When you’re pregnant, you will be very aware and mindful of what you eat. You must want to have the best nutrition for you and your developing baby for sure.
One of the ways of giving nutrients for your baby is by consuming fruits. However, not all fruits are safe to be consumed during pregnancy. There are some fruits that are safe to be consumed during pregnancy, such as apples, bananas, berries and kiwi.
While you’re pregnant, you can also consume the Greek yoghurt too as mentioned in The 7 Incredible Health Benefits of Greek Yoghurt for Pregnant Women.
Kiwi fruit is also called as Chinese gooseberry as it is originated in China. This fruit is really recommended for pregnant women as it is packed with vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C, A, E, K, folate, potassium, iron, copper, magnesium, phosphorus and choline.
Wow, that is a lot! Then, you might start wondering what the health benefits kiwi fruit can give to a pregnant woman. Notable Health Benefits of Kiwi for Toddlers will prove us that kiwi is beneficial for everyone. Let’s see these proven benefits of kiwi fruit for pregnant women!
- Great Source of Folic Acid
A pregnant woman needs around 400 mg to 800 mg of folic acid in her diet. Folic acid is really essential for the healthy development of the fetus, specifically in the early months of conception.
Eating kiwi fruit during pregnancy is believed to help in cognitive development in the fetus. It also helps prevent any neural defects. It is recommended to have at least one kiwi fruit per day.
You can also consider drinking carrot juice as elaborated in 11 Health Benefits of Carrot Juice for Pregnant Women.
- Maintaining Cardio Vascular Health
Consuming 2 to 3 kiwi fruits a day helps to lower the fat levels and manage blood thinning. As a result, a pregnant woman can also maintain her cardiovascular health.
Kiwi fruit has high potassium level that is effective to reduce blood pressure and prevent sudden heart attacks. It is also proven that kiwi fruit juice is as effective as Aspirin tablets in terms of protecting the heart.
- Keep the Bones Strong
Kiwi fruit is rich in vitamin K that is really beneficial for developing strong bones. It accelerates the healing process of a body and reduces blood clotting as well.
During pregnancy, the adequate amount of vitamin K is needed as during the delivery, the body will lose a lot of blood. The excessive loss of blood is very threatening.
Take a look at the other 15 Benefits of Calcium : Health, Pregnancy, Hearth, & Bones. It gives you the most complete information you need!
- Protection Against Radical Damage
Besides vitamins and minerals, kiwi fruit is also rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants will be very essential to reduce cell damage because of oxidation.
In expectant mothers, the risks of oxidative stress tend to be high and it can be simply dealt effectively by consuming kiwi fruits. Kiwi fruits are also high in vitamin C that helps repair the cells and stimulate new growth.
- Load of Essential Nutrients
As stated before, kiwi fruit is loaded with a lot of vitamins and minerals. Two of which are vitamin C and E. The vitamin C in kiwi is higher than the one in oranges and kiwi fruits also has large amount of potassium on the whole.
Vitamin E also maintains the health for the skin. Consuming kiwi fruit regularly will provide essential vitamins and nutrients to the baby. Kiwi fruit is also able to boost your immune system and protect the body from infections.
- Help the Growth of the Connective Tissues
Vitamin C in kiwi fruits is able to boost up the immunity and produce the elastic material like collagen responsible for the generation of the connective tissues in the body. It will provide the essential nutrients for the development of the connective tissues in the growing baby’s body.
- Reduce the Risk of Stretch Mark
There are some studies proving that consuming kiwi fruit regularly will be able to reduce the risk of stretch mark during the delivery. It stimulates the formation of collagen which is responsible for the elasticity of the skin. So, the risk of getting stretch mark will be reduced.
It is also suggested to apply some moisturizer cream on the abdomen area along with consuming kiwi fruits. Consider using lavender oil too to reduce stretch mark. Read further on 5 Scientifically Proven Health Benefits of Lavender Oil for Pregnant Woman.
- Help the Brain and Cognitive Development of the Fetus
This fruit is a very good source of folate and as a result it prevents the neutral defects in newbie and stimulate the process of the brain development at an early age. So, eating kiwi fruit is very beneficial for the expecting mother.