9 Wonderful Health Benefits Of Passion Fruit During Pregnancy

Before you add this pulpy fruit to your pregnancy diet, ascertain its safety.

Reviewed by Shivani Sikri, PGDPHN Shivani Sikri Shivani SikriPGDPHN MomJunction on FacebookFollow MomJunction on LinkedinFollow MomJunction on Instagram Specialty: Holistic, Therapeutic and Functional Nutrition Experience: 13 years
Written by , B.Tech Ria Saha B.Tech Follow MomJunction on LinkedinMomJunction on FacebookFollow MomJunction on Instagram Specialty: Pregnancy and Baby FoodExperience: 9 years
Edited by , M.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA Swati Patwal M.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA Follow MomJunction on Linkedin Specialty: Food, Nutrition and HealthExperience: 10 years
Fact-checked by , MSc Lorraine Teron MSc Follow MomJunction on Linkedin Specialty: Health & WellnessExperience: 2 years
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A pregnant lady eating passion fruit

Image: ShutterStock

Pregnancy brings along a lot of restrictions on the types of food you can eat. But passion fruit is certainly not one of them. Consuming passion fruit during pregnancy can satisfy your cravings for something sweet and sour while promoting a healthy pregnancy. The tropical fruit is filled with nutrients that can alleviate many of the common health problems faced by pregnant women. It may also help improve immunity, ensuring a safe pregnancy for you and your baby. So you may include passion fruit moderately in a gestational diet to achieve optimum maternal nutrition.

Read on to know about the unique fruit, including its benefits during pregnancy.

In This Article

What Is A Passion Fruit?

Vitamin and nutrient-rich passion fruit

Image: Shutterstock

Passion fruit is native to Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. It is rich in vitamins A, C, B2, B6, and B3. It is also a storehouse of dietary fiber and minerals like Potassium, Iron, Phosphorus, Copper, and Magnesium. It offers several health benefits and is one of the best fruits to eat during pregnancy. Also, as there are no side effects of eating passion fruit during pregnancy, you can safely enjoy its goodness (1).

protip_icon Quick tip
Fully ripe passion fruits have wrinkly skin and a dark purple or dark yellow-red color.

Nutritional Value Of Passion Fruit

The following table lists the important nutrients per 100gm passion fruit as per US Department of Agriculture Food Data Central (USDA) (2).

NUTRIENTSAMOUNT
Energy (Kcal)97
Fiber, total dietary (g)10.4
Calcium, Ca (mg)12
Iron, Fe (mg)1.6
Magnesium, Mg (mg)29
Phosphorus, P (mg)68
Potassium, K (mg)348
Sodium, Na (mg)28
Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid (mg)30
Riboflavin (mg)0.13

Health Benefits Of Passion Fruit During Pregnancy

Here are some nutritional benefits of consuming passion fruit during pregnancy:

1. Promotes Growth And Development Of The Fetus:

Passion fruit promotes healthy fetal growth and development

Image: Shutterstock

Passion fruit is rich in antioxidantsiSubstances that may prevent or slow down some types of cell damage caused due to harmful molecules called free radicals , fibers, vitamins, minerals, and many other essential nutrients that are necessary for the growth and development of the fetus. So eating passion fruit when pregnant will ensure you have a healthy baby in your arms soon.

2. Boosts Immunity:

Passion fruit is popular for its immune strengthening property since it contains high amounts of vitamin C, beta-cryptoxanthini A carotene and a vitamin A precursor necessary for growth, development, eyesight anf immune response , and alpha-carotenei A carotene with antioxidant, anticarcinogenic and immune boosting properties . These antioxidants help in neutralizing the free-radical activity, preventing damage to cells, reducing oxidative stress and ensuring a healthy pregnancy. Increased immunity will help you fight several infections and enjoy a safe pregnancy.

3. Ensures Good Bone Health:

Passion fruit is rich in minerals, such as phosphorus, iron, magnesium, and copper. Its consumption increases mineral bone density and makes your bones strong. It is necessary to have strong and healthy bones while expecting. Consuming the fruit also helps prevent or reduce the symptoms of osteoporosisi A bone disease characterized by a reduction in bone mass and mineral density, leading to porous and brittle bones and joint aches while expecting (3).

4. Reduces Insomnia And Restlessness:

Passion fruit helps a pregnant woman sleep better

Image: Shutterstock

Passion fruit contains medicinal alkaloids, such as harman, which provides a sedativeiA medicine or chemical used to help people relax, reduce anxiety, or fall asleep effect. So, eating the fruit during pregnancy effectively minimizes restlessness, anxiety, and insomniai A sleep disorder that makes it difficult for one to fall asleep, stay asleep, or get a sound sleep (4).

5. Minimizes Respiratory Problems:

The delicious fruit works as an excellent expectorantiA medication that helps clear mucus from airways . Consumption of the extracts of the fruit while expecting alleviates the symptoms of wheezing, cough, and asthma (4).

6. Promotes Healthy Digestion:

Passion fruit is rich in fiber, and just one serving of the fruit offers you about 98% of the daily requirement of the essential nutrient. Regular intake of the fruit improves digestive health and bowel movements. It prevents constipation, a common complaint during pregnancy.

