Pregnant moms should always pay attention to nutritional intake during pregnancy. Therefore it is highly recommended to meet the nutritional needs of pregnancy until childbirth. The amount of nutrition is always very important for the development of the fetus in the womb.
That’s why, consuming a lot of healthy meals, like benefits of eating pistachios, or any other fruits is needed to achieve a good amount of vitamins and minerals. Carbohydrate is also a factor that a pregnant mom should look into.
We usually look at bread and rice as great sources for energy. Rice has become a staple food that greatly supplies a good amount of energy booster. Even though it seems to be okay at first, is it actually okay for pregnant moms to consume rice?
There is actually no nutritionist anywhere who forbids mothers not to eat rice. Pregnant women may not eat rice as long as it is in accordance with the pattern of mother’s habits. Even many pregnant women do not eat rice and instead replace it with other carbohydrate substitutes.
Since the white rice contains complex carbohydrates, it will make the mother’s body get energy quickly. Hormonal changes in the pregnant body would result in changes in appetite. Some women who used to eat white rice before might suddenly lose interest in eating it. What you can do is look for an alternative.
There are three kinds of carbohydrates, namely starch, sugar, and dietary fiber. Starch and sugar are easier to digest and can pass through the placenta easily to support the growth of the baby. On the other hand, fiber is a carbohydrate that is beneficial for digestive health.
All types of carbohydrates have benefits. However, pregnant women with special conditions, such as diabetes or prediabetes, need carbohydrates with a low glycemic index. As an alternative to white rice, one can use the brown rice.
As mentioned in the benefits of eating brown rice, the rice contains higher nutrient contents compared to other types of rice. For those of you who feel interested, here’s the benefits of eating brown rice for pregnant women :
1. Great Source for Energy
Not a few pregnant women are reluctant to consume carbohydrates because these nutrients are considered to make the body fat. In fact, as long as it is consumed as needed, nutrients that are important to maintain the health of pregnant women and fetuses won’t result in more weight.
Physical and emotional changes during pregnancy sometimes make it easier for mothers to feel tired, especially in the first trimester. Well, so that the body is not easily tired and pregnant women can still undergo daily activities as usual, they can consume carbohydrate foods like benefits of okra to increase stamina.
Brown rice contains complex carbohydrates but is low in sugar so it takes a long time to digest in the body. Therefore, brown rice is often used as another alternative for diabetics because it can help stabilize blood sugar levels. Therefore, in addition to efficiency to increase energy, brown rice is also safe for diabetics.
2. Prevents Constipation
There are so many hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy and they give a lot of changes in the physical functioning of the mother. One of the organ systems that are severely affected by hormonal changes during pregnancy is the digestive tract. Pregnancy is not uncommon accompanied by various digestive problems in pregnant women.
Constipation and difficulty in defecation while pregnant is one of the digestive problems that are often experienced by pregnant women. This is because the mother’s uterus is enlarged and puts an emphasis on the intestines resulting in the rest of the digestion still left in the intestine.
However, by consuming brown rice, its fiber content can help the digestive process more smoothly. In addition, it helps reduce the risk of developing cancer of the intestine due to constipation. You might also find similar benefits in the benefits of tamil rice.
3. Protects Against Cholesterol
Cholesterol is one of the things that can mostly harm the condition of the mother and her fetus. Therefore, it is better for the mother to control the mother’s cholesterol so as not to cause high blood pressure and impact on the health of the mother’s fetus.
Therefore it is advisable to consume a lot of water at least 8 glasses per day because water can balance the mother’s body and is good for the health of the mother. If you want, you can also get some benefits of the brown rice.
Alpha-linolenic fatty acids in brown rice are unsaturated fatty acids that are very useful in helping to reduce high cholesterol levels in the blood especially during pregnancy. Consuming brown rice regularly can help increase essential fatty acids that are essential in the body that are needed during pregnancy.
4. Enhances Bones and Boost Immune System
To maintain bone health, one must receive decent intake of vitamin D, calcium and magnesium. These two nutrients can help the process of bone formation since the fetus is still in the womb.
No need to bother taking various kinds of supplements because all the goodness of magnesium is available in brown rice. But do not forget to combine it with other foodstuffs to make the most of the results, such as spinach vegetables, etc.
Similar to benefits of red rice kattu yanam, antioxidants contained in brown rice is also very necessary for the body to improve the body’s immune system during pregnancy.
Antioxidants are also believed to reduce the risk of stress that may befall the mother during a grueling pregnancy. This is why nowadays more and more people are turning to consume brown rice.