During pregnancy, many pregnant women are concerned about whether eating potatoes is good for both mother and baby. Therefore, the question "Can pregnant women eat potatoes?" is always of interest to many people.
1. Health benefits of potatoes
Potatoes are a food source rich in fiber, vitamins and minerals, bringing many health benefits.
1.1 Neutralize stomach acid
Potatoes are a food that can benefit people with high stomach acid levels. According to research, a serving of potatoes will reduce stomach acid levels. At the same time, you are also supported to promote the digestive system after supplementation.
1.2 Provide vitamins B and C
Potatoes contain many vitamins that can heal wounds and strengthen the immune system. In addition, if you use potatoes, you will increase your ability to absorb iron from other foods.
1.3 Supplementing folate for the body
Folic acid plays an extremely important role in brain development. For the fetus, a deficiency of folic acid will increase the risk of neural tube defects and affect intelligence later.
In addition, pregnant women who supplement enough folate in the first 3 months will help the fetus to be more stable and safe. Thereby, reducing the risk of miscarriage.
1.4 Increase energy for activities
Potatoes contain enough carbs to provide energy for the body. Especially for pregnant women, the need for calories is higher than normal. However, if you eat too much, it will lead to excess starch. Excess starch is also one of the causes of overweight and obesity.
1.5 Reduce dark circles around the eyes
Pregnant women have hormonal imbalances, leading to dark circles around the eyes. Potatoes contain many nutrients that can whiten the skin and nourish the skin quite effectively.
You can use mashed raw potatoes to cover your eyes for 10-15 minutes and the dark circles will be removed.
1.6 Prevent and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease
Potato peels contain a large amount of potassium. According to research, potassium can reduce stroke, heart attack, or high blood pressure. Moreover, excess salt will also be improved and eliminated.
2. Is it safe to eat potatoes during pregnancy?
Although potatoes contain many nutrients that the body needs, if used incorrectly, they can be harmful to health, especially for pregnant women.
According to experts, pregnant women should not limit their intake of potatoes. Because potatoes contain Solanine (this substance is called a biological alkali). If this substance accumulates in the body, it will cause malformations.
Some of the following cases need attention, to protect the health of a healthy pregnancy when using potatoes:
- Potatoes become toxic when green spots appear: If there are green spots on potatoes, you accidentally eat them, symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting will appear.
- Immature potatoes can lead to birth defects such as Spina bifida or brain malformations.
- Do not use damaged potatoes. Especially pregnant women who accidentally eat them will be at risk of food poisoning.
- Potatoes contain a lot of starch, so it is not recommended for overweight and obese people.
3. Healthy way to cook potatoes
To have a delicious dish from potatoes, first of all, you need to have some knowledge to choose quality potatoes. The selected potatoes need to have a beautiful shape, not soft, not bruised, not sprouted, not cut. If the potatoes have unusual black or green spots, they should not be used.
Because potatoes are root crops, you need to wash them before using them to avoid bacteria from entering your body. You can refer to some healthy ways to prepare potatoes as follows:
3.1 Potato and onion soup
Ingredients: Diced potatoes, powdered herbs for mixing, thinly sliced onions, a little butter, salt and ground pepper, and shredded carrots.
First, put the onions and butter in a pot and stir-fry over medium heat until soft, then add the potatoes and stir-fry together. Then add water and cook in a pressure cooker until the mixture is smooth. After reaching the desired consistency, put the mixture in a pan to stir-fry over medium heat, and season to taste. After finishing, use shredded carrots to decorate.
3.2 Potato Salad
Ingredients needed: 8 cooked diced potatoes, a little apple cider vinegar, mayonnaise, salt, mustard, pepper, garlic powder, onion, sliced celery, boiled eggs, and Hungarian paprika.
Take the cooked diced potatoes and mix them with the prepared spices to absorb evenly. Then add the onion and celery to the mixture. Cut the boiled eggs in half and put them on a plate with the mixed mixture. With this recipe, you will quickly have a nutritious snack that is safe for pregnancy.
Potatoes are a nutritious food that is good for the body, but when pregnant, you should not eat too many potatoes. Pregnant women can still use potatoes as a source of nutrition for the body and the baby.
To avoid the risk of obesity, gestational diabetes or other complications, pregnant women should not eat too many fried potatoes in oil. Potatoes should be prepared healthily, not with tomatoes (as they can cause indigestion and constipation). After eating potatoes, do not have bananas for dessert (as they will create a lot of carbohydrates, putting people at risk of obesity). On the other hand, potatoes should be prepared with beef to absorb nutrients in the best way.
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Reference source: parenting.firstcry.com
