Dragonfruit and Pregnancy – Livestrong

Fruit is an essential part of your pregnancy diet because it supplies you with many of the nutrients your unborn baby needs for proper growth and development. It’s a good idea to vary the types of fruit in your diet because different colors supply different nutrients. Dragon fruit is an exotic choice that you might not have considered before. Take another look at the dragon fruit, and you’ll discover that it provides key nutrients and is a tasty addition to your diet, whether you are pregnant or not.

Dragon Fruit

Dragon fruit had an important place in the diet of many Native American tribes, and many tribes still continue to rely on it as a food source, according to Oregon State University. A dragon fruit has creamy flesh that is flecked with black seeds and tastes similar to a kiwi. It grows in different colors, and each variety offers a wealth of nutrients you need to support a healthy pregnancy, including almost 1 gram of fiber per 100-gram serving, which is equal to about 3 ounces.

A serving of dragon fruit supplies you with a healthy dose of vitamin C, which you need to help your body absorb iron and to maintain a healthy immune system. You also get B vitamins, which support healthy development of your baby’s skin and eyes. B vitamins also help provide you with energy throughout your pregnancy. Dragon fruit also supplies a tiny dose of vitamin A, which helps support your baby’s bone and teeth development.

Minerals

Dragon fruit is a nutritious source of iron, supplying you with almost 1 milligram per 100-gram serving. Iron is essential during pregnancy because it helps support your increased blood volume. It also promotes production of hemoglobin and might reduce your baby’s risk of premature delivery and low birth weight. A serving of dragon fruit also supplies calcium, which promotes healthy development of your baby’s bones and teeth. You also get small amounts of magnesium and potassium from a serving of dragon fruit.

Suggestions

Eat a dragon fruit plain to get the nutritional benefits it is has to offer you and your unborn baby. Cut the fruit in half and scoop out the flesh with a spoon. Make a tropical fruit salad with dragon fruit, pineapple, mango, kiwi and papaya as another way to incorporate this fruit into your pregnancy diet. Puree fresh dragon fruit with 100 percent fruit juice and sliced bananas to make a nutritious smoothie or add it to a tossed green salad or bowl of oatmeal.

Original article published by Livestrong.com

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/555142-dragon-fruit-and-pregnancy/#ixzz1mDaOqXZU