Is it safe to consume nuts during pregnancy? Women, who are pregnant, fear that consuming nuts triggers the risk of developing allergies in their kids and therefore avoid eating them. Read on to find out if it is safe to consume nuts during pregnancy.
Correlation between eating nuts during pregnancy and allergy in kids
Do you think that eating nuts during pregnancy might have an effect on your child’s resistance to allergies? Till a few years back, doctors used to recommend women to avoid nuts as there was the risk that the child might develop nut allergies or asthma.
However, a recent study conducted in Denmark has revealed that pregnant women can enjoy nuts without the fear of passing on allergies to their off-springs. The study was undertaken by Ekaterina Maslova and her fellow researchers at the Centre for Fetal Programming at Statens Serum Institute in Copenhagen.
The study and its key takeaways
To understand the correlation between nut consumption during pregnancy and allergy in kids, about 62000 Danish mothers were selected and they were asked to fill up mid-pregnancy food frequency questionnaires with emphasis on peanut and tree nut consumption. The researchers also evaluated the medical records of the off-springs of these mothers from 18 months to seven years of age.
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The questionnaires covered areas such as the nut consumption patterns of the mothers who were part of the sample population. The researchers evaluated the effects of consuming peanuts and tree nuts separately. The key takeaways of the study are detailed below.
Consumption of peanuts during pregnancy
The following results were observed on the examination of the medical reports of children whose mothers consumed peanuts during pregnancy.
- The 18th month examination revealed that the children were less likely to have asthma. Only about 15 percent of the children whose mothers consumed peanuts more than once a week had asthma. On the other hand, about 17 percent of the kids had asthma but their mothers never ate peanuts.
- The researchers also concluded that the kids whose mothers were regularly eating peanuts during pregnancy were 21 percent less likely to have asthma.
- When the medical data of the same group of kids was examined when they were 7 years old, it was found that they were 34 percent less likely to develop asthma when compared with kids whose mothers completely abstained from consuming peanuts during pregnancy.
- The study revealed no correlation between peanut consumption by mothers during pregnancy and the development of nasal allergies in their kids.
Consumption of tree nuts during pregnancy
The study conducted by Ekaterina Maslova and her fellow researchers revealed the following results for the mothers who consumed tree nuts during pregnancy.
- The 18th month examination revealed that the children whose mothers consumed tree nuts more than once a week were 25 percent less likely to have asthma and wheezing in comparison to the children whose mothers avoided consuming tree nuts during pregnancy. However, at seven years of age, this difference was considerably lower.
- The children of mothers who consumed tree nuts frequently during pregnancy were 20 percent less likely to contract allergies.
Key Inferences of the study
The study goes on to prove that nuts do not play any role in the prevention of allergies and asthma in kids. However, consumption of nuts by expectant mothers cannot be attributed as a reason for allergies and asthma in kids. Therefore, expectant mothers can enjoy nuts without any worry of passing on allergies to their kids. In fact, consuming nuts and seeds during pregnancy is recommended as they are a good source of proteins, vitamins E, essential fatty acids, minerals, and folate. Nuts are an excellent and healthy alternative to snacking during pregnancy.
Facts About Nuts Consumption During Pregnancy
There are a lot of misconceptions regarding consumption of nuts during pregnancy. Even though there are numerous health benefits of nuts, pregnant women are often wary of eating nuts as they are a common allergen.
- Nuts are rich sources of healthy or good fats, namely monosaturated and polyunsaturated fats and are very useful in reducing the bad cholesterol. Therefore, even though nuts are high in fat, they are recommended during pregnancy.
- Nuts are a good store house of vitamins E and B and are loaded with minerals such as manganese, magnesium, zinc, copper, potassium, and iron. All these minerals are vital for the development of the fetus.
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- Expectant vegetarian mothers are strongly recommended to include nuts in their diet because nuts have high protein content.
- Nuts are best recommended for expectant mothers in the form of snacks. When eaten in moderation, they help in meeting the daily quota of nutrients during pregnancy.
Recommended Nuts and their Nutritional Role
Some commonly recommended nuts for expectant mothers are listed below.
- Pistachio: Pistachios are an important part of a healthy pregnancy diet. They are low on calories and still packed with vitamin A, proteins, fiber, potassium, calcium, folate, and iron.
- Almonds: Almonds are considered one of the most nutritious nuts. They are rich sources of calcium, vitamins B and E, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, and monounsaturated fats.
- Walnuts: Walnuts are good sources of omega-3 fats and proteins that are vital for the baby’s brain and eye development.
- Cashews: Cashews make for a healthy snack and are rich in vitamins and minerals. Cashews are rich in vitamins K and C, iron, magnesium, and copper.
- Peanuts: Peanuts are a good source of iron, protein, minerals, vitamin E, and niacin. However, like all nuts, they should be eaten in moderation, especially when there is a family history of food or nut allergy.
- Macadamia nuts: Macadamia nuts are one of the fattiest nuts but the majority of fat in macadamia nuts is in the form of monounsaturated fatty acid. Macadamia nuts are known for improving the blood lipid profiles. However, since they are high in fat, they should be eaten in moderation.
Now that you are fully aware of the benefits of nuts, you need not worry about consuming a handful to satisfy your nut cravings during pregnancy. All you need to do is eat in moderation and ensure that the nuts are fresh by avoiding purchasing them from bulk bins. Caution is recommended if you have a family history of allergies to certain nuts and other foods.
- "Peanut and tree nut consumption during pregnancy and allergic disease in children—should mothers decrease their intake?”, by Ekaterina Maslova, et al. Published in the June 2012 issue of The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, accessed on August 8, 2012.
- “Maternal Food Consumption during Pregnancy and the Longitudinal Development of Childhood Asthma”, by Saskia M. Willers, et al. Published in the April 2008 issue of American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, accessed on August 8, 2012.
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