Is It Safe To Eat Prunes During Pregnancy?

What Are Prunes?

Prunes are actually dry plums and are a wonderful and healthy food option all over the world. They are an excellent source of nutrition and can safely be eaten by everybody even while you are pregnant. Though they rarely have any side effects, it is always wise to consult your doctor before including prunes in your daily diet. This is because each pregnancy is different and whether you can safely consume them depends on each one’s personal health condition during your pregnancy.

Nutritive Value of Prunes

According to the source, 50 grams of prunes, which is around 5 prunes, provide 115 calories. It also holds;

Is Prune Safe During Pregnancy?

Yes, prunes are safe during pregnancy. They are a must-have in your pregnancy diet because of their high nutrient content. As long as you stick to the “moderation” rule, eating prunes during pregnancy is safe.

In spite of the fact that prunes tend to be safe and healthy, you should keep in mind that each pregnancy is unique. You will need to consider your overall health when deciding whether you can consume prunes during pregnancy.

You can ask your doctor how much prunes you can eat safely. It is best to consult your doctor. In general, prunes help to reduce hunger instantly. Therefore, prunes can make a perfect snack for pregnant women, as they provide a wide range of nutrients and vitamins as a bonus.

Health Benefits of Eating Prunes During Pregnancy

Given below are some of the main benefits of eating prunes:

1. Excellent For Combat Constipation

Prunes help to keep constipation in check and help to restore good bowel motions. One of the most common issues most pregnant women have is constipation or other kinds of bowel difficulties. Due to their high fiber content, prunes are an ideal choice to help to relieve constipation symptoms and help to bring your bowel movements to normalcy.

2. Help Combat Iron Deficiency

Prunes are an excellent choice to ward off anemia and hike up the iron levels in your system. One of the major nutrients absolutely necessary for the growth and development of that precious bundle growing inside you is iron and prunes have plenty of it. During pregnancy, the requirement for iron increases significantly, and just the usual stuff you eat will simply not suffice. Prunes help correct this deficiency by assisting to improve hemoglobin and arrest anemia.

3. Aid in Improving Your Immunity System

During pregnancy, a woman must be extremely careful as certain infections can interfere with the pregnancy and affect the growth and development of the fetus. Allergies are also frequent when you are pregnant. Prunes play a significant role in improving your immune system, so you don’t fall sick frequently.

4. Help in Combating Nausea

Morning sickness is common during pregnancy and is of huge inconvenience for a pregnant woman who may struggle to keep her intake in. Prunes help combat morning sickness and ease discomfort.

5. Keep Blood Pressure and Depression at Bay

As prunes are veritable sources of potassium they help in lowering blood pressure, managing tension, and avoiding depression.

6. Maintain Your Skin in Top Shape

Prunes are ideal to work wonders on your skin keeping it soft and beautiful. They are even good for your baby’s skin too.

7. Prunes are Also Helpful in Averting Pain in the Joints

A lot of women experience cramps and pain in the joints during their pregnancy period. Consuming prunes on a regular basis is quite effective in averting and getting relief from these discomforts. Prunes have also been known to assist in avoiding any kind of inflammation which can occur during your pregnancy period.

8. Good For Your Baby’s Eyes

Prunes are proven to also be quite effective in the development of your unborn baby’s eyes too.

9. Prunes Help to Cleanse Your System

Prunes contain traces of chlorogenic and neo-chlorogenic acids, which belong to the hydroxycinnamic acid family. These acids are proven to act as excellent radical scavengers while you are pregnant, giving your system a good cleanse.

However, there are also some disadvantages to consuming too many prunes during your pregnancy period. Any food for that matter, if overeaten can trigger some ill effects and the same applies in the case of this dry fruit as well.

[Read: Eating Dates During Pregnancy]

Probable Risks Associated With Eating Prunes When Pregnant

Excess consumption of prunes can reduce your appetite for the next meal, thereby, lowering your required amount of calories and nutrition consumption, which is absolutely necessary for you and your baby inside you.

• Prunes are known to be an excellent laxative. For this reason, overeating prunes can trigger diarrhea.
• Eating prunes in excess can cause unpleasant gastric disorders like flatulence and bloating of your tummy.

Anyhow, these probable after-effects are not yet proven and can only be triggered if you happen to overeat prunes.

The fact that prunes are an ideal nutritional supplement during your pregnancy cannot be denied. Prunes are beyond doubt a nutritive and tasty snacking option to reach out whenever those hunger pangs hit you during those nine months. You could also opt for prune juice if you do not feel like eating this dry fruit as prune juice is quite tasty and refreshing too.

So the best option would be to consult your doctor before you add prunes to your pregnancy diet and make sure they are absolutely safe and beneficial for you to consume in limited quantities. You can be sure to experience its wonderful positive effects as soon as you begin munching them.

[Read: Figs During Pregnancy]

FAQ’s

1. Can Prunes Cause Tooth Decay During Pregnancy?

Dry fruits tend to stick to the teeth. If not cleaned properly, they can decay teeth. Always ensure there are no bits sticking to the teeth.

2. Can Prunes Help My Unborn Baby?

Yes, it can. it is rich in many vitamins. It can promote the baby’s immunity as well as eyesight.

3. Can Prunes Help With PPD?

Yes, it can. it has high levels of potassium. This is important to reduce stress and depression.

4. Can Prunes Help With Morning Sickness?

Yes, they can. they have a distinct taste. They can help reduce nausea.

Read Also: Raisins During Pregnancy- 10 Amazing Health Benefits