Did you know regular consumption of tree nuts and peanuts is associated with reduced nut allergies in babies? Pregnant women are often advised to avoid nuts but a lot of research today shows that nuts are actually beneficial for your baby. It is completely safe to take soaked or raw almond as they are full of nutrients like fiber, folic acid and iron. However, soaked almonds are always a better option. In case the pregnant woman is prone to allergies, she should avoid eating almonds or any other nuts.
Taking excessive amount of anything can be bad. You can have up to one oz which is one third of a cup or about 23 raw or soaked almonds. It is better to have soaked almonds early morning. Soaked almonds tend to release enzymes that aids in digestion and eventually enhances the overall value of the nut. Soaking overnight also allows easy digestion and removes the skin which contains tannin. Tannin reduces nutrient absorption. Consuming more than the suggested amount can cause unpleasant effects like digestive problems and weight gains.
Benefits of almonds during pregnancy
Almonds are a powerhouse of nutrients for pregnant women. Here are some of the benefits of almonds during pregnancy:
- Improves metabolism
Children who are born to diabetic or obese women come into this world with high chances of developing metabolic and obesity issues. Almond becomes a healthy source of dietary fats and carbs that decreases inflammation, blood sugar, oxidative stress and facilitate metabolism.
- Prevents excessive weight gain
Pregnancy naturally results in weight gain and with all the cravings that expecting mothers go through, it can become really hard to control weight. Almond reduces hunger pangs you feel during pregnancy as it makes you feel full for a longer time. According to a study conducted on 20 obese women, it was found that obese women who consumed 56 grams of almonds every day were satiated as almonds increased the appetite reducing hormone leptin and reduced the hunger hormone ghrelin. The research concluded that almonds are great at facilitating healthy weight gain by lowering appetite and improving satiety.
- Great source of folic acid
Whether it is soaked almonds or raw, they are definitely the best source of folic acid that aids in the developing neurological and brain system of the baby. Folic acid plays an important role in preventing neural tube defects in babies. During your pregnancy, you need about 400mcg of folic acid to fulfill the requirements of the baby.
- Prevents allergies later in life
There is a study that shows taking nuts including almonds during pregnancy lowers the risk of allergies in your child later in life. This is the reason you can take safe amounts of nuts like peanuts and almonds to reduce chances of allergies in your children.
- Offers stamina
Almonds are also rich source of protein which offers stamina and strength that you need for the delivery. The protein also keeps the weight of the mother in check and facilitates healthy development of the baby.
- Prevents anemia
Being anemic is a common issue during pregnancy. it is because your baby is taking iron from the mother only. The good news is that 1 oz of almonds contain 1.1 mg of iron. This is actually 6% of your daily iron requirements. Iron requirement increases during pregnancy particularly during the first trimester. Taking in the required daily amount of almonds will fill in the iron gap.
