Chia During Pregnancy: Benefits And Recommendations
Pregnancy is a delicate time and pregnant women should eat all the nutritious foods available. Chia seeds during pregnancy are positive if eaten in moderation, as they can also have some negative effects.
They can be eaten ground or whole and added to any type of recipe. Although you have to be cautious the first few times, since like many foods, they cause allergic reactions and digestive problems. Below we detail more about its use, benefits and other recommendations.
What are chia seeds?
This valuable food in the form of a small black grain is native to Mexico and Guatemala. There it has been part of the food and medicinal traditions for more than 5000 years. Today it is a booming product in many corners of the world.
It is an oilseed, so its composition stands out above all the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids (mostly omega 3 and omega 6). It also provides protein, dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals (calcium, phosphorus and manganese) and antioxidants.
The benefits of chia seeds during pregnancy
In the gestation period it is important to pay attention to diet. Some nutrients are required in greater amounts to ensure the development of the fetus and avoid health problems in the mother. In addition, some minor annoyances such as constipation can be solved or alleviated with simple food guidelines.
Let’s see in detail what chia seeds can do in some cases.
Improve constipation
As the American Nutrition Society indicates, chia seeds provide a good amount of soluble fiber. This is positive when there is difficulty with bowel movements, as it increases the volume of stool and facilitates the process of expelling them.
Prevent the appearance of anemia
Iron deficiency is a common disorder in some pregnant women. It is more likely to happen if the level of this mineral in the body is low before conception. In addition, when there is already established anemia, it is aggravated by the circulatory changes of pregnancy.
So it is important to maintain adequate iron intake in this period when needs increase. Chia seeds help cover this increase, although it is not one of the most recurring foods, such as meat or legumes. It should be noted that it has an absorption similar to that of ferrous sulfate.
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