With the concern of food allergens, specifically during pregnancy, women may choose to steer clear of foods that are prone to cause reactions. This is because with how the body changes during pregnancy, food that caused there to be a flare-up in a skin condition suddenly causes no reaction at all. Whereas, foods that were considered safe may not be so much anymore. But if women never had an allergic reaction to peanuts, they may want to eat them during pregnancy. Not only will it benefit pregnant women but their unborn babies as well.
According to the National Peanut Board, peanuts contain more protein per serving than any other nut. Between this and the essential vitamins and minerals that make up the peanut, it is a great food to eat for those who do not have a reaction to the legume. In fact, for those looking to get in their extra calories per day, a handful of peanuts or a spread of nut butter will be both satisfying and healthy for mothers-to-be.
Here is women may want to eat peanuts during pregnancy.
Safety Of Eating Peanuts During Pregnancy
Those who have a known peanut allergy will not want to partake in eating peanuts during pregnancy. At a time when it is essential to remain as healthy as possible, having an allergic reaction is not a way to make that happen.
According to BabyCenter, to date, there have been no studies to show that eating peanuts during pregnancy is dangerous. And with the vitamins and minerals found in peanuts, they are a healthy food to support growing babies.
The vitamins and minerals found in peanuts, according to Healthline include:
- Biotin
- Folate
- Copper
- Vitamin E
- Thiamine
- Magnesium
- Manganese
These minerals are not only healthy for pregnancy but for overall body function as well. This is why eating peanuts as part of a healthy diet can be very beneficial for expecting moms.
Decreased Risk For Baby Having Peanut Allergies
Peanut allergies are the second most common of all food allergies. And according to AJMC, they are on the rise among young children. But, if mothers eat them during pregnancy, there is the chance that the risk of being allergic to peanuts may decrease, something that both mothers and their children would appreciate.
According to What To Expect, the recommendations used to be for pregnant women to not eat peanuts when expecting if there was any history of allergies from the legume in the family. The thought in doing this was that babies would be less at risk of having a peanut allergy. But with research showing that the opposite was in fact true, women have been given the green light to eat peanuts or peanut butter while pregnant if the foods are something they crave.
Those At Risk For Peanut Allergies During Pregnancy
While expecting, anyone who has a known peanut allergy should not eat the legumes. This is regardless of how beneficial eating them during pregnancy may be for unborn babies.
Many women may suffer from peanut allergies but do not recognize that is what is happening to them. This is because, according to the Cleveland Clinic, the reaction can be anything from very mild to incredibly severe. For some, this could mean that anything containing peanuts all the way to foods being processed in the same facilities where peanut-based products are produced cause some sort of inflammation in the body. And this means reading product labels carefully, especially during pregnancy is important.
According to Healthline, there are some food products that women might not think of that can cause allergic reactions. Those products include:
- Chocolate
- Candy
- Asian-based sauces in pre-made cuisine
- Cereal
- Trail mix
- Granola bars
To ensure a pregnancy with as few complications as possible, ready labels of pre-packaged products are necessary. It is the only way that women with allergies, slight or severe, can keep clear of peanuts.
And for those who are concerned that their babies will not get off to as good a start as those whose mothers were able to eat peanuts during pregnancy, have no fear. There are things that women can do when babies begin to eat solid foods that will introduce babies to peanuts and reduce the risk of allergies as well.
Source: AJMC, What To Expect, National Peanut Board, Healthline, BabyCenter, Cleveland Clinic, Healthline