3 Benefits of Eating Pistachios During Pregnancy

Pistachios are a good source of fiber, calcium and proteins. When pregnant women eat them, they contribute to the proper development of the fetus and the mother's health.

Eating pistachios during pregnancy is a very good idea. This type of food has high nutritional density. Therefore, it contributes to the proper functioning of the human body. Taking into account that pregnant women need more nutrients, it’s important to include nuts in their diet.

Before we continue, we’d like to highlight the importance of including a variety of foods in pregnant women’s diets. This reduces the risk of nutritional deficiencies, and thus contributes to the fetus’ proper development. However, doctors usually recommend the intake of certain supplements, such as folic acid.

Benefits of eating pistachios during pregnancy

In this article, we’ll talk about the most important benefits of eating pistachios during pregnancy, and we’ll mention what experts think about this.

Improve glycemic control

Gestational diabetes is a very common condition during pregnancy. When women suffer from this transitory condition, their blood sugar levels become higher. Usually, it’s the result of a bad diet. However, there are also certain genetic factors which contribute to this condition’s development.

In this sense, it’s a good idea to avoid food rich in carbohydrates, in order to control blood sugar levels. Pistachios are a great example of this. They have proteins and the necessary fats to have a healthy pregnancy. They’re also low-sugar foods.

Less constipation risk

Another common problem among pregnant women is constipation. Even though this can happen at any point in life, it’s very common during pregnancy. The good news is that you can control this without taking any medication, just following a healthy diet.

Just like the magazine Alimentary, Pharmacology & Therapeutics states, in order to avoid constipation, you should include fiber in your diet. Pistachios, like any other type of food within the plant kingdom, are quite rich in fiber.

Pistachios increase the size of fecal impaction and, therefore, regulate intestinal activity. Furthermore, it reduces the risk of contracting intestinal diseases, such as colon cancer, etc.

Better fetal bone density and development

Calcium is the most important nutrient when it comes to bone development. It’s important for both the mother and the child. According to a study from Nutrients, calcium contribution helps avoid bone problems, such as osteoporosis or even possible fractures.

On the other hand, this mineral contributes to fetal bone development. To develop a strong structure, the skeleton must have a good density during the first stages of life. If there’s no proper contribution of this nutrient, there’ll be more risk of having structural problems.

It’s important to point out that calcium relies on vitamin D for its absorption. Therefore, pregnant women should have high levels of this vitamin. To do this, regular sun exposure is very important. However, your doctor may prescribe vitamin D supplements, in case you need them.

Pistachio contraindications during pregnancy

Unless you’re allergic, there’s no side effect when consuming pistachios. However, developing hypersensitivity to nuts is quite common, and this may develop anaphylactic attacks, when in contact with them.

So, if you’ve never eaten pistachios, you shouldn’t start doing so while being pregnant. In fact, an allergic reaction during this period could even put the fetus’ life at risk. On the other hand, if you’re certain you’re not allergic to pistachios, you can eat them without risk.

Benefits of eating pistachios during pregnancy

As we’ve mentioned before, eating pistachios during pregnancy is quite beneficial. In fact, nuts are highly recommended to everyone.

In addition, they’re quite versatile. You can include them in your salads, sauces, shakes, or eat them plain. Eating them during the morning or the afternoon is a very good idea.

Finally, remember to consume them in moderation, because they’re energetic foods with high amounts of lipids. Eating too many pistachios may lead to weight gain.