Once you become pregnant, a lot of care is required. Your relatives, spouse and family keep offering advice for yours and your baby’s welfare. So, this being the time while you eat all healthy and nutritious food, how much do we know about eating turnip during pregnancy.
There are a few fruits and vegetables that are blacklisted as in you should not eat them during pregnancy. Because of this many women have this doubt about eating turnips during pregnancy.
We will discuss whether or not to eat turnips during pregnancy, their health benefits, and everything you need to know about it.
Is It Safe To Eat Turnips During Pregnancy?
We are happy to inform you that it is safe to eat turnips during pregnancy as they are a rich source of Vitamin C. Turnip has white flesh inside and its outside color depends upon how much sunlight it receives. Therefore, you can eat white turnip during pregnancy as well as green turnip during pregnancy — as it is rich in folic acid.
Turnips do not cause many side effects. However, if you are allergic to it, please consult your doctor before consuming it. Eating turnips during pregnancy helps in easy digestion and bowel movements thereby preventing pregnancy troubles such as constipation.
Though it is safe and healthy to consume vegetables after cooking, eating tender raw turnips during pregnancy is also considered safe provided you peel its skin and wash it completely before eating to remove bacteria and pesticides. You can also chop or shred them over salads.
Nutritional Profile Of Turnip
Turnips contain a lot of essential nutrients that are vital for a safe pregnancy, making it one of the pregnancy superfoods. Eating turnips during pregnancy help the body to function properly and safeguard pregnant women from harmful microbes. Turnips are low in calories yet are a rich source of antioxidants and fiber.
The leaves of turnips include rich Vitamin K sources and omega-3 acids like alpha-linolenic acid. Hence eating green turnip during pregnancy is a healthy option. Turnips are also a rich source of B complex vitamins, minerals like copper, iron, calcium, and manganese, and several phytonutrients.
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According to a source every 100 grams of turnip contains the below nutritional values:
- Calories – 28
- Total Fat 0.1g – 0 % daily value
- Sodium 67mg – 3 % daily value
- Total Carbohydrate 6.4g – 2 % daily value
- Dietary Fiber 1.8g – 6 % daily value
- Sugar 3.8g
- Protein 0.9g – 2 % daily value
- Calcium 30.00mg – 2 % daily value
- Iron 0.30mg – 2 % daily value
- Potassium 191mg – 4 % daily value
6 Health Benefits Of Turnip During Pregnancy
Turnips are a storehouse of vitamins and minerals. A pregnant woman needs a lot of nutrients to help her body to cope up during the pregnancy phase. Due to their nutritional components, both turnip and turnip leaves provide the adequate nutrients required for a healthy delivery.
Turnips come from a cruciferous family. As stated, many times this nutrient-rich vegetable is low in calories making it a recommended option for a healthy diet. Turnips naturally have a long shelf life and are easily available in the market.
Consumption of turnips during pregnancy helps regulate metabolism, improve blood circulation and reduce inflammation. They also aid in strengthening your bones — much needed during pregnancy.
Related Reading: Broccoli During Pregnancy – Benefits, Safety And Risks
Knowing much, let us see the benefits of eating turnips during pregnancy.
1. Turnips during improve metabolism
Metabolism in pregnant women is less. Turnips are rich in vitamin B complexes that help to regulate the hormonal and enzymatic processes of the body. It ensures the proper functioning of the body.
The body must function properly especially during the pregnancy phase. We recommend eating turnip every day for good metabolism and for the body to absorb the required nutrients for the mother and child.
2. Provides calcium and iron
A pregnant woman requires 1000 mg of calcium and 27 mg of iron every day during pregnancy. Calcium plays an important role in building the baby’s bone and its tooth buds while the iron is important for pregnant women to rule out the risk of anemia and increase blood volume.
One cup of turnip leaves provides 20% of calcium intake for a day while 1.15 mg of iron is present in one cup of green turnips. Hence, we suggest you include this in your diet.
Related Reading: Top 10 Calcium Rich Foods For Pregnancy
3. Relieves intestinal problems
Regular consumption of turnips during pregnancy aids in improving digestion and avoids constipation and bloating issues as they are rich in fiber. Traditionally, this vegetable was used to cure many gastro problems. Consuming turnips regularly during pregnancy improves bowel movements. However, anything should be taken in moderation.
