana, because it contains antacids that will suppress acid secretion. Bananas are also rich in pectin, which helps digestion in normalizing intestinal mortality.
- Overcoming diarrhea
Bananas contain pectin which is useful for treating diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome. This soluble fiber acts as a thickener in the intestine, thus preventing heartburn, stomach pain, and constipation. Fiber is very important during pregnancy because it can help relieve diarrhea by absorb excess water in the body. So by consuming bananas during pregnancy, the symptoms of diarrhea can be reduced. Not only that, the potassium in the banana will overcome the intestinal cramps that are also sometimes experienced during diarrhea.
- As a natural oralit for mother and baby
Usually during pregnancy, pregnant women lose a lot of fluids. Bananas can be oralit for pregnant women because they contain potassium. It can also condense the stool if there is acute diarrhea. For example to Prevent Diarrhea in Toddlers, you can use a mixture of bananas plus biscuits, porridge and milk.
- As a source of calcium
One of the common Benefits of Calcium is known for the development of bone and skeletal systems at all ages. 200 g of bananas contains 10 mg of natural calcium. Calcium also brings benefits to the nerve that is to facilitate neurotransmitters in the process of muscle contraction in fetal development in the womb.
- Benefits of antioxidants
Bananas contain vitamin C in high amounts, ie by 33% in each fruit. Antioxidants have the ability to fight the premature aging process for a mother and can also improve the immune system of pregnant and fetal.
- Benefits of Protein
Like the Health Benefits of Avocado During Pregnancy, bananas are a fruit that have protein in large amount. Proteins act as a source of calories and also for the formation of antibodies for the fetus and the mother. Bananas snack is a good choice for pregnant women. If during pregnancy, the mother lacks protein, this can cause the risk of a baby born with a cleft lip.
- Reduces nausea and vomiting
In the morning, pregnant women often feel nausea and vomiting. This is seen during the first trimester of pregnancy in the first three months. If bananas are consumed in the early stages of pregnancy, it will be able to help and reduce morning sickness as it has in the Health Benefits of Pawpaw in Pregnancy.
- Benefits of potassium
The American Pregnancy Association finds that during pregnancy pregnant women experience swelling that is of one caused by potassium insufficiency. With the fulfillment of potassium, it will help reduce the swelling during pregnancy. Bananas help prevent and decrease swelling naturally.
- Normalize blood pressure
One of the most common cases during pregnancy is fluctuation in blood pressure. Pregnant women can use bananas as a healthy diet. Maintaining blood pressure during pregnancy and reducing muscle cramps and leg pain during pregnancy is a Benefits of Potassium For Health.
- Increase energy
Banana is one of the fruits that can provide energy quickly. Especially if bananas are combined with milk. Bananas contain three types of natural sugars. Type the sugar is glucose, fructose, and sucrose. 225 g bananas contain 28 grams of sugar. One of the Benefits of Sugar for Health is very beneficial for pregnant women who face the last trimester and during childbirth. Because bananas contain natural sugar that is easily digested, bananas can quickly provide energy for pregnant women.
- Rich in carbohydrates
One of the health benefits of bananas in pregnancy is bananas containing carbohydrates. This is what causes bananas to make you full quickly. So that, banana is the right diet menu during pregnancy.
- Keeping blood sugar and cholesterol
Bananas have important benefits for maintaining cholesterol and blood sugar levels during pregnancy. This benefit is especially needed for mothers who have diabetes during pregnancy. Eat bananas regularly.
- Brings good influence to breastfeeding
Bananas will help to restore any minerals lost. Minerals are indispensable as the forming agent of breast milk itself, this is made possible by one of the benefits of calcium contained in bananas.
- Increase your appetite
Bananas contain protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals that can help the body of pregnant women become healthy and have the desire to eat. Every day, pregnant women should eat a lot of bananas in order to get better appetite.
- Lose weight after childbirth
Bananas contain mineral components such as potassium and magnesium. So that bananas are safe for mothers who are breastfeeding. Bananas can help lower obesity in the stomach. This is because bananas can make the metabolism process take place more quickly. In addition, bananas can produce membranes that can protect the intestines, helping to destroy toxins in the body and can stimulate in order to better digest.
- Overcoming stress
During pregnancy, pregnant women should not experience stress. One of the dangers of stress during pregnancy is to have a negative impact on the growth and development of the fetus in the womb. To overcome stress, you can eat bananas. Bananas contain potassium, this content can be useful to normalize the heartbeat that sends oxygen and can balance the water content in the body when experiencing stress.
Cautions!
Although there are so many health benefits of bananas in pregnancy, in some people bananas can cause allergies. Consult with your doctor about whether you have an allergy to bananas or not. Other than that, there are also bananas that contain chitinase which is a major allergen called latex-fruit syndrome. This causes sensitivity or intolerance to other similar foods.
So, before you get all the benefits of bananas above during pregnancy, you need to also choose a good banana that you can consume every day during pregnancy.