Having a baby is a wonderful time filled with incredible changes. It’s really important to eat foods that are healthy for you and the baby. Watermelon is a great choice because it’s full of important vitamins and minerals.
This tasty fruit is more than just a sweet treat and water source; it has many surprising benefits for expectant moms. Let’s look at 10 ways watermelon can help during the time you’re pregnant:
Table of Contents
1. Keeps You Hydrated
It’s super important to drink a lot of water when you’re pregnant, but sometimes you might not feel like it if you’re queasy. Good news – watermelon is made up of more than 90% water! Eating it can help you stay hydrated and make morning sickness less of a problem. It also helps prevent headaches and feeling dizzy, which are common when you’re pregnant.
Enjoy watermelon on its own, mix it in smoothies, or make a nice, cool drink out of it. Either way, it’s a delicious way to get more water.
2. Calms Heartburn
When you’re pregnant, food sometimes comes back up your throat, which feels uncomfortable and burny. But watermelon can help because it’s full of water, which dilutes the acid in your stomach and helps get rid of the burn.
The fruit’s fiber and slightly basic nature can ease digestion and help with the acid, too. Keep some chilled slices ready for when heartburn hits.
3. Decreases Swelling
Your body holds onto more water when you’re pregnant, so it’s normal to get a bit swollen. Eating watermelon can help because it makes you pee more, which gets rid of extra water and salt. This can reduce swelling in places like your hands and feet.
Watermelon’s potassium helps manage the water in your body and keeps bloating away. Try some watermelon when you start to feel puffy.
4. Supports Your Immune System
Did you know being pregnant can make it easier for you to get sick? But watermelon has vitamin A, C, and other antioxidants that support your immune system to keep you and your baby healthy.
These nutrients also protect your cells from damage. Blend some watermelon in a smoothie to give your immune system a boost.
5. Makes Digestion Better
Pregnancy hormones can slow down digestion, which is why you might get constipated or gassy. Luckily, watermelon has fiber and nutrients that help your digestion work better.
Its fiber keeps things moving in your digestive system, and potassium helps with muscle movements to make bathroom visits less uncomfortable.
6. Increases Your Energy
Feeling tired is common when you’re pregnant, but watermelon can perk you up! It’s got vitamin B6, potassium, lycopene, and other things that give you energy.
With magnesium and amino acids, it helps your muscles use oxygen better. So when you need a boost, have a piece of watermelon!
7. Helps With Muscle Cramps
Your body changes a lot when you’re pregnant, which can sometimes cause painful cramps in your legs and feet. Watermelon is full of minerals that relax your muscles and might even stop cramps from happening.
The electrolytes and water in watermelon help your nerves work well and keep your body hydrated. Snacking on watermelon can give you quick relief from cramps.
8. Improves the Health of Your Skin
Pregnancy can change your skin, and you might see things like acne or dark spots. Watermelon to the rescue! It has vitamins A, C, and lycopene that are really good for your skin.
These vitamins fight things that can hurt your skin and help make collagen, which keeps your skin stretchy. Try watermelon ice pops or fresh fruit salsa for a skin-friendly snack.
9. Makes Bones and Teeth Stronger
Your growing baby needs lots of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus to build strong bones and teeth. Watermelon provides these minerals for your little one.
Plus, the vitamin C in watermelon helps your body absorb these important nutrients. It’s good to snack on watermelon with other foods that have calcium, like yogurt or leafy greens.
10. Supports Baby’s Brain Development
The good stuff in watermelon is very important for your baby’s brain and organ growth. Folate is especially good because it can prevent certain birth defects.
Potassium, choline, and vitamin B6 help cells grow and divide, and the lycopene keeps the baby’s tissues safe. So eating watermelon can help your baby’s development.
Conclusion
It’s pretty clear that watermelon is a great snack when you’re pregnant. It has a bunch of key nutrients and antioxidants that offer many benefits for you and your baby. And it’s so sweet and yummy, it’s easy to eat every day.
Add watermelon into smoothies, salads, and juices, or just eat it by itself. It’s a really healthy and refreshing way to take care of yourself and your baby during your whole pregnancy.
