Mushrooms are a powerhouse of nutrition, but safety measures are required while consuming them, during pregnancy. Read on to know why…?
From the moment of conception till the fag end of pregnancy, all throughout the nine months’ journey, you will be adapting yourself to some of the significant changes in your lifestyle. And, one of them would be to follow a trimester-wise pregnancy platter, in which you will have a list of healthy, balanced and nutritious of food.
However, we understand that, sometimes the choice of food may become a little tricky for you. As there are some foods, especially foods like mushrooms, consumption of which, may in some cases be good during pregnancy, while in some cases it may not be a preferred choice for expecting mummies.
Therefore, before we go into why is it not good, we would like to focus on why is it good, during pregnancy
Why Should Women Eat Mushrooms, During Pregnancy?
Getting calories, vitamins and minerals in significant quantities is essential for a pregnant woman’s health and for nurturing the life growing inside her. And, adding mushrooms in the pregnancy platter would mean:
- A natural source of Vitamin B components: Mushrooms contain Vitamin B1, B2 and B3 benefitting the would-be mother and her baby in various ways.
- Vitamin B1: is not just responsible in keeping pregnancy fatigue at bay, but it also plays an important role in developing the baby’s brain.
- Vitamin B2: Not just keeps the skin and eyesight of both the would-be-mother and the baby healthy but also keeps the nerves, bones and muscles strong.
- Vitamin B3: Keeps the blood circulation normal, and heart-healthy both in the mother and the growing baby, by maintaining the cholesterol level in the mother, during pregnancy.
- Vitamin B5: Covers the food metabolism in the pregnant mother’s body, by controlling indigestion, which is common during pregnancy.
- A natural source of Vitamin D nutrients: Vitamin D is not found in foods, but mushroom is one of them. Consuming mushrooms turns out to be vital for her bones and muscles and helps in dealing with her fatigue and depression.
- A natural source of Protein and Fibre: Protein from mushrooms, supports the placental development, promotes the foetal development and looks after the overall growth and development of the growing baby. In fact, the fiber-contents in mushrooms keeps the blood pressure, sugar and cholesterol in absolute control in an expecting woman. She feels energised, at the same time.
- A natural source of Iron and antioxidants: Most women are anaemic in their child-bearing age. And iron helps in the formation of haemoglobin, which plays an important role during pregnancy, as the maternal heart pumps out more blood than is expected to keep the growing baby healthy. Moreover, presence of antioxidants in mushrooms, especially medicinal mushrooms (with immunological and anti-cancer properties) can help in combating against disease-causing bacteria and virus during pregnancy, thus boosting her immunity.
But, It Always Better To Be Safe Than Sorry!
Undoubtedly, Mushroom are edible and safe during pregnancy. But there are mushrooms which are toxic and can be harmful during pregnancy at the same time, so:
- A careful choice is fruitful: Pregnancy is not time to experiment with food. So, wild or magic mushrooms are a big no! They contain Psilocybin, which is responsible for causing hallucinations, nausea and vomiting. Sometime from slight gastrointestinal discomfort it can lead to death.
- Raw is a NO! Since mushrooms grow in soil or on the top of plants, they have carcinogens in them which is a cancer-causing agent for both the would-be-mummy and the baby. So, mushrooms should be properly washed and cooked well before it is consumed.
- A small quantity is enough: While eating mushrooms, tasting just a small amount is enough to judge the side-effects, during pregnancy.
To conclude: Enjoy the mushrooms, especially Oyster, Cremini, Button and shitaake mushrooms while you keep the precautions in mind. While it’s completely normal to obsess about weight gain during pregnancy, remember that all you need is a healthy and nutritious diet.
Author Bio: Prapti Chauhan is a professor of Genetics in Bangalore. She has contributed to several online research papers. However, she passionately develops content on pregnancy, childbirth, childcare and the benefits of cord blood banking stem cell banking and umbilical cord lining, and more.