Pregnancy is a period that requires an intense sense of lifestyle management. You have to pick the right kind of food as your body demands extra strength to deal with the pregnancy. Obviously, you may need to prohibit some of your most loved dishes from your menu. Also, you have to incorporate some nourishment into your pregnancy menu that you are not used to eating. So where does Jamuns figure? Are Jamuns safe during pregnancy?
Some of the expecting mothers like to eat tangy and sweet Jamun, also called the black plum or the Indian Blackberry. Apart from its taste, Jamun offers numerous medical advantages for pregnant women. Are you craving to eat Jamun fruit? Are you not sure about eating it amid pregnancy? Very likely, this article will help to clear most of the doubts regarding eating Jamun amid pregnancy.
In This Article
- What is a Jamun?
- Is it Safe to Eat Jamuns During Pregnancy?
- How Many Jamuns Can I Have During My Pregnancy?
- 10 Amazing Benefits of Eating Jamuns During Pregnancy
- What Precautions Should I Take While Eating Jamuns During Pregnancy?
- When Should I Avoid Eating Jamuns in the Course of Pregnancy?
- How Can I Select Healthy Jamuns?
- FAQ’s
What is a Jamun?
Jamun is a heavenly plum-like summer fruit. It tastes sweet and tangy and is rich in vitamins and minerals. It is common on the list of cravings of pregnant women. Not only the fruit, but also the bark, leaves, and seeds of this tropical plant have curative properties.
Is it Safe to Eat Jamuns During Pregnancy?
Despite the fact that you may find several sources advocating against eating Jamun amid pregnancy (claiming that it will create dark spots in the unborn baby’s skin), none of it has been clinically proven. Hence, there is no harm in eating Jamun moderately during pregnancy.
Moreover, the fruit is blessed with high antioxidant content and nutrients that are capable of protecting the unborn baby and promoting fetal growth and development.
How Many Jamuns Can I Have During My Pregnancy?
Eating 8 to 10 Jamuns a day definitely will not cause any trouble when you are expecting. Therefore, never miss all the medical advantages of your favorite fruit.
10 Amazing Benefits of Eating Jamuns During Pregnancy
Eating Jamun in the course of pregnancy has amazing advantages:
1. Regulates Diabetes
Jamuns are blessed with anti-diabetic properties. They have a very low glycemic index. This anti-diabetic effect, brings down the blood sugar levels around 30%, thereby minimizing the probability of developing secondary complications of gestational diabetes.
2. Helps in Preventing Premature Labor
The high magnesium content of the Jamun helps in keeping premature contractions and preterm labor at bay.
3. Facilitate Bowel Movement
Jamun is loaded with fiber. This helps in regulating bowel movements, thereby, relieving the common issues during pregnancy, such as constipation, hemorrhoids, digestive disorders, etc.
4. Helps in Getting Rid of Fatigue and Stress
The high content of antioxidants and potassium content of the Jamuns helps the expecting mother to eliminate fatigue and stress, thereby, helping her to stay energized throughout the day.
5. Strengthen Bone Health and Immunity
Jamuns contain an increased amount of vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin D, iron, potassium, and calcium. These vitamins and minerals help in increasing immunity and strengthening the bones in the course of pregnancy.
6. Enhance Eyesight of the Baby
Adequate amounts of vitamin A present in the Jamun positively influences the baby’s eyesight.
7. Promotes Oral Health
The antibacterial properties of Jamun are very beneficial in treating oral issues. Therefore, eating some Jamuns amid pregnancy shields you from destructive dental issues and helps in promoting your oral health generously.
8. Helps in Regulating Blood Pressure
Jamuns are loaded with potassium (100 gms of Jamun contain around 55 mg of potassium). Therefore, eating Jamun during pregnancy helps in regulating blood pressure.
9. Prevents Anemia
Because of its high vitamin C content, Jamun helps in absorbing iron. This helps to increase the hemoglobin count, thereby, preventing the commonly found pregnancy anemia.
10. Prevents the Possibility of Cancer
A few therapeutic studies report that Jamun has chemoprotective and radioprotective properties. These properties of Jamun help in suppressing the development of radiation-induced free radicals that cause cancer.
Therefore, eating suitable measures of Jamun in pregnancy shields you from the danger of advancement of cancer.
[Read : Plums During Pregnancy]
What Precautions Should I Take While Eating Jamuns During Pregnancy?
Here are some of the precautions that pregnant women should take while eating pregnancy:
- Never eat Jamuns on an empty stomach.
- Never drink milk immediately after eating Jamun.
- The skin and flesh of the Jamun can be easily damaged by falling on the ground as they are mostly collected by shaking the branches.
- Thus, the fruits, unless handpicked carefully, will have some dust or sand on them. So they need to be cleaned thoroughly before eating.
- Never eat Jamun in excess.
When Should I Avoid Eating Jamuns in the Course of Pregnancy?
In the following circumstances, it is better to avoid this fruit;
1. If You are Prone to Kidney Stone
Jamun is an oxalate-rich fruit. Kidney stones are formed when oxalate binds to calcium. If you are prone to kidney stones, your doctor may have already restricted you from eating oxalate-rich food. In which case, you should avoid eating Jamun.
2. If You are Underweight
In case you have not yet reached your desired pregnancy weight, it is better to switch to other fruits, since Jamun has practically zero calories, preventing an increase in weight.
3. If it Looks Rotten
If the hygienic condition of the Jamun is not upheld and does not look fresh.
How Can I Select Healthy Jamun?
The goodness of the fruit can only benefit if its quality is well maintained. Therefore, keep in mind these tips while selecting Jamun:
- While buying Jamuns, omit the deformed, discolored, or bruised fruit, as there is no standard pattern of grading and packaging the fruit in the local grocery stores.
- Never buy the dwindled, hard textured, or the under ripped Jamun.
- Choose the Jamun that are full-bloomed, soft, pulpy, dark purple in color.
- Jamun fruits can go bad quickly and cannot be stored for more than 2 days at room temperature. Therefore, it is recommended to pack them in holed polyethylene bags or net bags and then store them under refrigeration. These will help to last the freshness of the fruit up to approximately 2 weeks.
Well, now that you know jamuns are safe during pregnancy, you can go ahead and have it as a snack instead of munching on junk food. However, always keep your doctor notified about your eating habits so that they can guide you in the right direction.
[Read : Are Blackberries Safe During Pregnancy?]
FAQ’s
1. Can Jamuns Help With Bleeding Gums During Pregnancy?
Many pregnant women experience bleeding gums. The anti bacterial properties in the leaves of jamun can help. You can powder the dried leaves and use as a tooth powder to help bleeding gums.
2. Are Jamuns a Safe Snack During Pregnancy?
Jamuns are packed with good benefits. They can be eaten as it is. They don’t add unnecessary calories, making them a great snack.
3. Can Jamuns Cause Acidity?
The sour taste in jamun can cause acidic effect in your system. Never have them on an empty stomach. Drinking milk immediately after eating jamuns is also not recommended.
4. Can I Eat Jamun at Night When am Pregnant?
Yes, you can. These are healthy and a great snack. Ensure you don’t have a glass of milk immediately after eating jamuns.
Read Also: Amla During Pregnancy – Benefits And Precautions
