Pregnant women eat eggplant: 7 reasons to eat, 4 reasons to avoid

Whether pregnant women can eat eggplant, it is not a question of many pregnant mothers. If eaten in moderation, eggplant will be a good food for you.

During pregnancy , there are certain foods that a pregnant woman should not eat as they are dangerous to the fetus. In addition, many word of mouth that eggplant is also on this list. However, the truth is not necessarily true. The following article will help you answer questions about whether pregnant women can eat eggplant as well as notes attached.

Can pregnant women eat eggplant?

According to experts, eggplant is considered a fairly safe food to enjoy during pregnancy if pregnant women eat eggplant in a moderate amount. Eggplant is low in saturated fat and cholesterol and is rich in fiber, vitamin K, folate, potassium, phosphorus and many other essential vitamins and minerals.

In 100g of eggplant contains about:

Fiber: 3g

Potassium: 229mg

Magnesium: 14mg

Phosphorus: 24mg

Folate: 22mcg

Vitamin K: 3.5mcg.

The effects of eggplant on pregnant women

Some of the benefits when pregnant women eat eggplant include:

1. Promote fetal growth

Eggplant is an excellent source of nutrients niacin, vitamins A, B, E ... which are essential for the development of the fetus. This fruit contains minerals such as potassium, copper, iron and manganese to help maintain electrolytes, increase blood supply, and significantly increase hemoglobin.

2. Prevent birth defects

Folate plays an essential role in fetal brain development and cognitive ability. Pregnant women eat eggplant will help reduce the risk of neural tube defects or related diseases.

3. Regulating blood sugar

The mother elected to eat eggplant helps control the increase in blood sugar and thus supports blood sugar control if pregnant women unfortunately have gestational diabetes .

4. Aids in digestion

The fiber in eggplant helps reduce constipation and improves the body's absorption of nutrients. Pregnant women eat eggplant also reduces the risk of hemorrhoids during pregnancy or irritable bowel syndrome in pregnant mothers .

5. Protect cells from damage

Eggplant peels contain an organic compound called nasunin. This is an antioxidant that protects the body's cells from free radical damage. It also prevents excess accumulation of iron, which is linked to an increased risk of heart disease and cancer.

6. Reduce bad cholesterol

Pregnant women eat eggplant is believed to reduce harmful cholesterol levels and increase good cholesterol levels in the blood, thereby helping pregnant women have a healthy heart.

7. Control hypertension

If you have high blood pressure during pregnancy , you can consider eggplant as a food aid to alleviate the disease. Bioflavonoids in eggplant help lower blood pressure, improve heart health as well as prevent the risk of complications during pregnancy, such as pre-eclampsia .

Side effects when pregnant women eat eggplant

Although there are quite good health benefits, eggplant can still cause some side effects if pregnant women eat eggplant too much, such as:

Increased risk of miscarriage: Eggplant fruit contains high levels of phytohormone, which stimulates menstruation and helps cure menstrual problems such as amenorrhea. This is the reason why pregnant women eat eggplant every day to increase the risk of miscarriage.

Highly Acidic: Eggplant can trigger acid problems and even cause discomfort during pregnancy

Indigestion: If you eat eggplant that is not properly cooked, you will easily develop undesirable digestive problems during this sensitive phase. Pregnant mothers are also susceptible to hypersensitivity to different foods.

Increased risk of preterm birth: The mother elected to accidentally eat too much eggplant during pregnancy, plus this fruit if not washed and cleaned properly can also cause birth. This is caused by the presence of toxoplasmosis in the soil.

How to eat eggplant safe for pregnant women

After having discussed the pros and cons of eating eggplant, aFamilyToday Health will recommend safe, delicious ways to eat eggplant:

Rinse the eggplant under running water and soak it with warm salt water

Only choose to buy eggplant with smooth skin, firm grip

Cook eggplant at the right temperature, not raw

Do not buy fruit with cracks, wrinkled skin, waterlogging and unusual color or spots.

Choose small eggplants as they taste better and are fresh. It is easy for large fruits to have a bitter and unpleasant taste.

Some delicious eggplant dishes that pregnant mothers can try to cook include:

Grilled eggplant with onion oil

Stir-fried eggplant with garlic

Eggplant with tomato sauce

Stir-fried eggplant with dried shrimp

Stir-fried eggplant with pork satay.

Hope the information in the article has helped you answer the question if pregnant women should eat eggplant / The fresh eggplant can easily knock down any pregnant mother who loves food because they can be processed according to many ways. Although the side effects will cause you to consider, experts do not give a warning that pregnant women need to avoid this dish completely, but only enjoy it in moderation.