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Is it possible to use dark chocolate for pregnant women
The peculiarity of chocolate is the presence of organic acids, magnesium, iron, flavonoids useful for the body. Along with them, caffeine is present in the product – the reason for the controversy about how useful chocolate is for pregnant women.
Can pregnant women eat chocolate: the effect of the product on the body
Can pregnant women eat chocolate?
The beneficial effect of chocolate on the body of the expectant mother can be explained by its following properties:
- Saturation with tryptophan, which promotes the production of serotonin and phenylethylamine, which are responsible for the fight against negative emotions and stress.
- The presence of theobromine in the composition, under the influence of which the blood vessels expand, relaxes the smooth muscles of the heart muscle, which is necessary to prevent hypertension and late toxicosis.
- The presence of iron and magnesium necessary for the proper development of the fetus (they are responsible for the formation of brain structures).
In small quantities, chocolate will not harm expectant mothers, on the contrary, it will be useful.
However, it also has harmful properties. Among them are:
- The presence of caffeine in the composition, which in large quantities can provoke premature birth or miscarriage.
- Excretion of histamine from the body, without which the risk of allergic reactions increases.
- By consuming chocolate in excess, you can provoke a deterioration in blood flow to the uterus, which will lead to fetal hypoxia, insufficient nutrition, and the development of birth defects.
In order to exclude the harmful effects of chocolate, it is not consumed with a tendency to improper metabolism, in the later stages, when the structure of the fetus’s sleep changes under the influence of caffeine, with heartburn and a tendency to allergies.
Can pregnant women use dark chocolate?
It is the black tiles sold by weight that doctors recommend to choose for expectant mothers. The main thing is that the product contains no flavors, preservatives. A sign of a decent quality of the product is quick melting in hands, breaking with a characteristic click, absence of crumbs when separating tiles.
You need to eat chocolate correctly, minimizing its use in the second and third trimesters. The optimal daily dosage is considered to be no more than 40 grams. In the case of chocolate, the main thing for the expectant mother is not to overdo it, and then the benefits of the product will be undeniable.