Pregnancy is one of the most sensitive periods in the life of any woman for her whole body undergoes rapid transformation, during the gestation period, from hormonal to physical changes. This is one of the reasons why your doctor would recommend a diet change the moment he confirms your pregnancy; the first trimester is indeed a vulnerable stage in the entire gestation cycle as most miscarriages occur during this period. This is why you would need to take care about what you eat and you would probably have to make a few lifestyle changes as well.
For starters, you are supposed to eat healthy food which means you may have to give up on red meat for the duration of the gestation period and you would be advised to eat coconut more often and drink lots of coconut water as well. If you are wondering why, then you may want to read on as to some of the reasons as to why you should consume coconut more, during the gestation period.
Morning sickness: Most women experience morning sickness during the initial stages of pregnancy. It is a known fact that coconut oil can help suppress sensations of nausea and morning sickness which is why you may want to consume more coconut during the first trimester. Adding coconuts to your regular diet should help relieve most of your morning sickness sensations and you should be able to resume your normal life, or as normal as you can get, during this period.
Prevent stretch marks: Your body is going to expand several times its size and you are going to have stretch marks all over your belly. But rubbing coconut oil on your belly should help prevent those stretch marks from forming and moreover, coconut oil is good for your skin as it keeps it supple, elastic and well moisturized.
Rich nutritious milk: Eating coconuts regularly especially during the pregnancy should help your body produce nutrient-rich breast milk for your infant. It is vital that you choose to breastfeed your baby and it is equally important that you take all measures needed to make sure you’re your body produces copious amounts of rich breast milk. Coconuts contain lauric acid and this helps your body generate rich breast milk which is why it makes sense to eat coconuts regularly, during the entire gestation period.
Improves blood circulation: As mentioned earlier, your body is going to swell in size and your blood volume is going to double. This will cause you to swell up in various parts of your body, including your arms and legs and would cause you to experience discomfort along with joint pain. However, eating coconuts regularly and using coconut oil based moisturizer on your body should help improve your blood circulation and even keep those joint pains away.
Also read: Can I eat avocado during pregnancy?
These are some of the reasons as to why you should consider adding coconut to the regular part of your diet during your pregnancy. It is safe to eat coconuts during your pregnancy until and unless you have an allergy to the same in which case, you need to stay away from coconuts. But generally, coconuts are great for you, especially during the first trimester.