Once you find out you are expecting, your whole world takes a turn for the better. Your entire lifestyle changes and you begin paying extra attention to each and everything you drink or eat. You need to ensure you eat the right kind of food. If you happen to be a junkie, it is high time you stopped eating junk food and start eating healthily. Cauliflower during pregnancy is one such superfood.
It is important to choose foods that provide you with all the much-needed minerals and vitamins that will help your unborn baby develop beautifully. Now let us evaluate the safety and benefits of eating cauliflower during pregnancy.
In This Article
- Cauliflower During Pregnancy
- Nutritional Value of Cauliflower
- 8 Benefits of Eating Cauliflower During Pregnancy
- How Can I Include Cauliflower in My Diet During Pregnancy?
- What are the Adverse Effects of Eating Too Much Cauliflower During Pregnancy?
- Precautions To Be Taken While Eating Cauliflower During Pregnancy
- FAQ’s
Cauliflower During Pregnancy
You tend to receive lots of advice about what is ideal during this period and one such vegetable that has immense benefits while eaten during pregnancy is cauliflower. This vegetable contains lots of minerals and vitamins, including potassium, folate, and magnesium, Vitamin C, Vitamin B, and Calcium all of which are extremely beneficial during pregnancy.
This makes cauliflower a superfood that should surely become part of your daily diet during pregnancy. Cauliflower is a wonder food rich in anti-oxidants and also has anti-inflammatory properties. This lovely vegetable also belongs to the cruciferous cancer-fighting vegetable family. Read on to know more about what exactly these benefits are.
Nutritional Value of Cauliflower
According to nutritional data,
- Cauliflower is very low in Saturated Fat and Cholesterol.
- It is also a good source of Protein.
- It is also an excellent source of Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Magnesium, and Phosphorus.
- Cauliflower is a very good source of Dietary Fiber.
- It is rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Vitamin B6, Folate, Pantothenic Acid, Potassium, and Manganese.
[Read Also: 10 Amazing Benefits of Eating Broccoli During Pregnancy]
8 Benefits of Eating Cauliflower During Pregnancy
Most of the nutrients in cauliflower are highly beneficial for the healthy progression of pregnancy. Following are 8 amazing benefits of cauliflower during pregnancy.
1. Fights Constipation
Constipation is one common issue which majority of pregnant moms face during conception. Constipation leaves the mom to be extremely uncomfortable and distressed.
There is one wonderful remedy for you. Include cauliflower in your diet to overcome the problem of constipation as they are loaded with fiber.
2. Helps to Maintain Heart Health During the Period of Pregnancy
Rich in potassium and fiber, cauliflower is ideal to ensure excellent heart health during this vulnerable phase. It also aids the heart to pump more blood to the uterus, which is a vital requirement during pregnancy.
Potassium present in cauliflower has the ability to regulate blood pressure. And the fiber traces present in this veggie prevents any kind of stiffness in the heart vessels.
3. Promotes Proper Development of Your Fetus’s Brain
Loaded with folate, cauliflower is an absolute must during pregnancy. Folate is ideal to promote the proper development of your fetus’s brain.
It also averts any kind of neural tube anomalies during conception. It also assists in forming a healthy placenta that supplies your baby with all the nourishment during the gestation period.
4. Plays the Role of an Anti-Oxidant During Pregnancy
Cauliflower contains lots of Vitamin C. Just a single cup of cauliflower serving can help to meet your daily requirement of Vitamin C during this pregnancy phase.
One cup of cauliflower contains 100 gms of vitamin C approximately. Cauliflower also plays the role of an anti-oxidant averting the chances of free radicals harming the mom-to-be or the baby growing inside you.
5. Excellent for Development of Teeth and Bones of the Fetus
Cauliflower contains high traces of calcium. Expecting moms require around 1000-3000 mg of calcium to meet the requirements of the growing fetus during this phase. Including cauliflower in your diet can help to meet a major portion of daily requirements of calcium if eaten on a daily basis.
6. Helps Absorb Iron
As we know, even if you are eating an iron-rich diet, there is every chance of missing this vital element if your body is not able to absorb iron. Cauliflower is one such vegetable that helps to absorb iron, thus preventing the risks of low birth weight and preterm labor.
