Is Eating Green Apples Good during Pregnancy?

GREEN APPLES DURING PREGNANCY

The idiom of apples and doctors has been as old as the beginning of time. In the same vein, many women tend to talk about consuming green apples during pregnancy as a wonderfully healthy option. Opting for green apple juice during pregnancy is also a decision taken by many pregnant mothers and it just goes to show how wonderful it is to have them when pregnant. However, that should also come with some precautionary measures.

Nutritional Value of Green Apples

The nutrition that green apples provide spans from numerous vitamins to minerals and other healthy constituents.

Constituent Quantity
Vitamin C 5 mg
Vitamin A 5 mg
Thiamine 20 mg
Riboflavin 25 mg
Protein 25 g
Potassium 110 g
Phosphorous 12 mg
Pantothenic acid 60 mg
Niacin 90 mg
Magnesium 6 mg
Iron 10 mg
Folic acid 5 mg
Fibre 5 g
Energy 220 kilojoules
Calcium 10 mg
Carbohydrates 15 g

Surprising Benefits of Having Green Apples in Pregnancy

With a number of healthy substances present in green apples, the benefits they provide are surprisingly widespread and affect various areas of the body.

1. Increase in Energy

A lot of nutrients are sucked from the woman’s body throughout pregnancy for the baby’s benefit as well as other activities. This also manifests in the form of poor skin health, even causing acne at times. Green apples help provide the necessary energy back to the body and restore it all to normalcy.

2. Numerous Antioxidants

When any toxic materials or chemicals are formed in the body due to free radicals or breakdown of DNA, these need to be kept away from healthy parts of the body using antioxidants. Green apples provide these antioxidants in substantial quantities in the forms of flavonoids and polyphenols. All of these reduce the stress of oxidation experienced by the body.

3. Better Digestion

Pregnant women are often tired of experiencing constipation throughout their journey. Most of the times this is primarily due to the absence of fibre in their diet. Recurrent constipation can be harmful to the developing baby, too. That is why consuming green apples is important as it helps in stimulating bowel movements and streamlining digestion.

4. Reduced Swelling

The swelling of feet and legs is experienced by many women throughout pregnancy, which can get quite discomforting and painful at times. Green apples contain the necessary substances to ease the swelling and bring much-needed relief.

5. Appetite Increase

Although a lot of energy is lost, at times, the appetite of a pregnant woman can take a hit. The absence of nourishment can be harmful to the baby since it requires regular and healthy meals throughout. Having some green apple juice has shown signs of restoring the appetite in women.

6. Treating Nausea

The stomach bears the highest brunt in pregnancy since the inner lining gets sensitive to acids. This primarily results in a vomiting sensation throughout. Green apples are sweet and sour to taste which helps reduce the feeling of nausea when pregnant.

7. Diabetes Control

Many women experience pregnancy-induced diabetes which can cause adverse effects to the baby as well as the mother. In order to maintain the right levels of insulin in the body, green apples play a vital role in achieving that in the best way possible.

8. High Protein

The development of the child is powered primarily by protein, which helps in the rapid and continued development of the baby. The proteins present in green apples can provide sufficient nutrition in that regard.

9. Reduced Premature Delivery Risks

At times, certain pregnant mothers do have conditions where their bodies secrete an unusually high level of bile. These can at times trigger labour pains causing a premature delivery. Green apples help keep the bile secretion in check and increase chances of a full-term pregnancy.

10. Body Weight Regulation

Gaining weight during pregnancy is a sign of proper development but that should be within healthy limits. Hypertension and high cholesterol can be a result of obesity and cause diabetes, too, making it difficult for the baby. Green apples not only help keep blood pressure in check, but their calorie count is low, which assists in weight control, too.

11. Protection for DNA

When free radicals are formed in the body, these begin attacking DNA molecules, many of which are responsible for the development of the foetus. Vitamin C and antioxidants present in green apples not only boost the immune system but combat free radicals, protecting the DNA from breaking down.

Side Effects of Consuming Excessive Amount of Green Apples while Pregnant

The very qualities that make green apples a great fruit to be consumed in certain circumstances, can deem it harmful to be consumed by others.

1. A Propensity for Weight Loss

Being overweight is definitely a problem, no doubt. The complications that obesity can bring to the pregnancy, as well as the health of the baby and the mother are far more dangerous than anything else. However, a mother does need to maintain an optimal weight to be able to carry the pregnancy full-term.

If the consumption of green apples is way beyond normal, it can cause rapid weight loss which can deem quite harmful for the pregnancy and lead to an underdeveloped child.

2. The Absence of Requisite Calories

Calories are the very source of powering various metabolic activities. Green apples do contain a lot of proteins that are beneficial for the foetal growth, but the calorie count is less. This could make you feel full but not give you enough energy, leading to fatigue. Therefore, green apples need to be complemented by food items that are rich in calories.

Are Green Apples Better Than Red Apples?

Women often wonder if they can opt for red apples instead of green apples or do green apples provide an edge over the red ones.

  • When it comes to controlling diabetes, green apples are your best bet.
  • In times when your skin has lost its sheen and health, green apples can help bring it back to a healthy state.
  • Both red and green apples work towards protecting the DNA molecules from breaking down.
  • Appetite reduction can be restored almost easily by eating green apples.

No matter what trimester of pregnancy you are in, having green apples can be extremely beneficial to the growth of the baby. As always, keep things in moderation to reap the best benefits from it so that your baby grows fully and you have a wonderful natural delivery at the end.