You are currently pregnant and want to know whether “Can pregnant women eat lychee?” Is this a safe and healthy choice for you and your baby or not? Let’s delve into the details to find out whether it’s advisable for pregnant women to consume lychee and the important considerations when adding this fruit to your daily diet.
Nutritional components of lychee
Let’s examine the nutritional value of this fruit. Lychee primarily consists of water (making up 82%) and carbohydrates (making up 16.5%). According to research, every 100 grams of fresh lychee provides the following key nutrients:
– Calories: 66
– Carbohydrates: 16.5 grams
– Protein: 0.8 grams
– Sugar: 15.2 grams
– Fat: 0.4 grams
– Fiber: 1.3 grams.
Lychee is a nutrient-rich tropical fruit
Can pregnant women eat lychee?
According to traditional beliefs, pregnant women are often advised to avoid eating hot fruits such as guava and lychee during the summer. The reason is that these fruits may create a sense of heat in the body, leading to pimples, rashes, which are not good for the health of both the mother and the baby. Therefore, despite the fondness of many pregnant women for lychee, its consumption should be limited. Moreover, some Eastern beliefs suggest that to maintain balance in the body, pregnant women should avoid “hot and humid foods,” including lychee, as it may provide “toxic” energy causing allergic reactions or rashes on the baby’s skin.
Can pregnant women eat lychee? – The answer is yes.
However, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), pregnant women should diversify their fruit consumption to ensure an adequate supply of necessary nutrients, including lychee.
Guava provides a wealth of vitamin C, potassium, and essential antioxidants for pregnant women. Therefore, the answer to the question “Can pregnant women eat lychee?” is “Yes.” However, guava consumption should not be excessive. Due to its heat and high sugar content, pregnant women need to control the amount of guava consumed.
Furthermore, if pregnant women have gestational diabetes, blood sugar disorders, or gain weight too rapidly, they should limit guava intake.
Benefits of eating lychee during pregnancy
Certainly, mothers-to-be have no more doubts about whether to eat guava during pregnancy or not. Studies have shown that guava contains many beneficial nutrients for the health of pregnant women. Here are the benefits that guava brings to expectant mothers:
1. Immune system boost
Guava, rich in vitamin C, helps strengthen the immune system, protecting the body from infections and common illnesses during pregnancy.
2. Hydration balance
Potassium in guava helps maintain water and mineral balance, supports blood pressure regulation, and reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke.
3. Digestive support
Guava, high in fiber, improves digestion and prevents constipation.
4. Skin benefits
Guava contains numerous antioxidants, preventing skin damage due to oxidation, resulting in radiant and healthy skin.
5. Rich in polyphenols
Guava provides polyphenols, powerful antioxidants that help balance the body and protect the liver. It also supports the prevention of type 2 diabetes.
Can pregnant women eat lychee?
Now that you know whether pregnant women should eat lychee or not, when adding lychee to your diet, pregnant women need to be mindful of the amount consumed daily. Eating too much not only deprives pregnant women of the benefits of lychee but can also lead to complications such as:
1. Heat of lychee
Does eating lychee create heat in the body? Lychee belongs to the category of fruits with heat properties, and excessive consumption can cause discomfort, such as a sore throat, nosebleeds, or mouth ulcers.
2. Risk of gestational diabetes
Does eating a lot of lychee affect it? Lychee is high in sugar, and excessive consumption can lead to a sudden increase in blood sugar, posing a risk of gestational diabetes.
3. Lowering blood sugar
Excessive consumption of fiber can also dangerously lower blood pressure, causing symptoms such as blurred vision, dizziness, cold sweats, nausea, rapid breathing, and fatigue.
4. Medication Interactions
Lychee may increase the risk of bleeding when combined with medications such as aspirin, heparin, warfarin, clopidogrel, naproxen, or ibuprofen.
5. Risk of bleeding
Consuming too much lychee can also lead to bleeding when used with other herbal remedies.
Considerations for pregnant women when eating lychee
Points to note regarding daily lychee dosage:
- According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (USA), pregnant women should consume only 200-400 grams of fruit per day. Therefore, if you want to enjoy guava, pregnant women need to adhere to this recommended range.
- Balance with other fruits: Pregnant women should not exceed 400g of guava per day. Instead, they should combine it with various other fruits to ensure that the total amount of fruit consumed does not exceed 400g per day.
- Avoid eating guava on an empty stomach: Since guava contains a lot of sugar, pregnant women should avoid eating it on an empty stomach. This can cause dizziness, nausea, and weakness due to the body absorbing too much sugar at once. The best time to eat guava is after the main meal, about 1-2 hours later.
- Only eat fresh guava, avoid dried guava: Pregnant women should choose fresh guava to absorb nutrients better. Limit the consumption of dried or dehydrated guava as they often contain preservatives and sugar, which are not good for the health of pregnant women and their babies.
- Seek advice from a doctor before consumption: It’s always best for pregnant women to discuss with a doctor about the amount of guava to eat. Excessive consumption can affect the health of the baby, so it’s essential to consult with a healthcare professional.
- Cases to limit guava consumption: Pregnant women in the last trimester, those at risk of gaining excessive weight, those with gestational diabetes, or blood sugar disorders need to limit or avoid guava consumption entirely.
Lychee’s high sugar content can cause gestational diabetes
This article has provided information on “Can pregnant women eat lychee?” and related knowledge. While eating guava during pregnancy can bring many health benefits to both you and your baby, controlling the dosage and combining it with various fruits is crucial. Remember that consuming guava also requires careful consideration and consultation with experts to protect your health and the health of your baby during this critical period.
Kiểm Duyệt Nội Dung
More than 10 years of marketing communications experience in the medical and health field.
Successfully deployed marketing communication activities, content development and social networking channels for hospital partners, clinics, doctors and medical professionals across the country.
More than 6 years of experience in organizing and producing leading prestigious medical programs in Vietnam, in collaboration with Ho Chi Minh City Television (HTV). Typical programs include Nhật Ký Blouse Trắng, Bác Sĩ Nói Gì, Alo Bác Sĩ Nghe, Nhật Ký Hạnh Phúc, Vui Khỏe Cùng Con, Bác Sỹ Mẹ, v.v.
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