You have just discovered you are pregnant and are sick of the monotonous diet you have been following for the past few days. Plantain during pregnancy are a wonderful option if you are looking for some yummy but healthy additions to your pregnancy diet. But is it safe to eat plantains during pregnancy?
Plantains not only taste yummy but are loaded with umpteen nutritional benefits that are perfect during your pregnancy period. Here is everything you need to know about eating plantains during pregnancy.
What are Plantains?
Plantains are tropical fruits that are bigger than bananas and have a thick peel with flesh that is sweet and firm inside. If you buy them green, just leave them for a couple of days till the skin turns yellow, making them ripe enough to eat. They are used as a vegetable and although they belong to the banana family, they need to be cooked before eating.
Plantains can be eaten mashed, boiled, or fried and serve as a staple food loaded with vitamins, folates, and other important nutrients. They are perfectly safe to consume during pregnancy and have immense benefits when included in your pregnancy diet.
Is it Safe To Eat Plantain During Pregnancy?
Yes, you can enjoy plantains during pregnancy and reap their amazing benefits. Some pregnant women take plantains as their staple food during pregnancy. However, don’t overeat them during pregnancy, as it can bring about unwanted side effects.
[Read: Black Mustard During Pregnancy]
Top 15 Benefits of Eating Plantains During Pregnancy
If you are planning to include plantains in your pregnancy diet, but are not sure how it will benefit your pregnancy, then here are some benefits of eating plantains during pregnancy:
1. Rich in Vitamin A
Plantains are rich in Vitamin A as a single serving of cooked or mashed plantains comprises 550 mcg of Vitamin A. This actually meets almost sixty percent of the required Vitamin A for your system. Vitamin A is an excellent antioxidant and also aids to ensure the mucus membranes remain healthy. They also help to enhance your complexion.
2. Excellent Remedy for Nausea
Nausea is no doubt one of the most common ailments that most women who are pregnant suffer from. Plantains have been found to be an excellent remedy for nausea that you experience during this period as they practically are devoid of any smell and also have been proven to be effective for heartburns that one experiences during pregnancy.
3. Loaded With Vitamin C
Plantains are also found to be loaded with Vitamin C or ascorbic acid that plays an important role in the formation of gums, skin, blood vessels, and various other tissues. One requires around 60 gm of vitamin C during pregnancy and consuming a single plantain provides you with half of this requirement.
4. Loaded With Energy and Starch
Plantains are rich in starch. They are, hence, an excellent energy booster. Plantains are extremely beneficial to have a healthy pregnancy.
5. Rich in Folate
Plantains have also been found to be rich in folate, which is absolutely imperative for the healthy growth and development of the baby growing within you. There is a good amount of thiamine and riboflavin in plantains that also help to ensure you have a baby and uneventful pregnancy.
6. Loaded With Iron
Plantains also have sufficient traces of iron in them that helps to avert anemia during pregnancy state.
7. Helps to Ensure Excellent Skin and Eye Health
Vitamin A also is perfect for promoting excellent eye health during conception. It also helps to augment the skin tones that normally develop all kinds of issues during pregnancy.
[Read: Bee Pollen During Pregnancy]
8. Plantains Have Traces of Magnesium Too
Since plantains are rich in magnesium, they play an excellent role in averting heart problems.
9. Makes Bones Stronger
Rich in iron, phosphorous, and magnesium, plantains when had raw are found to be excellent in strengthening bones. It also makes sure that your fetus is developing and growing well.
10. Combats Constipation
Plantains are also loaded with commendable quantities of fiber that are beneficial to enable smooth movements of the bowel and thus helps to combat constipation which is a very common issue while expecting.
Having plantains on a regular basis, thus not only combats constipation problems, but also helps to aid proper digestion which is extremely important during pregnancy.
11. Provides an Excellent Boost to Immunity
With commendable traces of vitamin A and C, plantains act as a wonderful immunity booster against a variety of dangerous infections.
12. Plantains are a Wonderful Diuretic
Plantains have been found to have excellent diuretic properties which aid to ensure that urinary functions are smooth. This property of plantains also helps to avert any issues of bladder and kidney during pregnancy.
13. Loaded With Vitamin B Complex
Rich in Vitamin B complex, having this fruit on a regular basis is found to be helpful in treating neuritis, anemia, and homo-cysteine during this period.
14. Rich in Potassium
Rich in potassium, plantains ensure that your heart is functioning well as they help to keep your levels of blood sugar and heart rate in check and also battle the adverse effects caused by sodium.
All the above-mentioned positive benefits tell you the importance of including plantains in your pregnancy diet. So do go ahead and purchase this wonderful fruit that has umpteen advantages during pregnancy. Look for different recipes that can make plantain interesting to eat during pregnancy as they are no doubt an excellent addition to your pregnancy diet.
Read Also: Persimmon During Pregnancy – Is It Safe?
FAQ’s
1. Can I Consume Plantains That Have Turned Black, When I am Pregnant?
Yes you can. Check if it is firm to touch and has a little yellow on the skin. It may be a little tricky to prepare though.
2. Can I Eat Raw Plantains When Pregnant?
Plantains cannot be eaten raw. They need to be cooked to be edible. You can even fry them and eat.
3. Can Eating Plantain During Pregnancy Harm me or the Baby?
No it cannot. However, too much plantain might be difficult to digest. It might result in diarrhea.
4. Can I Eat Plantains Regularly During Pregnancy?
Yes you can. However, plantains are generally cooked with a lot of oil. This might increase the cholesterol levels in the pregnant woman’s body.
