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Consuming Dates during Pregnancy

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  • September 28, 2021
  • MKB Team

Dates have the unique distinction to be the world’s oldest cultivated fruit with a unique and fascinating history that goes back thousands of years. Dates bring a lot of health benefits on the table, especially if you are a pregnant mom. Dates are perfectly safe to be consumed during your pregnancy. Make sure you have a date with dates!

 

Health Benefits of Eating Dates

Dates are packed with essential vitamins and minerals. They are also rich in antioxidants, thus helping to protect the body from cell damage. Dates form an integral part of the balanced diet during pregnancy with the key nutrients that are needed for you and your baby. Dietary fibre in dates is in abundance, and this helps with bowel movements. Four dates have approximately 6.7 grams of dietary fibre, and that is equal to almost 25% of the required daily intake of 20 to 35 grams that is recommended by experts for pregnant women.

Dates also help cure constipation which is common during pregnancy, as the hormonal changes cause the gastrointestinal tract to slow down. Iron supplements consumed by many pregnant women also tend to increase the chances of constipation. Dates also provide your body with the much needed potassium during pregnancy to maintain fluid balance and support regular cell functioning. Vomiting in the first trimester can also reduce potassium levels in your body. They also have around 696 milligrams of potassium in 100-grams, which is about 4 dates. The B vitamin folate is also present in dates and this is an essential nutrient for pregnant women as it stops serious birth defects like Spina Bifida.

During Pregnancy, women also need twice the iron as needed by non-pregnant women as they are at a higher risk of contracting iron-deficiency anaemia. This condition could increase the chances of you having a baby that’s preterm or with low-weight and developing postpartum depression as well.

Dates are also classified as low GI food or food with a low Glycaemic Index. What this basically means is that they’re digested more slowly and won’t cause a rapid increase in your blood sugar levels. Studies indicate that almost 10% of pregnant women develop gestational diabetes, which involves high blood sugar levels. This can lead to complications during delivery.

Did you know that you can also use dates as a substitute for sugar?

Date sugar is available in some grocery stores and health food shops and is composed of ground-up dried dates. This has about 30% fewer calories than regular sugar. But remember that date sugar tastes just like dates, so chances of it working perfectly as a substitute for sugar are low. But when you are pregnant, dates are great to snack on when you want to curb those sugar cravings. You can satisfy that sweet tooth by having a few dates when you long for an ice-cream or sweet. Studies have indicated that pregnant women with high-sugar diets can damage a child’s brain function. But consumption of natural sugars from fruits like dates was associated with higher intelligence scores.

How much of date consumption is advisable?

As dates are high in calories and carbohydrates, be careful of the number you're eating every day. A 100-gram serving of dates, or about four dates, is approximately 277 calories. Keep in mind that this is just under the additional 300 calories needed in the second trimester of pregnancy.

 

When can babies eat dates?

Because dates are sticky and high in sugar, it's advisable to wait till your baby is 18 months or older before introducing dates and processed bars and snacks that have them.

 

Was this article fruitful for you? Do let us know if you have any suggestions, tips and queries for us to make this platform better. We’d love to hear from you!

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

When should you start eating dates during pregnancy?

Most women consume 60-80 grams of dates each day starting at 36 weeks.

 

How many dates should I eat per day?

According to many health experts, you should eat 4-6 dates daily if you're trying to lose weight. You can have them along with a cup of black coffee in the morning and then again in the evening with a cup of milk tea or green tea.

 

Do dates make you gain weight?

Dates are rich in iron and dietary fibre, but eating a lot of them will lead to weight gain as 70% of their weight comes from sugar, reports sfgate.com. There are 66 calories in a single date, so avoid eating a bunch of them if you're trying to lose weight.

 

Do dates make you poop?

Dates are a naturally sweet snacks that packs seven grams of fibre. Not only can their high fibre level help you poop, but it can also keep your blood sugar under control. Dates can be used in desserts to replace some of the recipe's sugar or enjoyed on their own.

 

What are the side effects of eating dates?

The side effects of consuming dates include: Weight gain: Dates, when consumed in excess, can lead to weight gain due to high caloric content. So, it is essential to consume dates in moderation.

Monitor for these symptoms after having dried dates:

Stomach pain.

Bloating.

Diarrhea.

Skin rash.

 

Are Dates a Super food?

Dates might look like humble fruits, but they are packed with nutrition and have a lot of health benefits. Additionally, they are high in fibre which is good in clearing the intestinal tract. So, they clearly can be called a superfood.

 

 

Disclaimer: Always consult your physician/paediatrician before beginning any program. This general information is not intended to diagnose any medical condition or to replace your healthcare professional. Consult with your healthcare professional to design an appropriate program for you and your child.

 


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MKB Team

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