Coconut water is a good choice for pregnant women. When pregnant or already in the process of loving, women tend to be more selective in choosing food and drinks. Not only refreshing, there are many benefits of coconut water for pregnant and lactating women.
The following has been summarized from the Healthline and Mom Junction pages, a series of extraordinary benefits of drinking coconut water during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Let’s check first, come on, Ma!
Coconut Water Benefits Natural diuretic
Coconut water is considered a natural diuretic or increases the frequency of urination. This ability is obtained because of the content of potassium, magnesium, and other minerals. All of these minerals help remove toxins and cleanse the urinary tract, launch Womhealth.
Thus water coconut can potentially prevent kidney stones and infections. It may also play an important role in the prevention of urinary tract infections, thereby lowering the chances of preterm labour.
Coconut Water Benefits Overcome heartburn and constipation
Hormonal changes during pregnancy can cause several problems, such as heartburn, constipation, and digestive disorders. Coconut water contains high amounts of dietary fiber which can help strengthen the digestive system, improve digestion, regulate pH levels and prevent constipation.
On the other hand, coconut water is also a natural acid neutralizer so it can prevent heartburn. This liquid source has even been used as a traditional laxative for a long time. Further, it is thought to boost metabolism and support body detoxification.
Add energy and refresh
During pregnancy, women may feel lethargic all the time. For this reason, pregnant women may be inclined to seek out energy drinks. What they don’t realize is that high-sugar energy drinks have the risk of increasing overall sugar levels and are certainly not good for health.
Hence, coconut water can be an option. Because, in 100 grams of coconut water there are only 2.1 grams of sugar, this amount is much lower than other energy drinks. For this reason, coconut water is good for consumption as an energy drink during pregnancy because it won’t gain weight and lowers the risk of developing gestational diabetes.
Restores lost electrolytes due to morning sickness
Pregnant women are prone to experience morning sickness, nausea and diarrhea. All of this dehydrates the body and increases the need for electrolytes. Coconut water provides essential electrolytes, such as sodium, calcium, potassium, and phosphorus, which relax the body and provide energy.
Electrolytes also help in the transmission of electrical charges in the body and support muscle function. Electrolytes also help maintain the body’s pH level and control blood pressure levels.
Supports fetal development
Vitamins and minerals are essential for the development of a growing fetus. For this reason, doctors sometimes prescribe prenatal vitamins. Well, coconut water can help meet these nutritional needs to some extent. Some of the nutrients available in coconut water include calcium, potassium, and magnesium.
Magnesium supplementation during pregnancy has been associated with increased birth weight and reduced risk of preeclampsia. Meanwhile, calcium is very important for the development of fetal bones and teeth.
Lowers blood pressure
Sometimes, during pregnancy, women experience an increase in blood pressure. Coconut water can help with this due to its potassium content. Potassium is known to be responsible for regulating blood flow and blood pressure.
A small study in The West Indian Medical Journal noted that drinking coconut water for 2 weeks showed a reduction in systolic blood pressure. Even so, coconut water cannot be used as a substitute for treating high blood pressure or preeclampsia. If the doctor prescribes medicine, keep taking the medicine as directed by the doctor.
Benefits of Coconut Water for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Mothers illustration
Coconut water is fat free and very low in calories. So, consumption of coconut water instead of sugar laden drinks helps to maintain weight during pregnancy. When you experience excess weight gain during pregnancy, coconut water can help prevent it from getting worse.
This can happen because adequate nutritional intake from coconut water can control total calorie consumption and control hunger. However, this rule applies when you don’t add sugar to coconut water, huh!
hydration
Coconut water is a good source of hydration for pregnant and lactating women. The reason is, 95 percent of coconut water is pure water, launches FoodData Central. Alyssa Pike, RD., manager of nutrition communications for the International Food Information Council at Healthline explains that coconut water can be a great variation for hydration.
However, that doesn’t mean you can drink coconut water continuously, let alone replace regular water, you know! Keep drinking mineral water as the main fluid intake so that the mother, fetus, and baby stay healthy and avoid fluid deficiency.
So far, there is no evidence that coconut water has any adverse effect on pregnancy except under special circumstances. However, in order to get the benefits of coconut water for pregnant and lactating women, it is better not to consume it excessively and consult your doctor first.
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