Guava has a high nutritional content, and such fruit has an increasing number of benefits over side effects. During Pregnancy, when you can’t afford everything as it may harm the growth of the fetus, is it safe to eat guava? Well, the answer is both yes and no because it’s not that precise. To know whether you can have guava during pregnancy, how much of it you have, and stay longer till the end of this article.
What is Guava?
Guava, the tropical, contains a higher amount of vitamins, folate, and fiber. Even though there is no medical evidence about whether guava is good for pregnancy or not, many people have experienced its positive effects. It is believed having guava can enhance fertility. The leaves of guava and the fruit extract to make tea and supplements are equally effective.
This article will bring clarity to your doubts like whether can I eat guava during pregnancy, its side effects, etc. So, bear with us a bit more.
What is the Nutritional Value of Guava?
Guava in Pregnancy is a smart choice; at least, that’s what its nutritional value tells us. Any expecting mom requires a higher demand of vitamin C, folate, and protein alongside other useful nutrients for the infant’s growth.
- Vitamins: Vitamins are mandatory for helping the baby with proper breathing. Having guava during pregnancy will help accomplish the needs. The fruit has a richer share of vitamins A, C, E, and B2. No one can undermine its nutritional richness because guava contains more vitamins C and A. The nutritional value is even better than that of any citrus-like oranges, which makes guava safer during pregnancy.
- Folic Acid: All your dilemmas like ‘Can I eat guava during pregnancy or not!’ will be gone when you know the fruit is a rich source of folic acid. The presence of the constituent is particularly necessary for proper fetus development. A healthy proportion of folic acid in your body will ensure the smooth development of many of the baby’s organs. Such as the respiratory organs, circulatory system, spinal cord, arms, and more.
When you have nearly 160 grams of guava fruit, it fulfills 20-25% of the folic acid demand and more than 300% of the vitamin C needed.
Which fruit is best in pregnancy?
Other than guava, there are also other fruits like oranges, bananas, avocados, lemons, and apples. Oranges are a promising source of vitamin C and also help people stay hydrated. Bananas contain iron and prevent the chances of anemia. With avocado, you can expect vitamins C, K, B, magnesium, and potassium.
10 Possible Benefits of Guava During Pregnancy
The green fruit is a blessing in disguise for all expecting mothers. There are innumerable benefits of guava in pregnancy. It helps to nourish the fetus and also provides good health to the mother. Below are reasons why you should have guava during pregnancy-
1. Helpful for the Fertility
The active presence of such nutritious elements in guava makes it beneficial during fertility. As shared earlier in the nutritional value section, tropical fruit contains vitamins, minerals, and folic acids. It also supports more fertility among women even though there are no practical studies on humans proving the claim.
2. Better Digestion
Guava is good for Pregnancy, particularly when it comes to digestion. Digestive disorders like constipation, diarrhea, and acidity are common reactions to pregnancy. It is because of the hormonal changes that such digestive irregularities pressurize the mother’s belly. Many studies have been conducted on small mammals like rodents, which prove that guavas reduce the probability of digestive issues. Problems like diarrhea are naturally flushed from the body in the process.
3. Prevents Blood Pressure Fluctuations
After the first trimester, women are likely to develop conditions like high blood pressure. Such a condition is known as preeclampsia. It is due to preeclampsia that the new mother develops issues like weight gain, headaches, abdominal pain, etc. So, guava benefits during pregnancy by controlling blood pressure conditions. The existence of potassium within guava helps prevent spikes in BP levels.
4. Regulates the Blood Glucose Levels
When pregnant, the new mother faces symptoms of gestational diabetes, which leads to insulin resistance. Not taking measures against this would result in the form of premature birth and preeclampsia. You can manage the situation by consuming the proper amount of guava every day. The richer fiber content and complex carbs would prevent spikes in blood pressure.
5. Treats Anaemia
Guava benefits during pregnancy with an adequate supply of iron. Most women suffer from anemia because they are iron deficient in times of pregnancy. The tropical fruit contains ascorbic acid, which is richer in iron nutrients. So, to diagnose anemia, the measured quantity of guava will help the receptor.
6. Good Eyesight
For an expecting mother, her entire body dynamics change. It is because of the changes that her body demands an extra intake of nutrients. A consistent supply of vitamin A, which you will get from the green fruit, will prove good for your eyesight. The proper supply of vitamin A would ensure healthy eyesight for both mother and child.
7. Better for Mental Health
One of the much-needed benefits of guava in pregnancy is that it helps calm your mind. Guava intake assists in releasing piled-up stress by effectively acting on the hormone-release glands. The efficient presence of magnesium nutrients positively affects the muscle and nervous system of the pregnant mother. The promotion of better mental health saves the chances of pre-natal or postnatal depression.
8. Improves the Cognitive Health
Eating guava during pregnancy is beneficial for your cognitive power. Guava is an excellent source of vitamins B3 & 6. So, most of the time, if you are absent-minded, you better not because guava can work on your lack of focus and disturbances.
