Foods for pregnant women are always of interest and are carefully analyzed by experts. Is eating carrots during pregnancy good for the health of the mother and fetus? Or can pregnant women eat carrots? These are questions that many pregnant women are looking for.
1. Nutritional value of carrots
Carrots are a wonderful vegetable that contains many vitamins and minerals that are important for health. The following is information about the nutritional value of 100g of carrots, which researchers have calculated through many experiments:
- Energy: 41 calories
- Carb: 9.58 g
- Sugar: 4.5 g
- Protein: 0.93 g
- Fat: 0.24 g
- Fiber (for dieters): 2.8 g
- Vitamin C: 6 mg
- Vitamin A: 5 mg
- Vitamin B6: 0.135 g
- Vitamin K: 13.2 micrograms
- Calcium: 33 mg
- Sodium: 69 mg
- Phosphorus: 35 mg
- Potassium: 320 mg
- Magnesium: 12 mg
- Copper: 0.045 mg
- Iron: 0.3 mg
- Zinc: 0.24 mg
- Manganese: 0.143 mg
- Selenium: 0.1 micrograms
This is the result compiled in many studies, but not completely accurate. You should only refer to it and not always 100g of carrots have the same amount of nutrients.
2. Eating carrots during pregnancy brings many benefits to pregnant mothers
Carrots are a source of trace minerals that are good for health. This is one of the vegetables that can be eaten raw or cooked. Especially carrots for pregnant women have great benefits.
- Improve eyesight
Eating carrots during pregnancy will provide a source of vitamin A to help keep eyes bright and healthy. At the same time, the baby receiving nutrition from the mother will also have better eyesight than children who do not get enough vitamin A.
- Increase the immune system.
Vitamin C is a mineral that enhances the body's resistance. During pregnancy, the mother provides nutrition to the baby, so resistance is reduced, making it easy for bacteria to invade. Carrots are rich in vitamin C, so eating carrots is good for pregnant women and babies.
- Helps children develop comprehensively
Carrots contain a certain amount of calcium and carotene to help the baby develop bones and teeth.
- Prevents anemia
Eating carrots every day will help mothers reduce the risk of anemia during pregnancy. In addition, vitamin C is a derivative that increases the body's ability to absorb iron.
- Prevents constipation for pregnant women
Pregnant women often have difficulty with the digestive system. Therefore, using carrots will supplement fiber to help mothers prevent constipation during pregnancy and promote better digestive system movement throughout pregnancy.
- Limits cramps during pregnancy
Pregnant women are prone to cramps as the fetus grows. This is a dangerous phenomenon that can cause accidents for both mother and baby. Providing enough phosphorus helps reduce stress, thereby improving the problem of cramps for you.
- Managing hypertension during pregnancy
Gestational Hypertension is no longer a strange thing, but if it increases too high, it will be dangerous for both mother and baby. Use carrots to prevent high blood pressure and reduce the risk of complications caused by high blood pressure during pregnancy.
- Promote bone and cartilage formation for the fetus.
Manganese is a nutritional component that supports the formation of bones and cartilage tissue for the fetus. To promote the formation of bones and cartilage tissue for the baby, the mother can drink carrot juice every day.
- Prevent defects in the nervous system of the fetus
Carrots contain enough vitamin B and folic acid to develop the nervous system and immature brain of the fetus. If provided with enough, the baby will reduce the risk of neural tube defects or spina bifida. In addition, this is a source of nutrients that help the baby be healthier and smarter.
- Prevent the risk of cancer.
Beta carotene and selenium are elements that slow down the development of cancer cells. They act as antioxidants that reduce free radical activity to protect the pregnant woman's body. At the same time, the baby absorbed through the mother also limits the risk of cancer during the later stages of development.
3. Notes to increase the ability to absorb carrots for pregnant women
To increase the ability to consume vegetables in the diet, you can refer to some of the following tips:
- Choose small carrots if you want more sweetness or choose long ones
- Choose fresh carrots by trying to break them. The older the carrot, the more difficult it will be for you to break it.
- Always wash it before use to ensure food hygiene and safety
- You can scrape a thin layer to avoid losing the inherent nutrients of carrots
- You can process it by cooking, shredding, pureeing, or washing and eating it raw
4. Are carrots good for pregnant women or are there still some disadvantages?
Although there have been no findings of danger when pregnant women eat raw carrots, this is not recommended. Carrot juice is a form of using raw carrots that can bring some risks and affect your absorption ability.
- When the body absorbs too much natural color carrots, your skin will turn pale yellow. If not absorbed, carotene deposition syndrome will appear on the skin.
- Although vitamin A helps increase the baby's resistance, if you eat too much, it will hinder the natural development of the child.
- Be careful if you have an allergy to carrots such as headache, nausea...
- Avoid eating a lot of carrots if you have a problem with biliary tract infection during pregnancy.
- If you drink too much carrot juice, it will cause headaches or coma.
5. Carrot soup recipe for pregnant women
To make it easier to absorb and use carrots more deliciously for pregnant women, you can cook carrot soup. Ingredients to prepare:
- 2 cloves of minced garlic
- 1-2 slices of thinly sliced ginger
- 1 diced onion
- 2 tablespoons of oil
- 5 chopped carrots
- 2 cups of water
- 1 teaspoon of pepper
- Salt
- Fresh cream
Implementation process:
- Heat the oil in a pressure cooker and then add ginger and garlic and stir-fry for a few minutes
- Add onions to the pot until light brown
- Put carrots and salt in water and simmer in the pot
- Open the pressure cooker and wait for it to cool
- Take out the vegetables in the pot and put them in a blender
- Mix the mixture with the simmered water and boil until it becomes a thick mixture
- Add spices such as salt, and pepper... to taste
- When eating, cover it with a layer of fresh cream
Is eating carrots good for pregnant women? It also depends on how you use and prepare them. The benefits of carrots for pregnant women cannot be denied. However, in addition to the benefits, the risks of harm to health cannot be ignored. If you want to use carrots in your pregnancy menu, you can consult your doctor first to receive the most accurate support and advice.
To have a healthy pregnancy, in addition to maintaining a moderate diet and lifestyle, pregnant mothers also need to have regular health check-ups during pregnancy to check the development of the baby and the health of the mother to make appropriate adjustments.
To arrange an appointment, please call HOTLINE or make your reservation directly HERE. You may also download the MyVinmec app to schedule appointments faster and manage your reservations more conveniently.
Reference source: parenting.firstcry.com - healthline.com
