Is it safe to eat lotus seeds during pregnancy?
Looking for something delicious and nutritious to snack during pregnancy? Look no further than the humble Lotus Seeds. It’s a great food for when you are trying to conceive, are pregnant or if you’ve just had a baby. Let’s see how lotus seeds are good for you.
Lotus Seeds
Lotus seeds, also called Makhanas, Phool Makahnas or Fox Nuts, are grown and collected from certain lotus/ water lily species. Lotus seeds are very famous in Asian cuisine and medicine. In parts of Korea, China, Japan and Russia, these seeds are highly valued for their nutrition and healing properties. Known as the ‘Gorgon Nut’ there, these are a vital part of many recipes and herbal medicines.
What do Lotus Seeds contain?
Lotus seeds are an abundant source of magnesium, protein, phosphorous and potassium. They are naturally very low in harmful stuff like cholesterol, sodium or saturated fat. They are also a great source of thiamin and calcium. Because of their rich iron, calcium, phenols and ascorbic acid, lotus seeds are the best alternative to those who can’t eat nuts.
In 100g of lotus seeds, you get around 350 calories. Here’s a breakdown of the nutrition content;
• 65 grams of carbohydrates
• 18 grams of protein
• 1.9 to 2.5 grams of fat
Besides all these goodness, lotus seeds are also densely packed with fibre.
How to obtain and store lotus seeds?
Look for lotus seeds in your local market or supermarket. It is an affordable snack with a durable shelf life. If you store it away from moisture and direct sunlight in an airtight container, your seeds will stay good for a long time.
How can Lotus Seeds help in Pregnancy?
Deciding to eat healthily and keep junk food away during pregnancy is the best gift you can give yourself and your baby. Replacing unhealthy fried snacks with these puffy delicacies is a win-win in all around. Here are some ways lotus seeds help you:
• Lotus seeds are rich in protein. Proteins help in the growth of your uterine tissue, the baby’s brain and in increasing your blood supply.
• Potassium helps in keeping muscle cramps away. Try eating lotus seeds regularly to keep the awful leg cramps of the third trimester at bay.
• Potassium is also a key element needed for you to eliminate sodium from the body. High sodium in the body causes you to swell up, mainly in the feet. Lotus seeds are a great food to eliminate puffy feet during pregnancy.
• Lotus seeds are very filling and can power you through a good night’s rest or a deep afternoon nap.
• The high fibre content of these seeds helps in warding off constipation. This helps flush out the wastes and toxins out of your body regularly and keep you fresh.
• Lotus seeds are easy on the stomach and digest without problems. If your pregnancy hormones are whacking your taste and smell so everything feels hard to eat, grab a handful of makhanas for a quick snack.
• If you’ve been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, these nutritious seeds are something that you can eat without restrictions. Lotus seeds have a low glycaemic index which will not disturb your blood sugar levels.
• The rich nutrition of the lotus seeds helps you stay away from back pains and fatigue during pregnancy.
Lotus Seeds after you’ve given birth
• The dense protein and nutrient-packed seeds can help you produce healthy nourishing breast milk for your baby.
• The high iron content of the seeds helps you renew and generate new blood cells to compensate for the blood you lost during childbirth.
• The various nutrients in this amazing food help you recover smoothly from delivery and keeps you strong and healthy post-partum.
• Lotus seeds keep you full for a long time; they keep you satiated without craving for junk food and help you shed baby weight naturally.
• The high calcium in the lotus seeds helps your body make superior breast milk packed with nutrition for your little one.
How to eat Lotus Seeds?
Puffed lotus seeds are completely tasteless. They go well with salt and sugar both, so you can prepare them as sweets or as savoury delicacies. Just pan toasting the seeds with a couple of spoons of ghee and sprinkles of salt and pepper makes a quick tasty snack. You can also add lotus seeds to gravies and payasam.
We hope you discovered how healthy lotus seeds can be for you. As with anything, have everything in moderation and enjoy a happy pregnancy!