Can pregnant women eat peanuts?

The nutrition of a pregnant woman is a very important issue that every expectant mother should attend to. The food should be healthy and natural, the diet should be varied, well balanced, so that the baby does not need anything in the womb. Every day, a woman should consume dairy products, meat, cereals, vegetables, herbs, fruits. 1-2 times a week you need to add fish, berries, nuts to the menu. Today we’ll talk about peanuts, its beneficial properties and contraindications during pregnancy. After all, this is a very frequent guest in the bags of expectant mothers - salted peanuts are not only useful, they have a deep attractive taste, which is difficult to refuse!

The beneficial properties of peanuts during pregnancy

Peanuts, or peanuts, are legumes that are often present on our table. It is consumed raw, fried and soaked, but peanut butter is much more common. This is a wonderful nutritious breakfast that will appeal to any person, especially a pregnant woman. Besides its amazingly rich flavor, peanuts can be incredibly healthy. In its composition, you can find a variety of vitamins and minerals, dietary fiber, saccharides, starch. Peanuts have a low cost, it is perfectly stored and assimilated, this makes the product indispensable in the diet of a pregnant woman.

1. Peanuts are able to dilate blood vessels, this helps to get rid of headaches and blood pressure.
2. Scientific studies have proven that peanuts contribute to the activation of mental abilities, increases concentration and performance. This is especially useful for pregnant women who continue to work and study.
3. Peanuts lower blood cholesterol.
4. Peanuts are useful for varicose veins. Regular consumption of walnut tones blood vessels, makes them more elastic and mobile. As weight increases during pregnancy and hormones are destabilized, the risk of developing varicose veins is very high.
5. Peanuts contribute to the production of tryptophan - a substance for the synthesis of serotonin, a hormone of joy and pleasure. This means that peanuts are able to cheer up, relieve depression and despondency.
6. Peanuts normalize the hormonal background of a woman during pregnancy, which will help get rid of mood swings, tearfulness and irritability.
7. The abundance of fiber helps to cope with constipation without difficulty.
8. Peanuts belong to legumes, they perfectly reduce blood sugar.

Peanuts have a lot of vegetable protein, which is the building material for muscles and tissues. That is why peanuts are recommended for weightlifters, bodybuilders and pregnant women. But there are nuts you need with great care.

What is the harm of peanuts during pregnancy?

Today, American doctors are sounding the alarm - the number of people allergic to peanuts is constantly growing. Scientific studies have proven that in 70% of cases a baby is allergic to peanuts if the mother regularly consumed this product during pregnancy. Peanuts are considered the strongest allergen, and the reaction is accompanied by cough, suffocation and even anaphylactic shock. That is why peanuts are classified as high-risk products. If you are not allergic to a nut, you should still not lean on the product during pregnancy to reduce the risk of allergies in the baby. The abuse of peanuts can lead to other unpleasant consequences.

1. Peanuts are very high in calories, with just 100 grams of kernels containing over 500 kcal.Moreover, peanuts increase appetite, which makes you eat even more of this nut.
2. Peanuts are very difficult and long to digest, they should be consumed separately from other products, preferably during a snack - for afternoon tea or lunch.
3. With obesity and a tendency to overweight, peanuts are strictly contraindicated. If a woman during pregnancy is afraid to feed the fetus, it is better to refuse such a treat.
4. The intestines are difficult to digest peanuts, so after eating it, a woman may experience bloating, flatulence, gas formation. During pregnancy, this causes serious inconvenience, since an enlarged intestine puts great pressure on the growing uterus.
5. The abuse of peanuts can cause the active production of bile, after such an abundant meal, nausea and vomiting can occur. Remember that dehydration is extremely dangerous for the baby in the womb.
6. Very often on sale there is not simple, but salted peanuts, which are bought up much faster. Peanuts themselves are a dubious and very controversial product, and salty brings a lot of additional risks. After all, salt is a fluid retention in the body, swelling, heartburn, etc.
7. Peanuts are rich in erucic acid, which in large quantities is dangerous for the heart and liver.

Summing up, we can say that peanuts can be eaten during pregnancy, but in small quantities, observing the permissible norm. If a woman eats 50-70 grams of peeled kernels once a week, then nothing bad will happen to her and her baby, the risk of developing an allergy is minimal. A large amount of allergen is found in red walnut skin. Therefore, it is best to eat roasted peanuts, which are easy to peel. Of course, it will not work out completely to get rid of the allergen, but it is possible to minimize its concentration in the product. In addition, when frying, the amount of useful antioxidants in the composition of the nut increases several times.

Sometimes a woman’s food preferences during pregnancy are very strong and there is no way to refuse them. If you want to feast on peanuts, know the measure - be careful not to overdo it. Better substitute peanuts with other nuts - almonds or cashews. They are much safer!

Video: How to Choose Healthy Peanuts