Can You Eat Sweet Potatoes in Pregnancy?

The life of an expecting mother is filled with amazing and surprising experiences throughout pregnancy. One of them is a brand-new diet for pregnancy! A well-balanced diet supports the unborn child's growth and development. Thus, it is critical to eat the right foods. One such food is the sweet potato, which contains simple sugars such as fructose and glucose and is low in processed carbs but high in vitamins such as folate and minerals, including iron. 

Is It Safe to Eat Sweet Potatoes While Pregnant?

Yes, eating sweet potatoes during pregnancy is healthy and can be a delicious alternative to your regular diet. They contain more carbohydrates than ordinary potatoes, the body’s primary energy source. Furthermore, sweet potatoes contain a lot of beta-carotene, necessary to grow a healthy foetus.

Nutritional Value of Sweet Potato

Sweet potatoes are packed with essential vitamins and minerals that support overall health and immunity. Here are the details of the nutritional value of a single cup of sweet potato with skin-

Health Benefits of Sweet Potatoes

Here are some ways by which sweet potatoes can be beneficial, especially during pregnancy:

• Storehouse of nutrients: Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of nutrients, such as vitamins A, C, and E, essential for the baby’s immune system, eyes, and organ development. They also contain a lot of folates and vitamin B, crucial for developing neural tubes in infants and helping prevent congenital disabilities.
• Digestive health and fibre: Pregnancy is often associated with constipation and other digestive problems. Sweet potatoes provide high dietary fibre, improving digestion and relieving constipation. This enables mothers-to-be to manage pain while ensuring regular bowel movements.
• Blood sugar control: A common illness that affects expectant women is gestational diabetes. But sweet potatoes have a low glycaemic index (GI), meaning sugar enters the bloodstream slowly, thereby lowering the risk of gestational diabetes and helping control blood sugar levels.
• Iron boost: Iron deficiency, common during pregnancy, can result in anaemia. Eating sweet potatoes promotes the formation of haemoglobin in the mother and the unborn child and helps keep iron levels in check.

How Much Sweet Potato Should Pregnant Women Eat?

Sweet potatoes are a healthy, nutrient-rich snack option for pregnant women, given that they are consumed in moderation. Generally, a single, mid-sized sweet potato, preferably baked or boiled, is considered healthy as a part of the daily diet during pregnancy.

Can You Eat Raw Sweet Potatoes During Pregnancy?

Sweet potatoes are typically regarded as safe to consume during pregnancy. But there are a few possible hazards to be mindful of, especially when eating them raw:

• Sweet potatoes contain a lot of oxalates, which can cause kidney stones. Serious discomfort and problems with the kidneys and gallbladder might be the outcome.
• A sugar found in sweet potatoes called mannitol can give people stomach aches. Gas and diarrhoea may also cause problems.
• As sweet potatoes are heavy in carbohydrates, they can cause health problems among women with diabetes or those who are overweight.
• Uncooked food such as sweet potatoes may contain harmful bacteria or dirt which can pose a risk for the foetus and mother.

Conclusion

Sweet potatoes are generally a healthy and safe food item during pregnancy. So, the answer to the question, “Is sweet potato good for pregnancy?” is yes. The high vitamin, mineral, and fibre content helps support the health of expectant mothers. It is crucial to remember that eating sweet potatoes while pregnant can have adverse consequences. Therefore, consult your doctor before including it in your diet. Besides focusing on your diet, consider a personalized health insurance plan, as it guarantees proper coverage and safeguards from financial duress during trying times.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It may contain outdated data and information regarding the Insurance industry and products. It is advised to verify the currency and relevance of the data and information before taking any major steps. ICICI Lombard is not liable for any inaccuracies or consequences resulting from the use of this outdated information.