Mother nature seems to have made sure some foods look like the body part they’re good for....CONTINUE READING
For example, if you’re looking to improve brain function, walnuts are the way to go.
If it’s a decent erection you want, experts recommend eating bananas.
So it’s perhaps no surprise that pregnant women are being advised to eat more of that oh-so pregnant fruit – avocado.
Avocado is a superfood that shows no sign of letting up. In fact, the known benefits of eating this fruit just keep racking up.
Avocados are full of good fats, high in dietary fibre and a great source of folate. Folate is especially important during early pregnancy, because it can reduce the risk of birth defects.
You can find out more about folate rich foods here.
Study Recommends Eating Avocados During Pregnancy
A new study, published in the journal Nutrients, looked at the role of avocados in the diets of pregnant and lactating women. According to the study:
“Avocados are unique among fruits and vegetables in that, by weight, they contain much higher amounts of the key nutrients folate and potassium, which are normally under-consumed in maternal diets.
“Avocados also contain higher amounts of several non-essential compounds, such as fiber, mono-unsaturated fats, and lipid-soluble antioxidants, which have all been linked to improvements in maternal health, birth outcomes and/or breast milk quality“.
Currently, US dietary advice applies only to those aged two years and above. However, it is known that maternal diet during pregnancy and breastfeeding can have a huge impact on the health of both mother and baby.
Official dietary advice for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers will be issued by 2020.
The new study analysed existing research into the health benefits of avocados to determine whether they should be included in the new dietary guidelines.
