When a woman gets pregnant, she has to keep a track of what foods she is eating. A pregnant woman becomes very conscious as little carelessness can be really harmful for the growing foetus. There are few good and bad foods for pregnant women. If you are pregnant, elders and experienced women often keep advising you on what to do and what to eat. For example, they suggest that eating nuts and simple pregnancy exercises are good for the pregnant women.
However, there are few foods that can be good or bad for the pregnant women. For example, many women feel that eating unripe papaya is good during pregnancy. But, a majority of women feel it is a dangerous fruit as papaya causes miscarriage and early labour. Similarly, pineapple has got mixed response from pregnant women. Want to know if pineapples are good or bad during pregnancy? Find out the facts....
Causes early labour: It is often advised that pregnant women should not have too much pineapple or pineapple juice during early pregnancy. This is because the fruit contains Bromelian that weakens the cervix. This leads to uterine contractions. If consumed in excess amounts, pineapple causes diarrhea. Many women complain that having pineapple causes early labour whereas there are few women who have had healthy and full three trimester pregnancy even after eating pineapple! May be because bromelian is commonly found in fresh pineapples. If the fruit is canned or juiced, bromelian gets destroyed.
Miscarriage: According to an old wives tale, eating pineapples can cause miscarriage. Protease enzyme bromelain is similar to papain in papayas. As bromelian softens the cervix, it can lead to miscarriage. Pineapples especially green and unripe ones can induce the uterine activity and harm a stable pregnancy. Thus, women should avoid eating this tropical fruit especially during the early months of pregnancy.
Other health problems: Eating to much pineapple can cause diarrhea and heartburn. The acidic tropical fruit worsens heartburn. Pregnant women often suffer from heartburn and eating pineapples can be dangerous for them.
Although pineapples are rich in Vitamin C and also has digestive enzymes that are required by the body during pregnancy, it is best to consult your doctor before eating this tropical fruit. Although many women have a healthy and problem-free pregnancy even after eating pineapple throughout the gestation period, it doesn't mean your body also can take the bromelian. To be on the safer side, consult your gynecologist and eat this fruit in moderate amounts. If you are in your third trimester and preparing for labour, you can eat pineapple (under doctor's advice) to induce labour and make it easy for the baby to come out.
