Like any other thing, eating lemons have many advantages along with some disadvantages. However, the question here is whether eating lemons while pregnant is healthy or not? Yes, it is healthy to use lemons in your diet but in moderation. It is a rich source of vitamins and minerals and plays a miracle role in reducing morning sickness. But it may cause other harms to your body such as heartburn, gastrointestinal issues and it may cause damage to your tooth enamel. Therefore, it is advisable for concerned pregnant women to consult a doctor before consuming lemons.
Benefits of Eating Lemon While Pregnancy
Warding off Morning Sickness
Most of pregnant women use lemons to get rid of morning sickness. Accoridng to American Pregnancy Association, lemons tend to minimize the feelings of nausea during morning sickness. Eating lemons usually helps in relieving the queasiness, either by licking or sucking on lemons or just by sniffing them. Even the smell of lemons helps to reduce nausea. However, if morning sickness prevails and the condition is severe, you should not rely on lemons to treat your symptoms. Consult your doctor as soon as possible.
Containing Rich Vitamins and Minerals
Lemons are a good source of different vitamins and minerals. They have good nutritional values if you consume it in moderate. A raw lemon contains numerous vitamins and minerals while there is almost no fat and only 17 calories. Lemon is a rich source of vitamin C. Other vitamins and minerals that are present in lemons are magnesium, copper, calcium, niacin, folate, thiamin, phosphorus, manganese, panthothenic acid, vitamin B-6 and riboflavin. These minerals and vitamins are essential for the proper growth and development of an unborn baby.
Maintaining Blood Pressure
Lemons tend to control blood pressure effectively. By making blood vessels soft and pliable, the vitamins present in lemons strengthen them a lot. Therefore, this helps to avoid any internal hemorrhages. Moreover, cholesterol levels are also controlled by lemons.
Helping Digestion and Preventing Constipation
Pregnant women usually suffer from indigestion problems. Constipation during pregnancy is a very common problem. Lemon water helps to treat indigestion problem by keeping the digestive tract oiled, hence, reducing constipation and helping proper digestion. Drinking one glass of lemon juice a day helps to prevent constipation especially in pregnant women. Basically, what lemon does is that it stimulates the liver, enhances peristalsis movement and eventually stimulates the bowels to eliminate the body waste smoothly and easily.
Making Immunity System Stronger
Lemon is a rich source of vitamin C which helps in improving the natural body defense mechanism and helps to fight with bacteria and viruses. In this way lemon juice increases the immunity and helps to prevent you bodies from infections such as cough, cold and flu.
Preventing Urogenital Infections
As mentioned earlier, lemon juice helps in preventing infections. Due to its diuretic property, lemon helps to keep the kidneys function properly and prevents urogenital infections especially in pregnant women.
Strengthening Bones of Your Baby
Calcium and magnesium present in lemon make the bones development stronger. Hence, it is very good for the unborn baby and the mother too. Moreover, potassium present in lemon juice helps to make brain cells healthier and also aids in bone development of the fetus.
Managing PH Levels
Lemon water helps to alkalize the body. It is acidic in nature but inside the body it shows alkaline characteristics. Alkaline residues provide relief in acidosis symptoms. Therefore, lemon is a good source to manage the pH levels in the body and eating lemons while pregnant is good.
No More Swollen Feet
Swollen feet, also named edema, is a common problem in pregnant women. It is unhealthy and painful to have swollen feet. Drinking lukewarm water with a tablespoon of lemon juice helps to treat the issue. It helps to reduce edema as well as the pain.
Keeping the Body Hydrated
Lemon water helps to keep the body hydrated which is very important to a pregnant woman. Being hydrated can prevent other pregnancy issues like diziness, nausea, cramps, edema and headaches.
Making Labor Easier
Labor is a diffcult time for pregnant women. It is very stressful and painful. Pregnant women should strat taking lemon juice with honey regularly from the 5th month to make their labor easier and less stressful. However, consult your doctor before taking lemon juice regularly.
Side Effects That You Should Be Cautious
Decaying Tooth Enamel
Lemon is a rich source of vitamin C. It has citric acid which might be harmful for the tooth enamel of pregnant women.Therefore, pregnant women should be careful while consuming lemon juice. You should visit a doctor if you feel some damage in your teeth.
Gastrointestinal Issues and Heartburn
Usually pregnant women face the problems of heartburn or gastrointestinal issues in the latter part of pregnancy. High acidic level in lemons may trigger or aggravate these conditions. It is advisable to avoid eating lemons and other citrus foods if you are suffering from these symptoms.
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