Myths And Facts Related To Diet During Pregnancy
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Fact Checked
Myths are widely held false beliefs or ideas wherein facts are information or ideas which are evidence-based. There are widely spread misconceptions about the dietary regime that has to be followed during pregnancy to get a fair and healthy baby.
These put the expecting mothers in a dilemma concerning their diet during the most exciting phase of life. And can take an emotional toll throughout the pregnancy resulting in nutritional deficiencies or malnourishment later on.
Following are the myths and facts:
Consuming kesar and pistachio makes your baby fairer
Fact: – There is no scientific evidence that points out pistachio or kesar will make babies fairer. Skin color is genetically designed, and environmental factors will add up. So consuming a specific food does not improve skin color.
Drinking tender coconut water improves baby’s hair growth and complexion
Fact: – Tender coconut water helps in maintaining the electrolyte balance and keeping a check on hydration levels. Consuming too much coconut water during pregnancy might cause variation in your blood glucose level if you are predisposed to GDM (Gestational Diabetes – Increased blood sugar levels during the pregnancy).
Papaya, Pineapple, and Citrus fruits shouldn’t be consumed during pregnancy as it causes abortion
Fact:- There are various hypotheses on the above myth. There were few studies conducted on the mice, and it caused the abortion of the offspring – again, the dosage of the papaya (unripe) wasn’t mentioned in the article. There are no studies conducted on humans due to religious, medical, and consent reasons. So medical practitioners suggest having smaller quantities of these kinds of fruits post 3rd trimester.
Consuming for two individuals during pregnancy is a necessity
Fact:- There is no scientific evidence suggesting that expecting mothers have to eat for two, instead it is checking the quality of the foods over the quantity. Consuming adequate calories rich in macronutrients and micronutrients during pregnancy is widely supported by Dietitians and other healthcare practitioners.
Read a complete guide on 70 early signs of pregnancy in Indian mothers.
Indigestion and bloating are common during pregnancy
Fact:- Indigestion, bloating, and vomiting sensation are common during pregnancy. Fortunately, dietary changes can be made to avoid malnourishment and dehydration without raising other health concerns.
Consuming milk, dairy products, and nuts during pregnancy can cause the fetus to have lactose intolerance and nut allergies later
Fact:- Clinical evidence shows that consumption of soaked nuts, milk, and dairy products during pregnancy helps improve calcium levels, and good fats in the body and helps in the overall development of the fetus.
Follow a restrictive diet during pregnancy to keep oneself in shape
Fact:- It’s not a good idea to keep oneself restricted to calories thinking that you will gain body fat postpartum and get malnourished in the process. A clinically designed dietary regime with high-quality foods which are native to oneself will make you stronger, active, muscular, and energetic during the pregnancy period. A proper amount of calorie intake is a necessity during the pregnancy period.
Consumption of spicy foods during pregnancy can burn your baby’s eye in the womb
Fact:- Spicy food consumption during pregnancy causes heartburn and creates gastric issues for a smaller period due to the physiological and hormonal changes happening in the body. It’s better to reduce the consumption of spicy food to avoid heartburn.
Eating coconut will make the uterus look like coconut and makes the baby hairy
Fact: Clinical evidence shows having a moderate amount of coconut daily will improve the good fats in the body. It won’t promote any kind of hair growth in the baby’s body. So there is no need to get afraid of consuming a small amount of coconut every day.
Eating dal during pregnancy will reduce wound healing
Fact: Eating pulses and lentils during pregnancy is very essential to get a good amount of protein and fiber. This will make sure that there are no issues of constipation, plus faster wound healing without any issue.
Read more on 3 meals a day for weight loss.
Consuming Turmeric during pregnancy complicates the pregnancy and makes your baby yellow
Fact: There are no evidence or scientific papers stating turmeric causes yellow pigmentation or creates complicated pregnancy. Turmeric will help to reduce the chance of having cholesterol-related issues, and curcumin will help in reducing the chance of getting dementia.
You have to eat meat to have a healthy pregnancy
Fact: It’s a personal choice to incorporate meat into the diet. This kind of myth will put vegetarians in trouble – there is no such scientific article stating that one should eat meat during pregnancy. Consuming a moderate amount of meat – if an individual is a non-vegetarian is good. There is no hard and fast rule that you have to eat a specific group of food to make the pregnancy smoother.
Myths are all around, and there are extreme versions of myths related to the diet regime that one has to follow during pregnancy. This has made the life of expectant mothers in a dilemma that they have to follow the footstep of society to have a healthy and happy pregnancy. At times, lack of knowledge and such wrong influence can make the expected mothers a little skeptical to follow the diet regime.
Following a balanced diet along with exercise during the pregnancy period will help to improve the health of the mother and the child. It’s good to take dietary advice from healthcare experts and dietitians before following the myths put forward by the people around you and making things difficult for yourself.
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