While your body is magically working to create a beautiful baby in nine months’ time, you will need a lot of essential vitamins and nutrients to make sure your little one(s) grow and develop healthily. But how much of what do you need in your pregnancy diet?
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), pregnant moms-to-be need a daily intake of various nutrients. These include 1000mg of Calcium, 27mg of Iron, 770mg of Vitamin A, 85mg of Vitamin C, 600IU of Vitamin D, 1.9mg of Vitamin B6, 2.6mg of Vitamin B12, and 600mg of Folate (Vitamin B9).
It might sound like an overwhelming list, but don’t worry. The modest Chinese red dates pack a punch of these essential pregnancy nutrients. Just regularly incorporate red dates into your daily diet as a snack, in soups, drinks, porridges etc. Your body and baby will thank you for it.
Let’s take a deeper dive into the benefits of Chinese red dates in your pregnancy diet.
1. High in Vitamin C
Chinese red dates can contain up to 80 times more Vitamin C than in grapes and apples. Vitamin C boosts the mother’s immunity and prevents her or her baby from falling sick too easily. It also acts as an antioxidant to protect cells from damage, increases the mother’s absorption rate of iron, and also aids in the production of collagen. Collagen is a structural protein responsible for forming cartilage, tendons, bones, and skin for the baby.
2. High in Folate (Vitamin B9)
Folate plays an important role in ensuring proper brain function during the baby’s growth and development stages. It is essential for the prevention of certain neural tube defects like spina bifida or anencephaly. Since folate is not naturally produced by the human body, mothers need to take special care to consume folate-rich foods to meet the daily minimum amount.
3. High in Vitamin A
Vitamin A ensures the proper and normal development of the baby in the mother’s womb, especially for the last few weeks of pregnancy as the baby accelerates in growth. It’s also responsible for proper bone development, prevention of xerophthalmia (dryness of the eyes), regulation of the functional capacity of reproductive organs, and strengthening the immune system of your baby. It helps hydrate skin too, so you can show off that natural and radiant glow on your face.
4. High in Calcium
Red dates are extremely high in calcium, with every 100g accounting for about 8% of the daily recommended intake for pregnant moms. Calcium is important for the formation of the baby’s healthy teeth and bones. If there isn’t enough supplemented calcium from the mother’s diet, then her body will extract calcium from her own body to provide for the fetus. This may result in an increased risk of osteoporosis for the mother. Calcium is also needed to healthily form the baby’s heart, muscles, nerves, and hormones.
Studies have also shown that a consistent diet of dates in late pregnancy results in a more favourable delivery outcome. It helps reduce the need for labour intervention and helps induce natural birth. For more details, you can refer to the full reports here and here.
If you’re looking for a delicious and nutritious treat, try some of our energizing TYT Ginger Tea with Red Dates now. Our teas are made with all natural ingredients, have no preservatives, artificial colouring or flavouring, and are 100% safe for pregnant women.