7. Regulates Blood Pressure:

Passion fruit is rich in potassium, which is a crucial mineral for the human body. Potassium acts as a vasodilator, it relaxes the blood vessels and improves blood flow. So, eating the fruit ensures that your blood pressure remains in check, and you enjoy good heart health during these crucial nine months (6).

8. Improves Blood Circulation:

The high iron content in the passion fruit ensures an increase in production of hemoglobin. Good RBC count dilates blood vessels enabling oxygenated blood to flow freely to all parts of the body. It also helps improve the functioning of all organs while you are expecting. Add passion fruit to your pregnancy diet to keep the threat of anemia and related complications at bay.

9. Promotes Skin And Eye Health:

The vitamin A in the tangy fruit prevents the risk of cataractiA cloudy or opaque area in the lens of the eye , night blindness, and other eye related problems. It also boosts your skin health, and you may win compliments during pregnancy for a glowing countenance by having this super food!

protip_icon Quick tip
Do not scrape the white part of the inside of the skin when eating a passion fruit directly. It is bitter.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is it safe to drink passion fruit juice while pregnant?

You may drink passion fruit juice in limited amounts during pregnancy. Large amounts may not be suitable as they contain cyanogenic glycosides, which are plant toxins (7).

2. Is unripe passion fruit poisonous in pregnancy?

Unripe passion fruit may contain cyanogenic glycosides and should not be eaten during pregnancy. It may cause nausea and vomiting (8) (9).

3. Is passion fruit good for morning sickness?

Tart or sour flavor may help relieve the symptoms of morning sickness in some pregnant women (10). The sweet and tart taste of ripe passion fruit may be helpful for them.

4. Is passion flower safe during pregnancy?

Passionflower is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding (11).

Consuming healthy fruits and vegetables such as passion fruit during pregnancy may satisfy your pregnancy cravings and provide you and your baby with several health benefits. Besides enhancing your pregnancy health, it could also aid in the healthy development of your fetus. However, if you have gestational diabetes, you must take your doctor’s opinion before eating passion fruit since it may add to your calorie intake through sugars. Otherwise, you may safely include passion fruit in moderation in your pregnancy diet to reap the goodness of this nutrient-dense fruit during pregnancy.

Infographic: Advantages Of Eating Passion Fruit During Pregnancy

Passion fruit is a tropical fruit filled with juicy, flavorful seeds and sweet, tangy pulp. It is packed with vital vitamins and nutrients that are advantageous for expectant mothers. So, explore the various benefits of eating passion fruit during pregnancy in the infographic below.

potential benefits of passion fruit for pregnant women (infographic)

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Key Pointers

  • Passion fruit is a sweet and sour pregnancy-safe delicacy.
  • It is rich in antioxidants, carotene, dietary fiber, vitamins, and essential nutrients such as iron and magnesium.
  • Consuming passion fruit during pregnancy aids fetal development, increases immunity, and promotes bone health.
  • The nutrients in this fruit improve digestion, respiratory health, sleep quality, heart, eye, and skin health.
  • However, pregnant women with gestational diabetes should consume the fruit after medical consultation.

Illustration: Wonderful Health Benefits Of Passion Fruit During Pregnancy

Passion Fruit 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.
  1. Passion fruit (granadilla) purple raw.
    https://www.self.com/
  2. Passion-fruit, (granadilla), purple, raw.
    https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/169108/nutrients
  3. Reza Farid et al.; (2010); Oral intake of purple passion fruit peel extract reduces pain and stiffness and improves physical function in adult patients with knee osteoarthritis.
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20934601/
  4. Passion flower.
    https://www.drugs.com/npp/passion-flower.html
  5. Ronal Ross Watson et al.; (2008); Oral administration of the purple passion fruit peel extract reduces wheeze and cough and improves shortness of breath in adults with asthma.
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19083404/
  6. Fruit.
    https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/food-essentials/five-food-groups/fruit
  7. David Chassagne et al.; (1996); Identification and Quantification of Passion Fruit Cyanogenic Glycosides.
    https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf960381t
  8. Passiflora toxicity.
    https://www.passionflow.co.uk/passiflora-toxicity/
  9. Wild Passionfruit
    https://www.poisonsinfo.health.qld.gov.au/plants-and-mushrooms/wild-passionfruit-passiflora
  10. WHAT TO DO ABOUT “MORNING SICKNESS”.
    https://ncbirthcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/morning-sickness-info1.pdf
  11. Passionflower.
    https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/herb/passionflower#
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Shivani Sikri
Shivani SikriPublic health and Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics
Shivani Sikri is the chief nutritionist and co-founder of Nutri4Verve and holds about 13 years of experience in the field of nutrition. After completing her Masters, Shivani Sikri did a postgraduate in nutrition and health education, a postgraduate diploma in public health and nutrition (PGDPHN), and a postgraduate diploma in nutrition and clinical dietetics.

Read full bio of Shivani Sikri
Ria Saha
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.

Read full bio of Ria Saha
Swati Patwal
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.

Read full bio of Swati Patwal
Lorraine Teron
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.

Read full bio of Lorraine Teron