How Safe Are Eggplants During Pregnancy?

Once the happy news you have conceived spreads all around, there is lots of advice from elders about what is safe to eat and what you should abstain from during this phase. Eggplant or brinjal tops the list, and one becomes totally confused about whether they are safe to eat during this period.

What Are Eggplants?

Commonly called Aubergine, this is a very common vegetable that is found in most kitchens of Asia. It comes from the potato family, which also includes vegetable, tomatoes and hot peppers. This lovely veggie, which is tasty to eat, is called the “poor man’s caviar” and is quite well known for its wonderful benefits.

Packed with nutritional benefits like fiber, potassium, copper and thiamin, vitamin B6, folate, magnesium, and niacin, this vegetable is excellent for everyone, both young and old alike. It is also less in calories, as half a cup of raw eggplant contains just 11 calories.

Can You Eat Eggplant During Pregnancy?

Is eating eggplant during pregnancy good? The answer is easy – yes. It is recommended for pregnant women due to its various health benefits.

Brinjal helps in the development of the fetus as it provides vitamins like vitamin A and vitamin E. It also contains folic acid, which boosts the development of red blood cells in the developing fetus.

8 Nutritional Benefits of Eggplant During Pregnancy

Eggplants are loaded with vitamins and minerals that are highly beneficial for the healthy progression of pregnancy:

1. Protects Your Baby From Birth Anomalies

Eggplant is loaded with folic acid, which is a very important nutrient during pregnancy to avert birth anomalies in the fetus growing inside you. This veggie thus protects your fetus from defects and also promotes the growth of red blood cells.

2. Promotes Fetal Growth

Packed with vitamin C, A, and E apart from niacin and B complex. Eggplant contains all the necessary nutrients which are ideal for fetal growth.

3. Helps in Maintaining Electrolyte Balance

Eggplant also contains traces of magnesium, copper, iron, and manganese that help in ensuring that electrolyte balance is maintained. It also helps to hike up the blood supply and your hemoglobin count significantly.

4. Helps to Control Gestational Diabetes

A lot of women become victims of gestational diabetes during their pregnancy period. This makes it imperative to regulate your blood sugar levels. Eggplant is excellent to help in regulating levels of blood sugar and prevents blood sugar from hiking up.

5. Helps to Relieve Constipation

Eggplant during pregnancy is ideal for aiding proper digestion and ensures that all nutrients are absorbed well. It is also found to be effective in treating digestive issues.

Eggplant also contains lots of fiber that help to ensure proper bowel movements relief from constipation that is another common issue which most pregnant ladies face.

6. Provides a Boost to Your Immunity

The outer skin of the eggplant is loaded with Nasunin that is actually an anthocyanin that is ideal for aiding in neutralizing free radicals present in your system. It also helps to avert cell damage during conception.

Also rich in antioxidants, eggplants hike up your immunity and avert the chances of the mother developing dangerous infections and various diseases in this sensitive phase.

7. Lowers Levels of Bad Cholesterol

Eggplant is proven to lower the levels of LDL in your system and hike up levels of good cholesterol in your blood. This helps lower the risk of strokes and heart-related issues during pregnancy.

8. Helps to Treat Hypertension

If you happen to be a victim of hypertension, brinjal provides a natural treatment for this. It contains traces of bioflavonoid that helps in lowering blood pressure levels and aids in promoting a healthy heart.

[Read : Capsicum During Pregnancy]

What Are the Adverse Effects of Eggplant During Pregnancy?

Although the above-mentioned benefits are present in eggplants, if this veggie is not consumed in moderation, it can cause severe adverse effects, especially during pregnancy.

1. Chances of Miscarriage

Brinjal has high traces of phytohormones that stimulate menstruation and help in curing menstruation issues like amenorrhea. This hikes up the chances of abortion.

2. Acidity

Brinjal can trigger acidity issues and even cause discomfort during pregnancy.

3. Digestive Issues

If pregnant women eat brinjal that is not properly cooked, there can arise unwanted digestive issues.

4. Hikes Up the Chances of the Premature Birth

If you happen to eat too much brinjal during pregnancy that is too unwashed, and unclean, it can cause premature birth of your baby or even an abortion. This can happen due to the presence of toxoplasmosis in the soil where eggplants grow.

5. Cold Food

Japan considers brinjal as a “dark food” that emanates cold energy and regards it as unsuitable for eating during the pregnancy period.

Things to Consider While Selecting Eggplant

Here are a few factors to consider while selecting eggplant

Select the small eggplants as they are more tasty and fresh. Big ones turn bitter.
The skin of the eggplant needs to be smooth and shiny.
Don’t take the ones that have cuts, shriveling, wrinkles, blemishes, or color uneven.
Some with holes are likely to have worms in it so avoid them.
When you press the brinjal, it forms a depression. This means it is not fresh and so don’t buy it.
The stem should be bright green and firm.
Wash and cook them properly to avoid bacteria or parasites that can cause digestive issues if ingested.

Ways to Add Eggplant to Your Diet

Now, let us discuss the many ways to add eggplant to a pregnant woman’s diet.

Indian households have varied eggplant recipes that are lip-smacking and healthy. You can make any of those.
If you want to eat eggplant in a different way, you can saute them. Take thin slices and saute with some amount of olive oil. You can add other vegetables as well. Put some salt, pepper, and herbs, and enjoy it.

Eggplant or brinjal is rich in nutrients and boasts of a lot of health benefits during the conception period. However, it is absolutely imperative that you eat this wonderful veggie in moderation. This will help avoid any unwanted adverse effects. The best option would be to consult your doctor before eating this veggie.

[Read : Is It Safe To Eat Tofu During Pregnancy?]

FAQ’s

1. Can Eggplants Help With My Gestational Diabetes?

Yes they can. They are known for their effect on gestational diabetes. Eating eggplant in moderation can help keep your sugar levels in check.

2. Can Eating Eggplant During Pregnancy Cause Miscarriage?

Ayurvedha believes eggplants are bad during pregnancy. This is because they are diuretic and can stimulate menstruation. Always check with your doctor before you start eating eggplant regularly.

3. Can Eating Eggplant During Pregnancy Affect My Baby?

This is still unclear. While there are studies that show eggplants are good for pregnant women, there are studies claiming the contrary too. We recommend you check with your doctor.

4. Can Eating Eggplants During Pregnancy Cause Skin Rashes?

Yes they can. If you are allergic to eggplants, you might develop itches and rashes. The skin is very sensitive during pregnancy; so many things can trigger a skin rash.