9. Get Rid of Nausea
If you are pregnant, one thing is constant that is the morning sickness or nausea you face every day. Guava benefits during pregnancy by curbing vomiting and nausea. To help overcome anxiety, try taking guava seedless extract with buttermilk.
10. Reduces Infections
The piled-up stress during pregnancy can cause more fungal or bacterial infections. Another of the benefits of guava in pregnancy is the existence of elements like polyphenols, carotenoids, and vitamins A, C, and E within the fruits. These nutrient properties are set as antibodies for any possible infections.
Possible Side Effects of Eating Guavas During Pregnancy
There are limited studies conducted to date relating to the side effects of guava during pregnancy. However, there are no specific harmful side effects experienced by the recipients of consuming guava during pregnancy. Given the delicacy of pregnancy cases, it’s better to stay extra cautious. If not taken on the right portion, there can be some indirect side effects of guava during pregnancy-
- Guava has higher fiber content, which extra consumption may lead to loose motions. And frequent visits to the toilet or bent postures are not good for the baby.
- Half-spoiled or not fresh guava often leads to skin problems or allergies.
- Unripe guava would lead to poor oral hygiene. Dental cavities and pains are common during pregnancy.
- No one can claim that any guavas are free from chemical preservatives. Overdose of guava would mean more passage of chemicals to the body, which is not good for the baby.
- Wisely choosing between organic and inorganic guava is important. Inorganic guavas include the probable risk of infections like listeriosis. Such infections can prove fatal for lower immunity persons or even to newborns.
These are some of the common side effects of guava during pregnancy, which can be avoided if proper portions are taken.
Is It Safe to Eat Guava during Pregnancy?
After knowing both the benefits and side effects of guava during pregnancy, there should be multiple questions in your mind. The primary question must be whether I can eat guava during pregnancy: is it safe?
Our answer to that is, why not? Guava is completely pregnancy-friendly if you don’t overdose on it. Like the benefits mentioned above, eating tropical fruit would be beneficial for both you and the baby. The rich nutritional value of vitamins C and A is tricky to find, even in any citrus. Important constituents like folic acid can’t be missed at all for the fetus’s development.
Taking between 100-130 grams of guava a day is recommended, which will be safer for the pregnancy.
Is It Safe to Eat Guava Seeds During Pregnancy?
You must be thinking about what happens if you eat guava seeds. Our answer is nothing. Guava seeds, unlike seeds of other fruits like apples, are entirely edible and, therefore, safe to eat. The only advice is to eat them carefully and ensure you don’t choke after consuming too much.
Drinking Guava Juice vs. eating Raw Fruit During Pregnancy
Another critical concern among readers has been how to take guava during pregnancy. So, you can try eating the raw fruit, or you can also make juice from it.
- Guava, when eaten in its raw form, would provide the best nutrient ever. When taking it raw, you can eat the green peels as well as the seeds along with the pulp. Everything is edible in that case.
- Making guava juice during pregnancy can also prove beneficial if you don’t add any artificial preservatives to it. While making guava juice, extract the pulps from the seeds; otherwise, it would taste bitter.
- Guava juice made out of pulps can help you in numerous ways, but make sure you don’t add sugar or flavorings to it.
So, eating guava is good for pregnancy, and it does not matter much whether you take it or not. Those having dental issues or face choking problems should drink the proper amount of guava juice instead of raw fruit.
Conclusion
All in all, one thing is constant guava during pregnancy is completely safe to eat. The tropical fruit is the powerhouse of nutrients, including vitamins, fiber, and folic acid. As advised, try to check the pulp color while buying guava. It is believed white pulped guavas are more beneficial in terms of vitamin providence than pink ones. Try to maintain the portion each day while consuming it, as it would overcome the side effects of the fruit.
Lastly, as you know, replacing guava with all other fruits won’t help you in acquiring adequate nutrition during pregnancy. So, maintain a balanced diet chart and eat all the needed vegetables and fruits, including guava.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Consuming Guava during Pregnancy
Q. Which fruit is best in pregnancy?
Answer- Fruits like Guava, orange, avocado, Bananas, and berries are good during pregnancy. Fruits like avocado and banana have higher iron and nutrients, such as vitamins K, B, and manganese. Other fruits like guava have a higher presence of vitamins A, C, Folic acid, and fiber.
Q. What happens if you eat guava seeds?
Answer– It is believed that good seeds have the same nutrients present in the skin and the intestines. So, you can eat the guava with both seeds and skins as it will show practical benefits. These would include resisting cardiovascular disease, regulating blood sugar levels, and more.
Q. Is guava harmful in pregnancy?
Answer- Green tropical fruit is safe to eat during pregnancy. In fact, the inherited nutrient properties like vitamins A, C, and folic acid are healthy for both the mother’s and the baby’s development. However, make sure that you don’t overeat the fruit as it can show side effects like diarrhea.
Q. Which fruit is good for a baby’s brain during pregnancy?
Answer- Guava is good for the development of the baby’s brain. The fruit has a strong presence of Vitamin B3 & B6, also known as niacin and pyridoxine. Those vitamins help relax nerves, improve blood circulation, and improve cognitive function overall.
