Eating Dates: Health Benefits While Pregnant
Medically Reviewed by Traci C. Johnson, MD on February 11, 2024 Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors
Health Benefits of Eating Dates
Dates, considered the world’s oldest cultivated fruit, offer numerous health benefits, particularly for pregnant women. Medjool and Deglet Noor are the most common varieties grown in the U.S.
Benefits for Pregnant Women:
- Dietary Fiber: Helps with bowel movements and relieves constipation, which is common during pregnancy.
- Potassium: Maintains fluid balance and supports cell function, crucial during pregnancy.
- Folate: Prevents birth defects such as spina bifida.
- Iron: Prevents iron-deficiency anemia, reducing the risk of preterm or low-weight babies.
- Low GI Food: Helps manage gestational diabetes by preventing rapid blood sugar increases.
- Sugar Substitute: Can be used as a healthier alternative to regular sugar.
Safety During Pregnancy: Dates are safe to eat during pregnancy and can curb sugar cravings. However, they are high in calories and carbohydrates, so moderation is key. Additionally, some people may be allergic to dates and should avoid them.
Inducing Labor: Some studies suggest that eating dates may help with cervical ripening and shortening labor, but they won't necessarily induce labor.
For more information, please refer to the original article on WebMD.
https://www.webmd.com/baby/eating-dates-health-benefits-while-pregnant
