Pregnancy is a time when women tend to have strange food cravings. If you are pregnant, you may often crave for foods that may be good or bad for your health as well as your baby’s. During pregnancy, you will be eating a lot of nutritious foods. But often you would be tempted to eat some such things which might be palatable to your tongue but are not really nutritious! For example, ice cream is one such yummylicious item that you may be craving for. But can you eat ice cream during pregnancy, is it really safe? You might think that a scoop of your favorite ice cream won’t harm your baby, but are you so sure?
Is it safe to eat ice cream during pregnancy?
Ice cream is a sweet frozen dessert usually made from milk products with the addition of fruit or flavors. We all love to eat ice cream. But if a pregnant woman has a craving for ice cream, she should think twice before splurging on ice cream and it is only for her own good. But we have good news. A pregnant woman can eat ice cream in moderation. Yes! After making sure that the ice cream is prepared hygienically, you can enjoy your favorite ice cream flavor. Sometimes you can satisfy this craving of yours. However, if you are allergic to any flavor, or have a medical condition like diabetes , obesity, or cold, consult your doctor. If you are pregnant, it is better to avoid doing this.
nutritional value of ice cream
Although ice cream is not a healthy and nutritious food, it can supply you with essential nutrients like calcium, vitamins and minerals.
A 100 gram serving of vanilla ice cream contains about 47% fat, of which 70% is saturated fat, about 42% carbohydrates and about 6–7% protein as its major constituents. In terms of calories, a standard scoop of 100 grams provides 207 calories. Nowadays, healthier versions of ice cream are also available. You can buy low-fat, sugar-free, and yogurt-based ice cream. You also get moderate amounts of vitamins like vitamin A and vitamin B12 from ice cream. A 100 gram scoop provides the body with 20% of the RDA of phosphorus and 17% of essential calcium, both of which are important for healthy bones, joints, other musculoskeletal tissues and proper heart function.
How much ice cream should a pregnant woman eat in a day?
Ice cream is high in fat which can lower your body temperature. Consuming it in excessive amounts can affect your body’s metabolism and cause digestive system problems. You can enjoy it once in a while.
These days, there are so many flavors of ice cream that would have been unimaginable just a decade ago. However, some flavors, such as coffee and green tea, contain caffeine. Although the amount of caffeine present in these is almost negligible, you should avoid excessive intake if you choose one of these flavors.
Possible side effects of eating ice cream while pregnant
You must know that excess of anything is harmful. So the same thing applies to ice cream as well. Eating too much ice cream can cause the following problems.
1. Infection
You are at risk of certain infections like listeria from ice cream because this bacteria; Thrives at very low temperatures. If the milk used to make ice cream is not pasteurized, you can still be infected. These infections during pregnancy can affect the growth of the placenta and the production of amniotic fluid and can cause congenital infections in the baby. These can lead to premature delivery, stillbirth or miscarriage.
2. Weight gain
Since ice cream is high in calories and fat, if you consume it in excess or on a daily basis, it is possible that it may lead to unnecessary or excess weight gain which may lead to complications in delivery.
risk of gestational diabetes
Ice cream is high in sugar, which can increase your chances of impaired glucose tolerance. Due to which you may be at risk of gestational diabetes.
4. Sinusitis and respiratory infections
During pregnancy, the immune system of a pregnant woman weakens. Eating too much ice cream can lead to sinus and respiratory problems.
Myths about eating ice cream during pregnancy
Apart from the benefits and side effects of ice cream during pregnancy, there are some misconceptions related to it, for example, it is believed that eating ice cream because it is cold can have adverse effects on the baby’s brain. This is not proved by any scientific data or study. As long as there is no dreaded cold and an excess of cold foods in your diet and lifestyle, cold may not affect the fetus.
Things to keep in mind while consuming ice cream during pregnancy
By now you must be fully aware that ice cream is not a safe food during pregnancy as it can lead to potential side effects, however, you can still enjoy it once in a while if ice cream, standard hygiene practices are followed. Made by following. Keep these points in mind while buying ice cream, and enjoy!
- Is the ice cream you are consuming made from pasteurized milk? If yes, then rest assured and enjoy.
- Always buy ice cream from a well-known brand and a reputed shop that follows hygiene.
- Avoid eating ice cream sold by street vendors and at fairs as there is a lack of hygiene in such places. Remember that even ice cream kept in the freezer can grow bacteria.
- If you’re looking for a healthier option, we suggest you try ‘low-fat’ or ‘light’ ice cream, which is available in abundance these days. For example, you can also buy frozen yogurt ice cream.
During pregnancy, eat as healthy a diet as possible. While a healthy diet rich in nutritious foods doesn’t mean you have to suppress your cravings, you can enjoy a scoop of ice cream now and then. Cleanliness, what you are eating and visit your doctor for early detection and treatment of any problem along with periodic medical consultation. By consuming ice cream, you can stay away from the stress of pregnancy. Enjoy it, but be mindful of the quantity you eat.
