Longan is a sweet and refreshing fruit for summer. However, some information that makes us wonder if it is safe to eat longan while pregnant. So, is eating longan good for pregnant women?
1. Nutritional value of longan
Longan is a nutritious fruit that brings a lot of health benefits. According to nutrition experts, 100g of longan flesh contain the following amount of nutrients:
- Protein: 1.31 g
- Riboflavin: 0.14g
- Carbohydrate: 15.14g
- Fibers: 1.1g
- Fat: 0.1g
- Phosphorus: 21mg
- Magnesium: 10mg
- Potassium: 0.226g
- Calcium: 1mg
- Vitamin C: 84mg
2. 9 benefits of eating longan
When longan is eaten moderately, it can bring many benefits to pregnant women:
2.1 Benefits of longan to the central nervous system
In traditional medicine, longan is considered to have a sedative effect. Eating longan can reduce stress and improve productivity, thus improving other problems such as insomnia or stress. Boiling longan with water can treat some neurasthenia symptoms from fatigue or sickness.
2.2 Longan helps increase lifespan
This fruit is known to assist in wound healing and increasing lifespan. This is due to its ability to prevent the destruction of free radicals in cells, protecting cells from damage. Additionally, it can also reduce the risk of cancer.
2.3 Enhance blood flow
Longan can help your body absorb iron from other sources more easily. This can result in a comfortable feeling and also enhance the activity of related organs, as well as preventing anemia. Additionally, your body will also be protected from pancreatic diseases.
2.4 Additional energy source
Eating longan moderately is beneficial for the nervous system, while it also provides energy and helps improve sleep quality. Moreover, this low-calorie and low-fat fruit is suitable for weight-loss diet. It is also an abundant fiber source, thus preventing constipation.
2.5 Provides an abundant source of vitamin C
Vitamin C is one of the 13 trace elements that the body needs. Mild symptoms of cold, flu, coughs, and fever can be alleviated if the body has enough vitamins to boost the immune system. Additionally, vitamin C also helps in enhancing beauty and healthy pigmentation of the skin.
2.6 Enhancing natural beauty
Longan, either fresh or dry, is a necessary component of beauty food products. Therefore, it can be used as a herbal medicine to enhance your beauty, especially improving the skin area around the eyes.
2.7 Treating snake bites
According to scientists, longan seeds have a component that can treat snake bites. If you accidentally got bitten by a snake, you can press a longan seed into the wound to partially remove the toxin, which reduces its fatality and toxicity.
2.8 Improving dental health
Longan can provide enough calcium phosphate to improve your dental health. It can also prevents periodontal, gingivitis,..... You can also eat longan when having a sore throat as it can help reduce the pain. .
2.9 Preventing stomachache
Longan can be eaten directly or extracted as juice to drink in summer. However, not many people know about its ability to prevent stomachache or amnesia. You can drink longan juice directly, or soak the fruit in sugar water for a few weeks to extract the liquid to consume.
3. Benefits of eating longan for pregnant women
Many people wonder whether or not longan is good for pregnant women. Longan can bring both benefits and harms to pregnant women when consumed. These are some benefits of longan for pregnant women if eaten in a proper amount:
3.1 Improving pregnant women’s health
Pregnant women are usually exhausted due to the change in hormones while having to provide nutrients for the fetus.
However, when a moderate amount of longan is consumed, their body will be healthier and more alert. Longan contains glucose and sucrose, which boosts their body energy. It is also effective in preventing insomnia during pregnancy.
3.2 Solving digestive issues during pregnancy
Pregnant women usually have digestive issues, especially when the fetus grow larger in size. Because of that, fibers-rich food should be prioritized in pregnancy to prevent constipation and hemorrhoids. The proteins and lipids in longan are also necessary to enhance metabolism.
3.3 Removing parasites
Parasites are a threat to both expecting mothers and the growth of the fetus. Therefore, longan can be a safe solution to remove parasites by its tartaric acid.
3.4 Providing Vitamins
Most fruits can provide necessary nutrients for the body. It is also the case with longan, which provides abundant vitamin C to improve both the mother and fetal immune system. Natural vitamins from food can also bring better effects than those consumed in pills.
While longan is nutritious and brings various benefits to pregnant women, whether longan is good for pregnant women also depends on the way we use it. If it is consumed excessively, pregnant women can suffer from hot flashes, which can affect the growth of the fetus. It may also cause more serious complications such as bleeding and miscarriage. Therefore, pregnant women can eat longan, but they should ensure that no more than 200-300g of longan flesh shall be consumed daily, and they should not eat longan when miscarriage signs are present.
To ensure the health of both the mothers and the fetus, a nutritious diet should be maintained during pregnancy. Moreover, please pay attention and avoid foods that may negatively affect your health, as well as having regular prenatal check-ups and following the diet that doctors or nutrition specialists recommend.
Knowing the importance of a proper diet for pregnant women, Vinmec International General Hospital provides comprehensive maternity services, accompanying expecting mothers throughout pregnancy with care, monitoring, full check-ups, ultrasounds, tests, and health consultations to ensure the healthy development of the fetus. Expecting mothers can rest assured and enjoy a comfortable pregnancy without having to worry about missing appointments or scheduling check-ups.
In particular, the maternity packages come with many gift programs and free prenatal classes. Expecting mothers also do not need to pack too many items for childbirth, as Vinmec has already provided essential supplies for both the mother and the baby during childbirth and recovery at the hospital.
Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.
