Is It Safe to Eat Mangoes During Pregnancy

Mangoes are rich in iron, vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin B6, potassium and folic acid, which are essential nutrients for pregnancy. They are also high in fiber, which prevents constipation and is a good source of energy and antioxidants.

Mangoes are also naturally sweet. They contain more sugar than most fruits (about 15 grams of sugar per 100 grams). This makes a delicious alternative to cakes and pastries when you are craving sweets.

In addition to containing 15% of your daily folic acid, 3/4 cups of mangoes contain 50% of your daily vitamin C, 8% of your daily vitamin A, 7% of your daily fiber, 8% of your daily vitamin B6, and 15% of your daily copper. With all these vitamins and nutrients, it is difficult to refuse mangoes.

Now there is a lot of mango information to digest. If you find yourself craving mangoes, all you have to think about is whether you want to topping this super fun superfruit on your ice cream or salad.

However, because of its high sugar content, it is recommended to avoid mangoes if you have gestational diabetes.

Mangoes are also high in calories. So, it can be a good snack in the third trimester of pregnancy, when you need the most calories out of the nine months, but, as in all cases, eat it in moderation.

If you like mangoes as part of a smoothie, shake, lassi, or dessert, beware of the extra sugar and calories served in sweetener and cream form. Dried mangoes, muraba, chutney, and candied mango also contain sweeteners, so eat them sparingly.

Choose carefully when buying mangoes from the market. Avoid buying chemically aged mangoes. Buying in season reduces the chance of artificial ripening.

The most commonly used aging agent is calcium carbide, a chemical prohibited by the Indian Food and Safety Standards Act (2006) and Food Safety and Standards Regulations (2011).

Fruit cooked with calcium carbide can be toxic to both you and your growing baby because the chemicals contain trace amounts of arsenic and phosphorus.

Consuming artificially ripe fruit has the following side effects:

• Upset stomach
• headache
• dizziness
• drowsiness
• delirium
• mood disorder
• canker
• seizure
• Tingling, pins and needles, or numbness in the hands and feet

There are several signs you can look for to tell if a mangoes for pregnancy is ripe naturally or using chemicals. Artificially ripe mangoes have the following benefits:

• Available in gray-white or black powder coating.
• smell of garlic
• The outside looks ripe, but the inside is hard and sharp.
• Tasteless or has a distinctive aftertaste
• Shelf life is short. Black spots or signs of overripe start appearing much sooner than naturally ripe mangoes.
• soft and chewy feel

If you are unsure whether your fruit is naturally or artificially ripened, you can reduce your exposure to toxins by taking the following steps:

Washing the fruit: Wash the mango thoroughly and dry it as soon as you get home from the market or mandi. This will remove any residual chemicals on the surface or Listeria contamination of the soil. It also keeps the refrigerator clean and prevents cross-contamination.

Do not put skin in mouth. Once washed, peel the mango before eating. Do not eat the flesh of a fruit directly from the peel.

Wash your hands: Wash your hands with soap and warm water, as well as materials such as knives or chopping boards that have come into contact with mangoes.

Artificial ripening is usually done to make the fruit appear ripe and sell quickly. Buying unripe mangoes and ripening them at home reduces the chance of contamination with calcium carbide.

It's also a good idea not to eat mango charts or fruit salads from roadside stalls because you can't be sure of the level of hygiene or quality.