7. Source of Niacin
Cauliflower provides your baby the essential nutrients for the development of nerves, skin, and the digestive system through the all-important niacin.
8. Growth of Cells
A fetus grows in the womb by multiplying cells, and vitamins A and B in cauliflower help to boost cell growth. Thus cauliflower aid the baby’s development.
Being rich in manganese, zinc, phosphorus, and sodium, cauliflower is undoubtedly a powerhouse of minerals for your growing baby. Therefore, cauliflower must be a part of your pregnancy diet.
How Can I Include Cauliflower in My Diet During Pregnancy?
The great news is cauliflower is a veggie that can be eaten any way you desire according to your palate. You can have it in your salad or include this vegetable in your soup.
If you happen to love continental cuisine during this period, bake it with cheese and it tastes heavenly. It is also ideal to have as a sabzi along with potatoes or peas.
And who can resist the super tasty Punjabi Gobhi Parathas? Relish them with some homemade butter and woah! Puree cauliflower with some herbs and spices and replace your bowl of mashed potatoes with it. No matter whether you steam them or fry them or grill them, they are super tasty and have the wonderful benefits mentioned above.
However, any vegetable or fruit should be eaten only in moderation, and in case you ever exceed the limit, even the positive effects can turn hazardous.
What are the Adverse Effects of Eating too Much Cauliflower During Pregnancy?
When it comes to pregnancy, no matter how nutritious the food item is, moderation is the key. So refrain from eating too much cauliflower.
Following are some side effects of overeating cauliflower during pregnancy.
1. It Can Cause Heart Burns
Consuming cauliflower in excess can trigger severe cases of heartburn in pregnant women.
2. Gas Formation
Eating too much cauliflower can also lead to gas formation in your tummy which can even turn quite risky during pregnancy.
3. Cauliflower May Contain Worms and Insects
Cauliflower needs to be washed thoroughly and kept immersed in warm water for some time before consumption as there may be insects and worms in it. If not cleaned properly, there is the risk of one catching unwanted infections or diseases that may harm you and the life growing within you.
[Read : Natural Remedies For Heartburn During Pregnancy]
Precautions to be Taken While Eating Cauliflower During Pregnancy
It is always better to know not just the benefits, but also precautions while consuming something during this phase.
- Make sure you cook the cauliflower well enough, even while preparing salads. It may contain worms or eggs of worms.
- It is a common practice to soak it well in hot water with turmeric and salt for some time before using it to make curries.
- You can also immerse it well in hot water after mixing it with a quarter cup of vinegar.
- While washing, do it thoroughly to drain it out of all the dirt and pesticides in it.
- If possible, it is always safe to buy cauliflower that comes from an organic farm to get all the goodness of cauliflower without the toxin overload.
- Cauliflower is loaded with sulfur. Overconsumption causes gas and bloating which is quite annoying during pregnancy.
- Cauliflower needs to be cooked lightly with very little oil or spices. It preserves nutrients, as well as making the dish easily digestible.
So just ensure you include this wonderful vegetable in moderation in your pregnancy diet. You can reap all the positive benefits from cauliflower during your pregnancy period. As always, your doctor should be the best person to guide you about how much cauliflower is ideal for your pregnancy period.
FAQ’s
1. Can Eating Cauliflower During Pregnancy Cause Food Poisoning?
Cauliflower is known for having dirt and worms in them. They should always be washed thoroughly. If it is contaminated, it can cause food poisoning that can even affect the growing baby.
2. Can I Eat Cauliflower if I am Constipated During Pregnancy?
Yes you can, cauliflower is rich in dietary fiber. You can make this a part of your regular diet too.
3. Can Eating Cauliflower During Pregnancy Interfere With Iron or Calcium Absorption?
No it won’t. cauliflower is in fact a good source of calcium and iron. It can improve your nutrient intake during pregnancy.
4. Can I Eat Cauliflower Rice When I am Pregnant?
Cauliflower has a high Sulphur content. Over consumption might lead to bloating. Always consume food in moderate quantities when pregnant.
Read Also: Is It Safe To Eat Lettuce During Pregnancy?
