Pregnancy is an important period in a mother’s life. Taking care of a mother is as important as taking care of a baby. Right from having nutritional food to daily activities to staying in a healthy atmosphere, everything plays an important role in growing a healthy baby.So, is it healthier to eat idli during pregnancy?
Craving for a variety of mouth-watering and tasty food is common during pregnancy. But not just the taste, the nutritional value of food is also important in that stage. Choosing the food that contains the required amount of proteins, carbohydrates, iron, and other essential components helps in the growth and development of both mother and baby. In this article, we will discuss all of having idlis when you are pregnant, how nutritious they are, and how much is too much.
In This Article
- What is Idli?
- Is It Safe to Have Idlis During Pregnancy?
- Amazing Top 4 Benefits of Having Idli During Pregnancy
- Nutritional Composition of Idli
- Are There Any Side Effects of Having Idlis During Pregnancy?
- When Not to Have Idli During Pregnancy
- FAQ’s
What is Idli?
Idli is a popular South Indian dish that is widely consumed as breakfast across India. It is a little savory cake made of fermented lentils and rice. Idli is a healthy food often served with a combination of coconut chutney and sambar. There are variants of idli like masala idli, rava idli, flattened rice idli, and others. Eating idli in combination with sambar makes it a wholesome meal due to the presence of lentils and vegetables.
Is It Safe to Have Idli During Pregnancy?
Idli is considered a nutritious food and it has no barriers, anybody can consume it. It is even recommended as a good food for patients as it is a light food and easy to digest. Hence it’s an ideal food for pregnant women also. Idli is a rich source of complex carbohydrates, protein, and iron. It is the most sought-after nutritional and healthy food for pregnant women.
Amazing Top 4 Benefits of Having Idli During Pregnancy
Idli is a delicious food item that is loved by most people. Not only South Indians, but people across the nation have started loving it as their part of morning breakfast. But it has not been limited to breakfast. Meanwhile, it has got many useful many benefits for pregnant women
Pregnant women can have idli as it has many benefits. Along with its deliciousness and taste, many nutritional values in idli are important for pregnant women. Let’s have a look at the prominent benefits.
1. Energy Source
As idli is made of rice and lentils, it is very rich in carbohydrates. These provide the necessary energy to the body. Hence, the energy requirements of the pregnant body will be met.
2. Easy to Digest
Idli is a soft and light food. As it is made by the fermentation process, it’s easy to digest. The digestive system won’t be that fast and efficient during pregnancy, consumption of idli will be helpful as it is easily digestible.
3. Low-Fat Content
Fatty content is not good for pregnant women. Idli contains low fats, especially saturated fats. So it is beneficial to maintain a healthy weight during pregnancy. Meanwhile, the risks of being overweight and other such situations can be avoided.
4. Growth and Development of Fetus
The rich combination of rice and lentils makes idli a good source of protein. Protein plays an important role in the growth and development of a baby. It also helps in the maintenance of maternal tissues.
Nutritional Composition of Idli
Components present in idli are beneficial for the growth of mother and baby as well. Here are the important nutrients present in idli and how they are beneficial:
1. Carbohydrates
This nutrient plays a vital role in helping the development of a mother and a baby as well during pregnancy. Carbohydrates are broken down into sugars like glucose, which is the main source of energy for the brain. Carbohydrates supply energy through glucose and are also important vitamins and minerals.
2. Protein
It’s evident that protein is a macronutrient that is essential for the growth of the brain, muscles, and other vital organs. As these organs of a mother undergo changes during pregnancy, the presence of protein is very important in food consumption. This idli contains much of it and it helps.
[Read : Protein During Pregnancy]
3. Iron
During pregnancy, the blood supply in the body increases by up to 50%. Then there should be an equal amount of red blood cells in the body. So more iron is needed to make more red blood cells in the body. Hence adding idli can help in making this possible.
Are There Any Side Effects Of Having Idli During Pregnancy
Though idli is a healthy food for everyone, there will be a saturation level for everything. Excess consumption of anything is not good for health. So, eating a lot of idlis while pregnant is also not good as the rich carbohydrates contained may lead to an increase in blood sugar levels and undue weight gain.
[Read : The Inevitable Weight Gain During Pregnancy]
When Not to Have Idli During Pregnancy?
There is no such restriction to have idli during pregnancy. But having the right quantity of food at the right time is good as it leads to proper digestion. Having an excess of food at an inappropriate time makes the digestive system suffer.
Love for a variety of foods is a never-ending story for everyone. When it comes to pregnant women, they should be conscious while making a daily diet plan. Choosing the right items which catalyze the growth and development of both baby and mother would be a great way. Having idli in the diet plan makes it complete. Being loved by almost everyone, idli is an ideal choice for everyone.
FAQ’s
1. Can Pregnant Women Eat Idli Every Day?
Yes. There is no problem if pregnant women have idli every day. but the consumption quantity has to be maintained and should cross the limit.
2. Can Idli During Pregnancy Cause Gas?
Yes. As idli is a fermented food product and there is an increased chance of acidity and similar issues if consumed in excess quantity daily.
Read Also: Is It Safe To Consume Oats During Pregnancy?
