During pregnancy, not all foods are safe to eat. If you are a seaweed lover, you might want to know whether can pregnant women eat seaweed or not! Let’s find out this answer below.
Pregnancy is the most beautiful and happiest moment in any women’s life, but you’ve to be quite vigilant during this period as many foods swiftly become off-limits or some changes in your diet are required. Due to the same reason, some pregnant women often wonder if they can consume seaweed or not. To know if pregnant women can eat seaweed it not, keep reading this article.
What Is Seaweed?
Seaweed, alias macroalgae, is the common name of numerous species of red, brown, or green alga that thrive in the water bodies or near the coastlines. There are 1500 species of brown seaweed, 6000Â species of red seaweed, and 9000-12000 species of green seaweed. Some of them are comestible, while many have commercial importance. Seaweed is majorly used in Asian cuisines and as a natural home remedy for many diseases. Furthermore, it’s used in different industrial cosmetic products and has various therapeutic benefits as well.
Below are some popular types of seaweed that have innumerable nutritional values.
- Nori
- Irish Moss
- Sea Lettuce or Ulva
- Kelp
- Wakame
- Hijiki
- Arame
- Dulse
- Kombu
Can Pregnant Women Eat Seaweed?
With seaweed’s intriguing medicinal values, it seems like an ideal food for pregnant women. Although, it’s strongly recommended to consult your healthcare provider regarding their intake and the ideal serving amount. As per the Food Standard Australia New Zealand, the brown, green, and red seaweeds are perfectly safe for consumption by pregnant women only in moderate quantities and not more than one serving per week. Furthermore, this research on pregnant Japanese women also proves that wakame, hijiki, and nori seaweeds are completely safe for ingestion and make their mood better.
What Are the Benefits of Eating Seaweed?
Below are some potential benefits of eating seaweed for pregnant women.
- Reduces depression during pregnancy-Â According to this research, one of the biggest advantages of consuming seaweed throughout pregnancy is that it lessens the signs of depression and improves mood.
- Cognitive development of the fetus- Seaweeds like Ulva fasciata and Graciliaria edulis are an excellent source of the essential amino acid (EAA) and essential fatty acid (EFA) that helps in the cognitive development of the fetus. Furthermore, these seaweeds prevent micronutrient deficiency because of their protein, zinc, iron, and iodine contents.
Possible Health Risks Associated With Seaweed
Although seaweed is safe for pregnant women and has some benefits, there are some possible health risks too.
- Thyroid-related disorders- The overconsumption of any seaweed species is not safe for pregnant ladies as they contain large amounts of iodine that worsens the thyroid problems if ingested immoderately.
- Hypothyroidism in newborn babies-Â Along with negatively impacting pregnant women’s thyroid functionality, seaweed can cause hypothyroidism in their infants. The high level of iodine intake in the form of seaweed is the real culprit.
Final Thoughts
Seaweed is a legit superfood with countless uses and benefits. However, when you’re talking about pregnant women, consulting an expert physician is necessary. Besides, eat this miraculous seaweed to get complete relief from constipation. Do let us know your queries and opinions related to this article in the comment section below.