Every woman has to pay extra special attention to their diet when they are pregnant. What a person eats while pregnant can have some pretty drastic effects on both the mother’s constitution and the child’s development. Generally speaking, most foods that are healthy to eat normally are healthy to eat while pregnant. But this is not a universal rule; there are plenty of different foods that become unhealthy to eat while you are pregnant.
Hummus is one of those foods that has to be looked at pretty closely before eating while pregnant. It is definitely ok to eat hummus during your pregnancy. Essentially, hummus is any type of spread made from mashed chickpeas. The mashed chickpeas are normally mixed with olive oil, lemon squash, tahini, garlic, and salt to taste. All of these ingredients are great to eat while pregnant; they have their own health benefits. When they work together and combine into hummus, they form a supremely nutrient dense spread.
Benefits of Eating Hummus During Pregnancy
Eating hummus regularly while pregnant can grant your body some great health benefits:
1. Required Fetus Development
Hummus is jam packed with proteins, one of the most essential nutrients needed during pregnancy. Protein is literally the building blocks of the cells. This is for both the mother and the fetus; they both need protein to create and repair new cells and tissue.
2. Improved Digestion
Hummus has lots and lots of dietary fiber which is perfect for improving your digestive system and bowel movements. Keeping the dietary system functioning properly is one of the biggest concerns of pregnant women.
3. Reduces Chances of Birth Defects
Your body needs folic acid when you are pregnant. The acid reduces the chance of your child developing neural tube defects. These defects are typically related to the spinal cord and the brain.
