12 effects of melon on the health of pregnant women

Pregnant women who eat melon will get many benefits if this fruit is cleaned and processed properly. One of the effects of melon is to help protect the baby from the risk of neural tube defects.

Fruits and vegetables are essential foods in pregnancy because they provide many vitamins and minerals necessary for fetal growth and development. Among the fruits, cantaloupe is a choice that you can consider because this fruit not only contains many antioxidants but also contains essential vitamins and minerals for the body. To learn more about the health benefits of cantaloupe for pregnant women, please see the following shares of aFamilyToday Health.

Pregnant women eat melon good?

Whether pregnant women eat melon well is a common question of many pregnant women. According to nutrition experts, melon is a fruit quite safe and good for health if pregnant women eat in moderation. Cantaloupe is low in calories but packed with nutrients and fiber, making this fruit an ideal snack for pregnant women. However, sometimes melon peels can be contaminated with listeria , a bacteria that can be harmful to pregnant women. Therefore, when eating, you should pay attention to how to prepare it to ensure the health of both you and your baby.

Nutritional composition of melon

Cantaloup contains many vitamins and minerals that are essential for pregnant women. Specifically, this fruit is rich in vitamins A, B1, C and other minerals such as iron, calcium and phosphorus. In particular, in the flesh of melon also contains a large amount of folic acid, an extremely important nutrient that pregnant women must supplement regularly to prevent the risk of  neural tube defects in the fetus . In addition, cantaloupe also contains zinc, an essential nutrient for fetal tissue development.

Effects of melon on pregnant women

Pregnant women who eat a lot of melon during pregnancy can get a lot of health benefits such as:

1. Preventing neural tube defects in the fetus

The first 3 months of pregnancy is the time when the baby's neural tube and brain are formed and developed. Therefore, pregnant women eat a lot of cantaloupe will help supplement the full amount of vitamin B9 that the baby needs, thereby helping prevent neural tube defects in the fetus. It can be said that this is one of the very important benefits that pregnant women should consider adding cantaloupe to the diet.

2. Increase immunity

Cantaloup contains carotenoids, an antioxidant that works to prevent the formation of free radicals in the body. Therefore, eating a lot of cantaloupe not only helps in the formation of cells but also strengthens the immune system for both mother and baby.

3. The effects of melon support heartburn treatment

Heartburn is a fairly common and frequent symptom of pregnancy that makes pregnant women feel uncomfortable in the second and third trimesters. Cantaloup is a food that can help you "fight off" this worry because in it has a lot of vitamin C, a nutrient that not only helps support digestion but also reduces the acidity in the stomach.

4. Prevent anemia

Anemia during pregnancy can be dangerous for mother and baby. Pregnant women eat a lot of cantaloupe can help prevent this situation because in this fruit contains a lot of vitamin C, a substance that helps to support iron absorption into the body.

5. Prevent swelling, leg cramps

Many pregnant women experience swelling and cramps in their legs, especially at night. The cause of this condition is lack of potassium. Cantaloupe is a very rich source of potassium, so eating a lot of cantaloupe is a very good way to overcome this problem.

6. Pregnant women eat melon to enhance eyesight for the baby

Your baby's eyes will begin to develop during the first trimester and complete in the second month of pregnancy. Therefore, during pregnancy, pregnant women should pay attention to supplementing vitamin A for the body. Cantaloup is a fruit that can help you do this because they are rich in vitamin A, which helps reduce the risk of your baby getting eye diseases.

7. Regulate blood pressure

Pregnant women are more likely to have high blood pressure. If this condition persists, pregnant women are at risk for serious pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia. Adding melon to the daily diet is a way for pregnant women to overcome this situation because in melon contains a large amount of essential minerals that help regulate blood pressure.

8. Treatment of constipation

Eating a lot of melon during pregnancy is also a way to prevent constipation during pregnancy . Constipation is often caused by a lack of fiber in the diet. Cantaloup can help to deal with this concern, as it has a very high fiber content.

9. The effects of melon in weight control

Cantaloupe is a very healthy fruit because it contains very few calories. So pregnant women can use melon as a snack, this not only helps you feel full, but also limits uncontrolled weight gain.

10. Improve baby's bone health

During the formation of bones and teeth, the fetus will take calcium from the mother's body. Therefore, pregnant women need to pay more attention to supplementing this mineral and eating more cantaloupe is the easiest way for you to do this.

11. Support for postpartum recovery

Cantaloup not only brings many benefits for pregnancy but it also greatly aids the recovery of women after giving birth. Pregnant women who eat a lot of melon will accumulate a large amount of vitamin A and other nutrients, thereby helping you to recover faster after giving birth.

12. Rich in energy

Although not a high calorie food, melon contains a lot of protein and carbohydrates that can be converted into energy. Therefore, eating melon regularly will help ensure mothers and babies are provided with adequate energy every day.

Pregnant women who eat a lot of melon will encounter any problems?

Cantaloupe is a very safe fruit for pregnant women. However, the peel of the cantaloupe can contain listeria, if you are not careful, you can become infected and easily encounter a number of dangerous complications. In addition, if you are prone to a fruit allergy, it is best to avoid this fruit during pregnancy.

Things to keep in mind when eating melon during pregnancy

To avoid listeria infection, you should wash and prepare them carefully before eating. When you buy melon, you should carefully wash the melon under running water, soak it in dilute vinegar for a few minutes and rinse with water before using a clean knife and cutting board to cut the melon. After you cook it, you should thoroughly wash used knives and cutting boards.

Overall, if the melon is properly cleaned and processed, it will be very good for pregnant women to eat this fruit. However, if you have any of these allergic reactions, it's best to stop eating and see your doctor right away.