Ragi is a type of grain that is grown in many Asian and African countries. Eating ragi or nachni during pregnancy has many health benefits for women. Ragi flour rotis or its porridge, chilla/chilla, dosa or laddoos can also be eaten. Some benefits of eating ragi during pregnancy are also mentioned here, let us know.
Benefits of eating Ragi for pregnant women
Is eating ragi really beneficial during pregnancy? Let us know what are the benefits of ragi for a pregnant woman;
1. Calcium content is very high
Ragi is rich in calcium which helps in the development of teeth and bones of the baby. The child growing in the womb gets its nutrition only from its mother, so a pregnant woman should have sufficient amount of calcium in her body. Calcium builds strong teeth, bones and nails for you and your baby.
2. Ragi also has natural fat content
By the way, it is advisable not to eat fat-rich foods during pregnancy. This can cause diabetes, hypertension and heart diseases in women. But natural fat present in ragi is good for health and it does not increase the weight too much.
3. Rich in Fiber
Ragi is good to eat during pregnancy as it is rich in fibre. Therefore, problems like bowel movement and constipation can be avoided by its use.
4. Helps Alleviate Insomnia
Pregnant women often get very little sleep at night. If you consume ragi during this period, you can get a sound sleep at night. The amino acid present in it is tryptophan which helps in reducing insomnia.
5. Ragi does not contain gluten
Many women are allergic to gluten and are strictly forbidden to include it in their diet. Ragi does not contain gluten and it is completely safe to consume ragi during pregnancy. If you are allergic, you should not eat any food made from it. Foods that do not contain gluten help in keeping the unborn baby safe.
6. It helps in increasing breast milk
After birth, the mother needs to produce milk to feed the baby. Properties found in ragi, such as calcium, amino acids and iron, help in increasing the milk of a mother. If you want to breastfeed your child, then you should eat ragi during pregnancy.
7. It controls cholesterol level
Increased cholesterol levels during pregnancy can lead to hypertension and also reduce the chances of normal delivery. The lecithin and methionine present in ragi can effectively control the body’s cholesterol levels.
8. Ragi is also rich in minerals
Ragi contains many types of minerals, such as iron, calcium and so on. These minerals are very important for the development of the baby during pregnancy. You can include ragi in your first trimester diet plan after consulting a doctor or nutritionist.
9. It helps in supplying proteins throughout the body
During pregnancy, the body needs a lot of protein. It also helps in the development of the fetus in the womb. Ragi is one of the most important food items for vegetarians as it fulfills the protein requirements of the child.
10. It is rich in iron
Ragi contains a lot of iron which is very important during pregnancy to nourish the mother and the baby. It helps in boosting immunity and keeps the mother full of energy for the whole day.
Ragi Dosa Recipe
Apart from being delicious, ragi dosa also provides you with nutrition, so whenever you have a craving for South-Indian food, you can cook and eat ragi dosa for yourself.
Material
- Ragi flour – 1 cup
- Semolina – 1/2 cup
- Rice flour – 1/3 cup
- Curd – 1/2 cup
- Onion (chopped) – 1
- Coriander (chopped) – 2 tbsp
- Curry leaves – 5-6
- Cumin – 1 tsp
- Black pepper – 1/2 tsp
- Salt – 1 tsp
- Water – 4 cups
- oil – as required
Method
- Take ragi flour, semolina and rice flour in a large bowl.
- Now add all the ingredients except water and mix well.
- Add 1-2 cups of water to the mixture and mix till the batter is ready. Keep in mind that there should not be lumps in it.
- Keep the batter covered for about 15-20 minutes.
- To make the consistency of the batter a little thinner, slowly add the remaining water while stirring it.
- Now put a griddle on the flame and apply some oil in it.
- Pour a little batter in the center of the griddle and spread it outwards in a circular motion to a sufficient size and thickness.
- Now sprinkle some oil over the dosa.
- When the color of the dosa becomes light brown from one side, flip it and roast it from the other side for 2-3 minutes.
- After the dosa is cooked, fold it and keep it in a plate and serve it with sambhar and chutney.
Eating ragi during pregnancy has many benefits for women during pregnancy and even after delivery. It helps in repairing cells and tissues and also provides energy. Both ragi and ragi flour are beneficial for pregnancy and including it in your diet in the first trimester of pregnancy can give you a lot of benefits.
