Can You Eat Sweets And Chocolate When Pregnant

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Chocolate is completely safe for most pregnant women - in moderation. In fact, there is some evidence that consuming chocolate while pregnant can lower the risk of preeclampsia and gestational hypertension.

One study found that consuming a small amount of dark chocolate every day from the first trimester onwards improved blood flow to the fetus. In this study, expectant mothers ate about an ounce of dark chocolate a day - that's about a quarter of a chocolate bar, or 54 chocolate chips.

You don't want to overdo it for two reasons. Number one is that consuming lots of chocolate makes you less hungry for other healthy foods that you need for a balanced diet. Chocolate also tends to be high in sugar and calories and can contribute to unhealthy weight gain. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of Health nutritional guidelines recommend that adults limit added sugar and saturated fat to less than 10 percent of calories per day.

The second reason is that chocolate contains caffeine. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that pregnant women keep their caffeine intake below 200 milligrams (mg) per day. If you drink caffeinated drinks and enjoy snacking on chocolate, make sure you don't go over the limit.

In general, a little chocolate doesn't hurt: a roughly 1-ounce serving of nine milk chocolate Hershey's Kisses, for example, has 160 calories, 16 grams of sugar, and less than 10 mg of caffeine. Dark chocolate usually contains less sugar and more caffeine than milk chocolate: typically, an ounce of dark chocolate has 155 calories, about 10 grams of sugar, and 12 milligrams of caffeine.

Eating chocolate while pregnant

According to studies, consuming chocolate during pregnancy can help keep mother and baby healthy by reducing the risk of preeclampsia and improving placental function. It's not, there are more reasons why consuming chocolate while pregnant isn't a cause for guilty conscience. Here are six advantages.

A happier baby
According to a study conducted in Finland, women who ate chocolate while pregnant reported having more lively and happier babies.

Helps with stress management
With your hormones floating all over the place during these nine months, it can be very stressful. Chocolate can help lower your stress levels, researchers say. Studies have even shown that consuming dark chocolate on a daily basis significantly reduces stress.

Reduced chance of miscarriage
Although there is not a single remedy that you can follow to prevent miscarriage. However, it has been found that pregnant women who eat chocolate every day are 20 percent less likely to have a miscarriage in the first trimester.

Helps maintain your weight
A piece of chocolate can help keep those extra pounds in check. Say yes to dark chocolate to maintain healthy weight gain and lower cholesterol levels.

Reduced risk of preeclampsia
One of the most recent studies reported that consuming chocolate every day can reduce the risk of preeclampsia (high blood pressure), which can lead to premature births, convulsions, blood clots, and even death. Consuming chocolate reduces the risk of preeclampsia by 50 percent.

Better development of the fetus
Women who consumed chocolate every day during their pregnancy have better placenta and fetus growth, say several studies.

However, there has been some evidence that chocolate cravings are due to psychological and cultural influences. Pregnant women are often encouraged to eat more or "eat for two".

Hence, it has been argued that we crave chocolate because it's a "naughty treat" and is viewed as a way to indulge yourself (and hey, if you're pregnant, you deserve a treat!). Whether or not this is the final reason is not yet known, but it's a pretty good hypothesis.

Chocolate cravings are completely normal, and as long as your intake is properly controlled it is a safe treat during pregnancy. Many chocolate dishes are listed below, along with information on how safely they can be eaten while pregnant.