If you’re pregnant, it’s obvious that you would wish to do everything in the right manner for the sake of your unborn baby’s health and well-being. The first and foremost thing you should pay heed to is your pregnancy diet and nutrition. If you are wondering whether including carrots in your daily pregnancy diet is a good option, then read the following article. We shall discuss the various benefits and risks of consuming carrots during pregnancy.
Carrots are wondrous root vegetables that are loaded with various vital vitamins and minerals. The following table will acquaint you with the nutritional value of carrots.
Nutritional Value | Per 100 grams |
Energy | 41 kcal |
Carbohydrates | 9.58 g |
Sugar | 4.5 g |
Protein | 0.93 g |
Fat | 0.24 g |
Fibre (dietary fibre) | 2.8 g |
Vitamin C | 6 mg |
Vitamin A | 5 mg |
Vitamin B-6 | 0.135 g |
Vitamin K | 13. 2 ug |
Calcium | 33 mg |
Sodium | 69 mg |
Phosphorus | 35 mg |
Potassium | 320 mg |
Magnesium | 12 mg |
Copper | 0.045 mg |
Iron | 0.30 mg |
Zinc | 0.24 mg |
Manganese | 0.143 mg |
Selenium | 0.1 ug |
The above-mentioned values are approximate values present in 100 grams of carrots.
Carrots are a powerhouse of various vitamins and minerals. These root vegetables can be eaten both in raw and cooked form. Carrots have immense health benefits for you in your pregnancy.
Being a rich source of Vitamin A, carrots are very good for your eye health during pregnancy. It not only takes care of your eyes and vision in pregnancy, but is also beneficial for foetal eye development.
Carrots contain good amounts of Vitamin C, which is extremely beneficial in strengthening your immune system. Immunity tends to become low during pregnancy and consuming carrots regularly helps in strengthening your immunity.
Consumption of carrots is very effective for foetal growth and development because carrots contain ample amounts of calcium and Vitamin A carotene, which is very important for foetal bone and teeth formation.
Including carrots in your daily pregnancy diet may help in warding off anaemia in pregnancy. This is because carrots are not only rich in iron, but also contain Vitamin C, which helps in the absorption of iron by the body.
Constipation is one of the most common problems faced by pregnant women. Carrots have an adequate amount of fibre in them and consuming carrots on a regular basis may help you overcome your constipation woes. Carrots also help in keeping other digestive problems at bay.
Many pregnant women may experience cramping and muscle stiffness during pregnancy. Though these are very common pregnancy problems, they can be very uncomfortable. Carrots contain phosphorus in them, which aids proper muscle functioning in pregnancy and prevents any kind of cramping.
Some would-be-mommies may experience gestational hypertension, which can lead to various complications in pregnancy. However, if carrots are consumed on a daily basis, then it may reduce the risk of gestational hypertension as it has good amounts of fibre and beta carotenes.
Carrots contain manganese in them, which is a vital mineral required for better bone and cartilage formation in your unborn baby. You can pep up your manganese intake by including carrot juice in your pregnancy diet.
The adequate amounts of Vitamin B and folic acid in carrots are beneficial for the development of your unborn baby’s nervous system and brain. Consuming carrots on a daily basis may also reduce your baby’s risk of having neural birth defects such as spina bifida.
Carrots contain beta-carotene, which is beneficial in reducing the risk of cancer. Beta-carotene acts as an antioxidant for a pregnant woman and reduces the impact of free radicals in your body, thus, saving you and your baby from the potential threat of cancer.
There are many benefits of consuming carrots that you can enjoy during pregnancy, for yourself, as well as your baby’s health and well-being.
If you are thinking how you can effectively add this miraculous root vegetable in your diet, we have some tips for you that may help you to know how to consume and add this vegetable in your diet:
Though eating raw carrots during pregnancy is considered safe, and does not pose any threat to you or your unborn baby, there are some risks associated with consuming carrots or carrot juice in pregnancy.
Let us discuss what may possibly go wrong:
This easy carrot soup is scrumptious, healthy, and perfect in the cold weather.
There is no denying the fact that carrots have immense health benefits for a pregnant woman but the probable risks cannot be undermined. If you plan to include carrots in your pregnancy diet, it is suggested that you consult your doctor about the same. Once your doctor approves and signals you to include it in your diet, you can go ahead and reap many health benefits of carrots in pregnancy. However, make sure you do not go overboard with its consumption, as it may cause various complications and side- effects.