Any food that you consume during pregnancy affects not only your health but also that of your baby’s. Potato is a rich source of dietary fibre, vitamins, and other essential nutrients for a pregnant woman. You should have it in moderation to avoid any potential ill-effects of overconsumption.
Potato is filled with nutrients that your body requires during pregnancy; hence if you are craving potatoes during pregnancy, you are free to have some. However, it’s best to consult your doctor or nutritionist before consuming it. Here are some of the benefits of potatoes:
Potatoes are highly beneficial for those with digestive or acidity issues. A serving of mashed potatoes can help reduce gastric acidity. These are also easier to eat and are easy to digest.
The vitamins in potatoes assist in healing wounds and boost immunity. They also help in the absorption of iron from other foods.
Folic acid is significant in the development of the fetal brain and nervous system. Having folate-rich food in the early stages of pregnancy reduces your chances of having a miscarriage.
Potatoes are full of carbohydrates and act as a good source of energy for pregnant women. However, it is vital to exercise and stay active to prevent excessive weight gain from potatoes and other starchy carbohydrate-rich foods.
Potatoes can help treat the bags under eyes, which are common during pregnancy. Placing some grated raw potato on your eyes for 10 to 15 minutes gives a cooling effect and relieves the swelling.
The skin of potatoes contains large amounts of potassium, that is known to reduce heart strokes and hypertension as it reduces Blood pressure.
During pregnancy, you need to take care of your eating habits and ensure that you consume healthy food. Although potato is rich in nutrients, it also poses some risks to your health, and some of these risks are listed below:
Eating potato chips during pregnancy is not recommended, as it is fried and unhealthy for you. It may trigger gestational diabetes or may lead to unhealthy weight gain. Hence during pregnancy, you should avoid cooking methods like deep frying, baking potatoes with butter or cheese. Instead of frying and baking, boil or steam potatoes and add herbs to enhance the flavour.
Potatoes have large amounts of starch, which get rapidly absorbed by the body. This can affect glucose metabolism, thus increasing the risk of developing diabetes. Hence, it is likely that overconsumption of potatoes can lead to a risk of developing gestational diabetes.
One needs to be careful when buying potatoes. There are certain things to consider when choosing your potatoes, to avoid their ill-effects. The potatoes that you pick should be:
Potatoes are beneficial for pregnant women when taken in moderate amounts and cooked properly. Some of the healthy options to cook potato are:
From the above-listed ideas, here are some of the recipes you can try with potatoes:
Here’s a healthy appetiser to satiate your pregnancy hunger pangs.
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This easy and delicious recipe is quick to make and will be enjoyed by everyone.
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Potatoes are full of healthy nutrients for a pregnant woman and should not be excluded from the pregnancy diet. Potatoes are healthy for the overall growth and development of the foetus, and hence should be consumed in moderation and in a healthy way. Also, it is best to avoid fried potatoes and avoid overeating, as it can lead to problems like obesity, gestational diabetes, and other pregnancy complications.