Eating mangoes during pregnancy, what are the benefits and risks?

Mango is the fruit most sought after by pregnant women during cravings. The sour-sweet taste can indeed get rid of nausea during pregnancy, but are there any other benefits of eating mangoes during pregnancy? What about the risks if you eat too much?

Various benefits of eating mangoes during pregnancy

Mangoes contain many vitamins and minerals that are important for pregnant women and their babies in the womb, such as vitamin C, vitamin A, folic acid, B vitamins, potassium, calcium, iron and magnesium. Apart from that, this fruit also provides protein, fiber, calories and healthy fats.

Here are the benefits of eating mangoes during pregnancy, such as:

1. Prevent anemia

Mango contains vitamin C and iron. Iron is needed by the body to maintain the availability of the amount of blood in the body. Meanwhile, vitamin C helps the body to absorb iron from mangoes and other foods. The combination of vitamin C and iron helps prevent women from experiencing anemia during pregnancy or later in childbirth.

2. Supports fetal development

Folic acid in mangoes helps the development and formation of the brain and spinal cord of the fetus while in the womb. Meeting the needs of folic acid during pregnancy also helps prevent the risk of premature birth or neural tube defects at birth, one of which is spina bifida.

In addition, vitamin A in mangoes helps form baby teeth and bones, as well as the development of the eye system, heart system, lungs, and kidneys.

3. Maintain digestive health

Mangoes which are high in fiber can help prevent constipation which is common in the first trimester of pregnancy. In addition, fiber is digested longer, which makes pregnant women full longer and avoids eating unhealthy snacks.

4. High in antioxidants

Vitamin C in mangoes is an antioxidant that helps the body ward off free radicals. Free radicals are suspected to be the cause of various diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer's.

Foods high in oxidants help maintain the overall health of the mother and baby's body, as well as lower the risk of cancer.

5. Prevent preeclampsia

Some pregnant women are prone to developing high blood pressure once they reach 20 weeks of gestation and over, which is known as preeclampsia. This condition is not only dangerous for the mother, but also for the fetus in the womb. The magnesium present in mangoes helps lower blood pressure thereby reducing the risk of preeclampsia.

6. Reducing the symptoms of morning sickness

Morning sickness common in pregnant women. However, the symptoms of nausea it causes can cause food that should be digested by the body to vomit out. In some cases, morning sickness can cause fatigue and be worse. Vitamin B6 in mangoes is the key to relieving pregnant women from symptoms of nausea as a result morning sickness.

7. Balancing body fluids

Pregnant women need twice as much fluid intake as non-pregnant women in order not to become dehydrated. Mango which is rich in electrolytes helps maintain body fluid balance. In addition, electrolytes also play a role in regulating the work of the brain, heart and muscles to keep functioning normally.

As a result, if you eat too much mango while pregnant

Everything in excess is certainly not good for the body, including eating too much mango. In addition to causing heartburn and diarrhea, some sensitive women can experience an allergic reaction from the sap on the mango skin.

Mango is also still a fruit that is high in sugar, so eating too much mango can contribute to weight gain during pregnancy as well as increase the risk of gestational diabetes.

So, just eat mangoes properly.

Healthy tips for eating mangoes

Although the fruit is easy to find, there are a number of things you need to pay attention to before starting to drink mangoes while pregnant.

Choose mangoes that are naturally ripe from the tree, not those that are ripe with chemicals. These chemicals can cause tingling reactions, headaches, seizures, and even lead to poisoning.

Wash the fruit first before eating to avoid contamination of bacteria, chemical residues, and sap on the skin. Peel the mango skin clean so that you don't get exposed to the sap, which may still be stuck.

Don't forget to wash your hands before eating.