Let’s know about Carrots During Pregnancy. With time, pregnant women have started becoming alert about this delicate phase of theirs. She does not include anything in her pregnancy diet just like that. Now pregnant women have started doing research about the food item and then deciding whether to eat it or not. Even if they have to eat a normal carrot salad, they consider it important to know its advantages and disadvantages before eating it. If you are also consciously pregnant, then read this article. Here we are telling whether carrots should be consumed during pregnancy or not on the basis of research. Along with this, the benefits of eating carrots during pregnancy and other important things have also been told.
First of all, know whether carrots can be consumed during pregnancy or not.
Is it safe to eat carrots during pregnancy?
Carrots may be safe to consume during pregnancy. It is recommended to include it in the pregnancy diet. Also, pregnant women are asked to eat only carrots while craving for crunchy things.
Vitamin-A present in it has also been said to be good for pregnant women. According to a research, carrots do not cause any harm to pregnancy (2) .
The World Health Organization has also advised pregnant women to include a variety of vegetables and fruits in their pregnancy diet, one of which is carrots.
It is clear that eating carrots during pregnancy is safe. Now let’s look at the benefits of carrots during pregnancy.
Benefits of eating carrots during pregnancy
We are telling further about the benefits of consuming carrots during pregnancy and the benefits of the nutrients present in it to the pregnant and unborn baby.
1. Rich in Vitamin A
The name of carrot is also included in foods rich in Vitamin-A. It contains a good amount of Vitamin A. This vitamin is considered good for preventing eyesight and night blindness (4) .
Vitamin A has been considered important even during pregnancy due to all these benefits. According to research, this vitamin is essential for the pregnant as well as the unborn child. It is known to increase the immunity of both the fetus and the pregnant woman. Not only this, since the arrival of the baby in the womb, vitamin A can help in its growth.
2. Anemia
Anemia is one of the common complications of pregnancy. Hemoglobin decreases due to the physical changes that occur during this period, due to which the problem of anemia can arise . In such a situation, carrots can be consumed. It contains both vitamin A and iron, whose deficiency is also the cause of anemia (5) . On this basis, it can be said that carrots can be included in the anemia diet chart during pregnancy.
3. Rich in Vitamin C
Many nutrients are considered essential in pregnancy, one of which is vitamin C. This vitamin is present in abundance in carrots. A research paper published by NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology) also mentions the benefits of Vitamin C during pregnancy. Research states that consuming vitamin C during pregnancy can prevent pre-eclampsia ie high blood pressure in pregnancy.
Not only this, vitamin C can also help in reducing the risk of intrauterine (inside the womb) growth of the baby and maternal anemia (8) .
According to another research, vitamin C can play an important role in preventing maternal and child deaths before and after delivery (9) . Instead of taking vitamin C supplement just for this, give place to vitamin C rich foods in the diet.
4. Relief from constipation
Constipation is also common during pregnancy . Carrots can also be consumed to get relief from this. Research suggests that carrots have a laxative effect, which can improve digestion and reduce constipation (10) . In addition, carrots also contain fiber, which is said to be essential for relieving constipation ( 11 ) . For this reason, constipation is also counted among the benefits of eating carrots during pregnancy.
5. Prevention of diabetes
Women also have to go through diabetes ie gestational diabetes during pregnancy (12) . Cooked carrots are considered beneficial in this ( 13 ) . In fact, dark yellow vegetables and salads are considered good for diabetes, including carrots (14) . In such a situation, women can give a balanced amount of carrots a place in the pregnancy diet. It is just not clear which effect present in carrots makes it beneficial in the problem of diabetes .
6. Folate
Folate is considered essential for pregnancy and carrots are found in good amounts, folate is believed to help with fetal development as well as protect against birth defects related to the brain. In addition, it can protect the pregnant and fetus from anemia and problems related to the nerves of the brain and spinal cord (16) . In such a situation, pregnant women can increase the level of folate (vitamin B9) in the body by consuming carrots.
7. For Energy
There is a great need for energy during pregnancy, because during this time fatigue is felt more ( 17 ) . In this case, carrots can be consumed. Research suggests that the nutrients present in carrots can provide energy to the body. It is said that the magnesium present in it can also be helpful in energy production (18) . Also, it has an energy value of 126 kilojoules (19) . On this basis, it would not be wrong to call carrots a source of energy.
8. For fetus
Carrot is also beneficial for the pregnant baby. We have already told above that along with the growth of the fetus, it can protect them from birth defects. Not only this, research papers suggest that the antimicrobial effect present in carrots can help destroy pneumonia bacteria
A research published by NCBI states that Vitamin A present in carrots can protect the body from viral infections. Also, it can help in increasing immunity.
Know further how carrots should be included in the diet during pregnancy.
How to include carrots in your diet during pregnancy?
Carrots can be included in the pregnancy diet in many ways, some of which are as follows:
- Can make carrot pudding
- Carrots can be eaten straight as a salad.
- You can drink carrot juice after extracting it.
- Carrots can also be added to mixed juices.
- You can make and eat its vegetable.
- You can make carrot soup and drink it.
Continue reading
Moving ahead in the article, let us have a look at the disadvantages of carrots in pregnancy.
Side Effects of Eating Carrot While Pregnant
Eating carrots in moderation is safe during pregnancy, but consuming too much of them can cause some harm.
- Vitamin A is high in carrots. In such a situation, if there is an excess of vitamin A, birth defects related to the heart and central nervous system can occur.
- Increasing the amount of vitamin A present in carrots in the body can cause miscarriage.
- Sensitive women are at risk of allergy to carrots.
- Carotene pigments present in carrots can also lead to carotenemia. In this problem, the color of the skin becomes yellow.
- Preserved carrot juice can cause botulism-like poisoning, which is caused by Clostridium botulinum bacteria.
It is clear from many scientific studies that the benefits of eating carrots during pregnancy are many. Both the pregnant baby and the pregnant get the benefits of eating carrots. Just include it in your diet in limited quantity. Also, if there is any kind of complication related to pregnancy, then before consuming carrots during pregnancy, take the advice of a dietitian.
