Safety And Benefits Of Mangosteen During Pregnancy

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Mangosteen is a colorful fruit with high nutritional value and is mostly grown in Southeast Asia. With a blend of sweet and sour flavors, mangosteen during pregnancy is sure to tingle your taste buds. This fruit is quite beneficial for both the expecting mother and the baby. It is believed to cure common pregnancy-related digestive problems, such as constipation, and may reduce the risk of congenital disabilities. Scroll through to learn more about mangosteen, including its safety and health benefits during pregnancy.

In This Article

Key Pointers

Mangosteen is a flavorful fruit that benefits the expecting mother and the fetus when consumed in limited amounts.
Antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins present in the fruit aid in growth and protect the baby from congenital disabilities.
High amounts of vitamin C boost immunity, and the fiber content helps fight constipation.
Mangosteen may increase the risk of bleeding and is advised to be avoided before and after delivery.
Pregnant women should consult a healthcare professional before consuming mangosteen or any other supplement.

What Is A Mangosteen?

Mangosteen, scientifically popular as Garcinia mangostana, belongs to the family of Clusiaceae. The juicy fruit is purple in color and native to Thailand. The fruit is also popular as ‘queen of tropical fruits’, particularly in the southeast areas of Asia. The round, exotic fruit is full of nutrients that are beneficial for the fetus as well as expecting mother (1).

Nutritional Profile Of Mangosteen

Mangosteen is rich in essential nutrients that can contribute to overall health during pregnancy. Here is the nutritional composition of one cup (196g) of drained, canned mangosteen (11).

NUTRIENT	UNIT PER CUP (196g)
Energy	143kcal
Carbohydrates	35.1g
Fiber	3.53g
Calcium (Ca)	23.5mg
Iron (Fe)	0.588mg
Magnesium (Mg)	25.5mg
Phosphorus (P)	15.7mg
Potassium (K)	94.1mg
Zinc (Zn)	0.412mg
Manganese (Mn)	0.2mg
Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)	5.68mg
Folate	60.8µg
Vitamin A	68.6IU

Source: US Food And Drug Administration

Is It Safe To Eat Mangosteen During Pregnancy?

There is little scientific information about the safety of eating mangosteen during pregnancy. The fruit has nutrients, such as minerals, vitamins, and folate, which can promote the healthy growth of the fetus and also keep the mother nourished. If you wish to consume the fruit during pregnancy, check with your doctor if it is okay, especially if you are eating it for the first time or after a long time. Avoid using medications or preparations containing mangosteen rind, as it may affect your fetus (2).

Did you know?

Mangosteen is often used for various health conditions, such as gum infections, obesity, and diarrhea. However, the evidence supporting mangosteen’s effectiveness for most uses is sparse (8).

Infographic: Benefits Of Consuming Mangosteen In Pregnancy

why you should eat mangosteen during pregnancy (infographic)

6 Health Benefits Of Mangosteen During Pregnancy

Since mangosteen is a rich source of several nutrients, it offers you many health benefits during pregnancy. Find below some prominent mangosteen benefits for pregnancy:

1. Lessen The Risk Of Birth Defects In Fetus

Mangosteen contains a good amount of folate.

One cup of mangosteen contains 61 micrograms of folate. Folate plays a crucial role in preventing the risk of development of certain abnormalities and birth defects, such as brain and spinal birth defects, in your unborn baby. Studies indicate that an intake of 4mg of folic acid per day during early pregnancy can reduce the risk of neural tube defects by 70 percent even in cases of prior NTD-affected pregnancies (12) (13). So, eating mangosteen during pregnancy protects your fetus from the risk of abnormalities (3).

2. Promotes Fetal Growth

Mangosteen is a rich source of mineral manganese that is a vital nutrient necessary for the process of formation of cartilage and skeletal system in your fetus. The fruit promotes the growth of your unborn baby. Just one cup of fresh mangosteen juice during pregnancy provides you about 0.2 mg of manganese. Also, antioxidant properties of mangosteen safeguard you as well as your fetus from cell damage (3).

3. Boosts Immunity

Helps you accommodate your growing fetus easily during pregnancy — Image: Shutterstock

Mangosteen contains a good amount of vitamin C which is a crucial vitamin necessary for good health of your fetus. Just one cup of fresh mangosteen provides you about 5.7 mg of the nutrient. Vitamin C helps boost your immunity and minimize the risk of contracting harmful infections that may cause harm to your unborn baby during pregnancy. Also, the vitamin increases the production of collagen in your body which increases your skin’s elasticity to help you accommodate your growing fetus easily during pregnancy (4).

4. Protects From Cancer

Pericaps of mangosteen comprise compounds popular as xanthones that provide you anti-cancer benefits. Xanthones inhibit the growth of cancerous cells in your body during pregnancy. So, the fruit protects you and your unborn baby from the hazardous effects of the deadly ailment (5).

