Motherhood is the most important period in a woman’s life. There are a hundred things that might stress out expecting mothers, but proper diet shouldn’t be one of them. One should take extra care of the diet during pregnancy. Eating nutritious and healthy foods is an integral part of pregnancy. One such healthy food is bread. Bread contains essential nutrients, fibers, and minerals, good for both the mother and the baby. It hence, provides lots of health benefits to both, some of which have been given below. These benefits are a great help in the long run.
Health Benefits of Eating Bread During Pregnancy:
1. Protection Against Preeclampsia:
Eating only two slices of brown bread in pregnancy a day can help pregnant women ward off threats of pre-eclampsia. Pre-eclampsia is characterized by high blood pressure and affects one in ten expectant mothers. It occurs late into the pregnancy and can be life threatening. Bread for pregnant women highly reduces the risk of occurrence of it.
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2. Lowering Blood Pressure:
Expecting mothers often face the problem of high blood pressure, due to excessive stress and mental fatigue.The whole grains present in bread are full of dietary fiber. Eating white bread during pregnancy helps to maintain cholesterol and triglyceride levels in your body, thereby reducing the blood pressure level to normal. It that not a win – win situation, both for the unborn kid and you?
3. Regulating Blood Sugar:
Pregnant women are prone to suffer from diabetes. Pregnancy can cause gestational diabetes. Whole wheat bread, being high in fiber content, helps to maintain the blood sugar level and prevents it from the sudden spike. Therefore, all the harmful effects of gestational diabetes can be avoided and you can walk through your pregnancy happy and healthy.
4. Maintaining Metabolism:
Bread is a rich source of Vitamin B, thiamin, riboflavin and niacin. All these essential elements help in regulating the metabolism. Also, the fiber richness of bread helps in boosting the metabolic rates which is good for the mother as well as the unborn.
5. Reducing Asthma Risks:
Consumption of whole wheat bread during pregnancy also reduces the symptoms of asthma or breathing discomforts in pregnant women. Surely, no breathing problems mean lesser problems during pregnancy.
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6. Providing Energy:
Pregnancy can leave women feeling weak and drained out of energy. The carbohydrate content of the whole wheat bread provides optimum energy to expecting mothers. White bread during pregnancy keeps mothers fit and active. Feeling fit and energized helps you go around in a happy mood all day. You don’t feel worn out or De-energized.
7. Growth and Development of your Baby:
The calcium content of food helps in the proper nourishment of the baby. Whole wheat bread contains a moderate proportion of calcium beneficial for pregnant women. Moreover, Vitamin C in it prevents deficiencies and boosts immunity.
Possible Side Effects:
Bread contains gluten. It is a composite form of protein that is difficult to digest for expecting moms. Moreover, wheat bread contains Amylopectin A, which may increase blood sugar levels rapidly. Hence, consumption of bread during pregnancy must be regulated properly.
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Overall, bread has innumerable health benefits for expecting mothers and newborn baby. Every mother wants to give their baby the best care and nourishment. The health foods start right from the time of pregnancy. Inspite of the possible side effects, bread has the fibers, vitamins and essential minerals that mothers and their babies need to thrive and stay healthy.
