Watermelon in Pregnancy: Benefits, Risks & Nutrients

As a pregnant woman, it is highly important to focus on your nutrition and diet. And what better way to do this than by consuming fruits and vegetables? Fruits and vegetables that contain a rich amount of nutrients and minerals are extremely important to aid the pregnancy journey. One such fruit is watermelon. But if you're wondering whether it's safe to eat watermelon in pregnancy, then the answer is yes!

Watermelons contain a lot of vitamins and nutrients - these include vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin B6, magnesium and potassium. All of these aid pregnant women greatly - from combating cramps to allowing the muscles to relax and avoid the risk of premature contractions. Craving watermelon during pregnancy? That might be a good thing! Let's take a look at watermelon benefits in pregnancy.

Nutrients in Watermelon

Watermelons contain carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins and plant compounds that women require for a healthy pregnancy. Watermelons are also comprised of 91% water content, so it helps keep pregnant women hydrated and helps them fight nausea. A single serving of watermelon every now and then can be highly beneficial for pregnant women.

Rich in lycopene and lutein, they are a great source of antioxidants, helping the body fight infections and diseases. Antioxidants present in watermelons also help mitigate the risk of complications that may arise due to pregnancy, including preterm birth. They contain vitamins A, C, and B6 - all of which contribute to better eye, brain and heart health. According to experts, the consumption of watermelon in pregnancy may also help in reducing the risk of preeclampsia.

Benefits of Watermelon in Pregnancy

There are several benefits of consuming watermelons during pregnancy. These include:

• Prevention of edema or swelling because of the high-water content present in watermelons

• Energizing fruit that helps keep morning sickness at bay

• Prevention of dehydration

• Easing muscle cramps

• Prevention of skin pigmentation and cleansing of the body

• Helps treat constipation, poor bowel movements, and diarrhoea

• Strengthens immunity for both, the expecting mother and the growing foetus

• Keeps skin hydrated, therefore helps to avoid dry skin issues

• Helps to cure any infections in the urinary tract

• Has anti-bacterial properties

• Helps promote good eye health

• Aids healthy fetal growth and development

• Easing digestive issues like acidity and heartburn

• May reduce the chance of adverse effects or pregnancy problems

Watermelon has a lot of water content, and regular consumption can help pregnant women reduce issues associated with diarrhoea, constipation or even haemorrhoids. Regularly eating watermelons is also great for avoiding complications that may arise with pregnancy.

How to Eat Watermelon During Pregnancy?

Did you know there are so many ways to consume watermelon? Other than just cutting it up and eating it like a fruit, you can prepare watermelon juice, and lemonade, eat it in a salad, or salsa, or even make popsicles!

Safety Concerns

Typically, the consumption of watermelon during pregnancy is considered safe. However, excessive consumption of watermelon may lead to unwanted effects such as gestational diabetes and gastric issues. Since watermelons are low in fibre and high in sugar, they may lead to a spike in the body's sugar levels. So if you have the risk of issues with high sugar, you may want to cut down on your watermelon intake. It is also important to ensure the watermelons have been washed and cut properly before ingesting. Make sure the watermelon has been properly refrigerated before consumption.

Frequently asked questions

1. Is watermelon hot or cold for the body?

Watermelon has a cooling effect on the body since it contains high water content. It also helps to remove toxins from the body.

2. Is watermelon a source of colds and coughs?

Consuming watermelons helps the body get a lot of extra fluids as well as vitamins. Watermelons are known to contain antioxidants called lycopene which help keep illnesses at bay and help mitigate the risk of catching infections. This also helps in reducing any risk of respiratory inflammations.

3. Can watermelon cause miscarriage?

Watermelons are generally safe to consume during pregnancy and consumption of watermelon in pregnancy is not linked to miscarriage.

References

1. Naz A, Butt MS, Sultan MT, Qayyum MM, Niaz RS. (2014). Watermelon lycopene and allied health claims. NCBI

2. Manivannan A, Lee ES, Han K, Lee HE, Kim DS. (2020). Versatile Nutraceutical Potentials of Watermelon. NCBI