5. Regulates Diabetes

Mangosteen is an excellent natural remedy for diabetes. Eating mangosteen in pregnancy helps you regulate your blood glucose levels effectively and protect you from hazardous effects of diabetes during pregnancy (6).

6. Treats Constipation

Eating fresh mangosteen promote smooth bowel movements — Image: Shutterstock

Medical studies reveal that greater than half of the pregnant women suffer from constipation troubles while expecting. Eating fresh mangosteen can help mitigate the discomfort resulting due to constipation during pregnancy. Just one cup of the fruit provides you about 3.5 grams of fiber that helps promote smooth bowel movements. Also, fiber in mangosteen minimizes the risk of pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia (7).

Ways To Include Mangosteen In Pregnancy Diet

Since inadequate scientific information exists on the consumption limits of pregnant women, it is best to limit your intake to a quantity suggested by your doctor or dietician (8). If you’re expecting and want to savor mangosteen without any worries, there are plenty of simple ways you can try.

Salads: Make a yummy fruit salad by tossing together some mangosteens with other fruits like lychees, dragon fruit, kiwi, and bananas. You may also make a savory salad by combining some freshly scooped mangosteen with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, crumbled feta cheese, and a balsamic vinaigrette.
Smoothies: Blend mangosteen with purple lettuce, ripe bananas, and coconut milk to make a delectable and nutritious smoothie. Alternatively, you may also blend freshly scooped mangosteen with coconut milk, frozen banana, and frozen mango chunks until smooth and creamy.
Yogurt: You may combine freshly scooped mangosteen with unflavored Greek yogurt to make a refreshing snack. You may also add some granola or chia seeds to it to make it wholesome.
Juice: Blend peeled mangosteen chunks with water to make fresh juice at home. However, avoid consuming fruit juices in excess, as they can cause a sudden spike in blood sugar levels. It is advisable to consume whole fruit as much as possible.

Point to consider

Avoid consuming mangosteen at least two weeks before and after your delivery or if you have a history of a bleeding disorder, as eating mangosteen may increase the risk of bleeding (8).

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is mangosteen good for fertility?

Animal studies show that the antioxidants present in mangosteen peel extract may help enhance sperm count and motility(9).

2. Is mangosteen acidic or alkaline?

Mangosteen is considered moderately acidic in nature (10).

3. Are there any potential risks or side effects associated with consuming mangosteen during pregnancy?

Mangosteen is a nutritious fruit considered safe to consume in moderate amounts during pregnancy. However, like any other food, it may have some risks or side effects, such as allergies or medication interactions. Its high fiber content and certain compounds can cause digestive issues in sensitive individuals. It may also interact with blood thinners and similar supplements to slow clotting, increasing the risk of bleeding out (8). Therefore, it is vital to talk to a doctor or nutrition expert before adding mangosteen to your pregnancy diet.

4. Can mangosteen help with common pregnancy symptoms like morning sickness or fatigue?

Anecdotal evidence suggests that antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents in mangosteen can help relieve morning sickness and fatigue. However, scientific evidence supporting these claims is scarce.

Mangosteen, a juicy, sweet fruit, is known to be a pregnancy craving some women indulge in. It is rich in nutrients and can have several health benefits for the developing fetus and the pregnant woman. For example, it helps reduce the risk of congenital anomalies and regulates diabetes. Thus, consuming mangosteen during pregnancy is considered safe. However, check with your gynecologist about how much mangosteen you can safely consume and also the best fruits to eat during pregnancy. Further, avoid using mangosteen supplements before checking with your doctor, and opt for the fruit instead.

Illustration: Fantastic Benefits Of Eating Mangosteen During Pregnancy

mangosteen during pregnancy_illustration

Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.

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Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Jyoti BenjaminMS, RD, CSO, FAND, CD

Jyoti Benjamin has 25 years of experience as a clinical dietitian and currently works in Seattle. She focuses on teaching people the value of good nutrition and helping them lead healthy lives by natural means.Benjamin has a masters in Foods and Nutrition, and has been a longtime member and Fellow of AND (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics) and the International Confederation of Dietetic Association.

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Ria SahaB.Tech

Ria is a techie-turned-writer and writes articles on health, with special emphasis on nutrition. She did her B.Tech from West Bengal University of Technology and was previously associated with IBM as SAP ABAP technical consultant.

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Swati PatwalM.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA

Swati Patwal is a clinical nutritionist, a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and a toddler mom with more than a decade of experience in diverse fields of nutrition. She started her career as a CSR project coordinator for a healthy eating and active lifestyle project catering to school children.

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Lorraine TeronMSc

Lorraine is a postgraduate in Life Science from Mount Carmel College and previously worked as a freelance scientific illustrator. As a project associate and lab technician at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Lorraine received valuable insights into Covid-19, transgenerational epigenetic inheritance, and neuro-degenerative diseases.

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