The fiber content in it is seen to improve the gut bacterial population. It is also effective to fight Helicobacter pylori, which is the bacteria that cause stomach ulcers.
4. Promotes healthy skin and hair
Eating turnips during pregnancy helps to promote healthy skin and hair as a turnip is a rich source of Vitamin A, C, and iron. All these are vital for healthy hair and skin. Vitamin A helps in the production of sebum and the prevention of acne.
Vitamin C promotes collagen that is required for the structure of the skin and maintaining the skin young. Iron is vital for hair growth and loss of hair growth during pregnancy is more common due to intake of less iron content.
Related Reading: 11 Easy Tips Glowing Skin During Pregnancy
5. Helps reduce anemia
Iron deficiency is common during pregnancy and it often leads to iron deficiency anemia. Iron is a major component of hemoglobin that is required to carry oxygen throughout the body.
Turnips during pregnancy increase your iron values and it is suggested you include them in your diet to help combat fatigue from anemia.
6. Rich in folic
Turnip greens are a rich source of folic acid and iron. Both these minerals are essential for women during pregnancy. Eating turnips regularly along with other leafy vegetables helps you meet the required nutritional level for pregnancy. Also, folic acid helps in the healthy growth of the fetus.
Risks And Precautions Of Eating Turnip During Pregnancy
Though turnips are rich in nutrients, any food taken beyond moderation is always a risk. Pregnancy causes a lot of changes to the body and the pregnant woman must adapt her eating habits by the time the baby is born.
Diet is one of the major factors that can affect the lifestyle of both the mother and the child. Most pregnant women understand the risk of eating foods that are not recommended during pregnancy. Remember, many foods carry viruses and bacteria that may cause problems during pregnancy.
Related Reading: Loss Of Appetite During Pregnancy
Listed below are the risks of eating turnips during pregnancy.
1. Causes blood thinning
Turnips are rich in vitamin K. Eating too much or too little vitamin K food could act as blood thinners and play a significant role in blood clotting.
2. Nitrate content
Turnips contain nitrate. If this vegetable is not properly stored, this could turn into a harmful substance called nitrite.
3. Oxalates
Oxalates found in turnips could cause kidney and gallbladder problems as they tend to crystallize when they are too much concentrated in body fluids.
4. Turnips during pregnancy can cause allergy
If you are allergic to Cruciferous vegetables (vegetables belonging to the Cruciferous family such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower etc.) you must consult your doctor before eating turnips during pregnancy.
5. Clean the turnips thoroughly before having them
Infections could occur and cause severe fever and body ache if the vegetable is not washed properly. This could cause premature labor, pre-birth.
Related Reading: Eating Sweet Potatoes During Pregnancy- Is It Safe
Precautions of eating turnip during pregnancy
Though eating fruits and vegetables during pregnancy is recommended there are a few precautions you must follow during pregnancy to have a safe and healthy pregnancy.
- When you purchase turnips, ensure the turnips are hardy to the touch and void of any bumps or bruises
- Keep in mind that moderation is safe and anything in excess could lead to complications
- People who are allergic to this must avoid its consumption
- People with kidney or gall bladder issues must avoid its frequent consumption
Side effects of eating turnips during pregnancy
- Too many antioxidants are unsafe for the body
- If you are diabetic, eating too many turnips during pregnancy is not recommended
- The potassium content in turnips keeps us healthy. But it can also increase the risk of hypertension
- Too much fiber could lead to malabsorption, intestinal gas, intestinal blockage, diarrhea
Conclusion
Eating a healthy diet when you are expecting is important for you as well as the baby. Meeting the everyday nutritional requirements prevents low birth weight and pregnancy complications. Eat a lot of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and of course turnips during pregnancy.
The dangers associated with eating turnips during pregnancy are not much. However, you can eat them only after following certain precautions and advice from your doctor.
Pregnancy is a tough time in a woman’s life. So, one must pay necessary attention to it for the sake of your baby’s well-being.