Eating fatty foods during pregnancy, what is allowed?

Pregnant women must maintain their diet as best as possible so that their health and fetal health are optimal. However, the phasecravingswhile pregnant may make you want to eat a lot of food, one of which is fatty foods such as mutton, fish, pizza, and so on. So, can you eat fatty foods while pregnant? Here's the explanation.

What are the consequences of eating fatty foods while pregnant?

Pregnant women are required to eat a variety of healthy foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, protein, and foods containing fatty acids to support the development of the fetus. What about fatty foods, does this mean that they are not good for consumption during pregnancy?

Basically, eating fatty foods while pregnant is fine. The reason is, the benefits of fat for health are many, one of which is for preparation for childbirth and breastfeeding.

However, this does not mean you can freely eat fatty foods while pregnant, huh. Reporting from The Bump, a study published in the journal Frontiers in Endocrinology revealed that eating mostly fatty foods during pregnancy can inhibit the baby's brain development.

Too high intake of fat from food can reduce serotonin levels in babies. Serotonin is a natural chemical in the brain that regulates mood. If the serotonin level is low, the baby will be prone to experiencing anxiety and depression as an adult.

Moreover, the more fatty food portions during pregnancy, the higher the calories. This can cause the fetal metabolic process to be disrupted. In the end, the baby's weight at birth is at risk of being lower than normal weight.

List of fatty foods that are good for consumption during pregnancy

Although pregnant women are still encouraged to eat fatty foods, you still have to choose the types of fats that are good for health. Instead, choose foods that contain unsaturated fats that are rich in EPA and DHA, two types of omega-3s that are beneficial for the physical health and intelligence of babies.

Examples of food sources of unsaturated fats include avocado, salmon, almonds, and corn oil. It should be noted that anything in excess is not good, so keep limiting the amount of unsaturated fat intake to keep it safe for your health.

Eating a quarter to half of an avocado a day is enough to meet your fat needs during pregnancy. By choosing the right type of healthy fat, fetal brain development will be more optimal. It is also beneficial for preventionmood swingwhile pregnant.

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