15 Benefits of Drinking Coconut Water While Pregnant
KOMPAS.com – You may often hear advice about various foods and drinks that are recommended for pregnant women.
One of the most popular is young coconut water. Many people believe that the consumption of young coconut water can make babies born white clean later.
However, the truth of the results from drinking coconut water during pregnancy that makes baby’s skin white is not proven.
Also read: Is it safe to drink coffee for pregnant women?
Even so, drinking coconut water during pregnancy has many benefits. There are at least 12 health benefits that pregnant women can feel by drinking coconut water.
1. Natural hydration
Quoted from Healthline, coconut water contains about 95 percent water from trusted and pure sources. This makes coconut water a great choice during pregnancy.
This content makes coconut water a good source of hydration.
2. Natural diuretic
According to Mom Junction, coconut water is a natural diuretic. It increases the urge to urinate due to the presence of potassium, magnesium and other minerals.
This content helps remove toxins and cleanse the urinary tract.
According to a study published in the journal BioMed Research International in 2018, the antilitogenic properties of coconut water can prevent kidney stones and infections.
In other words, these properties also play an important role in the prevention of urinary tract infections thereby decreasing the chances of preterm labor.
3. Contains essential electrolytes
During pregnancy, the need for electrolytes increases due to various conditions such as nausea and diarrhea. These conditions often make the body dehydrated.
Especially if the mother has hyperemesis gravidarum or extreme nausea. The mother’s body will experience electrolyte deficiency due to excessive vomiting.
Also read: Vitamin C for Pregnant Women: Benefits, Needs, Signs of Deficiency
The good news is that coconut water supplies all the essential electrolytes that pregnant women need, such as minerals, sodium, calcium, potassium, and phosphorus.
This electrolyte content can calm the body and provide energy.
4. Controlling blood pressure
Apart from calming the body and providing energy, electrolytes also support maintaining your body’s pH level and controlling blood pressure levels.
High blood pressure can be a dangerous condition for the mother and the fetus in the womb because it can trigger preeclampsia, premature birth, and so on.
To control blood pressure during pregnancy, coconut water can be a smart choice. The potassium content can help regulate blood flow and pressure.
5. Relieves heartburn and constipation
Hormonal changes during pregnancy can cause several problems such as heartburn, constipation, and indigestion.
Consumption of coconut water can help relieve various conditions. That’s because a lot of dietary fiber in coconut water can help strengthen the digestive system, improve digestion, regulate pH levels, and prevent constipation.
Ayurvedic medicine even considers gentle coconut water to be a potential laxative.
Coconut water is thought to boost your metabolism and support your body’s detoxification. Coconut water is a natural acid neutralizer so it can prevent heartburn.
Also read: 7 Nutrients that Pregnant Women Really Need
6. Fighting infection
Coconut water has many vitamins, essential minerals and antioxidants, which boost immunity.
In other words, coconut water can provide benefits to survive infection.
Moreover, coconut water also contains lauric acid, a fatty acid which is responsible for the production of the powerful antimicrobial compound monolaurin.
7. Supports maintaining heart health
Low electrolyte levels increase blood pressure. Drinking coconut water can help increase levels of potassium, magnesium and lauric acid, which can help regulate blood pressure.
Apart from that, coconut water also increases good cholesterol and fights bad cholesterol. This is an important condition for maintaining heart health.
8. Helps maintain a healthy body weight
Coconut water is fat free and low in calories. This makes this refreshing drink an option if you don’t want to gain weight during pregnancy.
Coconut water can help prevent too much weight gain during pregnancy by controlling total calorie consumption and controlling hunger.
Moreover, coconut water is a delicious natural drink that is free from artificial flavors or harmful components.
Also read: Benefits of Avocados for Pregnant Women
During pregnancy, dehydration is not uncommon. You can choose coconut water as it quenches your thirst and refreshes you without adding harmful substances to your body.
10. Rehydration after exercise
After exercising, of course, I want to drink a refreshing drink. For this, coconut water can be an option other than drinking water.
Although it has the same hydrating benefits as plain water, coconut water offers other ingredients that are more complete.
Coconut water is a natural isotonic drink, which helps rehydrate and supply energy when you are dehydrated and tired.
Hydration is also thought to improve skin elasticity, therefore limiting stretch marks that develop during pregnancy.
11. Low sugar content
During pregnancy, many mothers complain of feeling weak and lethargic. However, consuming energy drinks that are sold in supermarkets is not a good choice because of their high sugar content.
Compared to energy drinks, you can drink coconut water. One hundred grams of coconut water contains 2.1 grams of sugar, which is lower than energy drinks.
It will not gain weight during pregnancy. Even a simple low-sugar diet can lower your risk of developing gestational diabetes.
Also read: 7 types of food that pregnant women cannot eat
12. Can help fetal growth
Several researchers have found that young coconut water contains certain biologically active compounds and growth-promoting factors.
Apart from that, coconut water also offers all the essential nutrients for mothers which are believed to help the growth and development of the fetus.
13. Increase levels of amniotic fluid
Coconut water is very good to drink, especially in the third trimester of pregnancy.
According to the Coconut Bible published by UCLA, coconut water can increase amniotic fluid levels and increase blood volume and circulation.
14. Relieves stomach acid
Gastric acid during pregnancy can be both annoying and painful.
Especially during pregnancy, the hormone progesterone can relax the stomach valve so that stomach fluids can rise up to the esophagus and cause discomfort.
In some pregnant women, consumption of coconut water is said to relieve increased stomach acid.
Unfortunately, there is no scientific evidence to support this opinion.
Also read: Can Pregnant Women Eat Goat Meat?
15. Overall protection
A study found that coconut water during pregnancy provides protection against changes caused by the mother’s high-fat diet.
This is important because it has been proven in various studies that the mother’s diet has an impact on fetal growth and development.
However, further research is needed to validate the use of these claims.