Yogurt is one of the most delicious probiotics that you can safely add to your pregnancy diet. Consuming fresh and fermented yogurt during pregnancy can make for a healthy and filling snack. This dairy product can provide you with your daily recommended values of nutrients, ensuring your good health and the baby’s healthy growth.
Regular consumption of yogurt could help address several digestive health problems. It may also help in averting some pregnancy-related issues such as preeclampsia. Most nutritional benefits of yogurt can be attributed to its rich probiotic (healthy bacteria) content.
Read this post to know the benefits of yogurt for pregnant women and precautions to observe when consuming it during pregnancy.
Key Pointers
- Consuming fresh and fermented yogurt during pregnancy can provide daily recommended nutrient values.
- Yogurt contains beneficial bacteria, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and Streptococcus thermophilus, which aid digestion and provide health benefits.
- Yogurt is rich in nutrients like calcium, protein, folate, zinc, and B vitamins that aid fetal development, reduce the risk of preeclampsia, and alleviate constipation.
- Probiotic yogurt consumption during pregnancy may help prevent preterm labor caused by bacterial vaginosis.
- Women on immuno-suppressive medications should consult their doctor before consuming yogurt.
A Closer Look At Yogurt
Image: Shutterstock
Since it is always good to be well informed, know what yogurt is:
- It is a fermented product and fermented foods are top quality foods when it comes to good health.
- One of the two beneficial bacteria in yogurt is called Lactobacillus acidophilus. This bacteria helps in digestion of milk. It particularly digests lactose (making milk easy to digest) and produces vitamin K.
- Lactobacillus also helps digest prebiotic fibers in the gut or gut microbiota and produce beneficial short chain fatty acids which have enormous positive health benefits and will love the energy boost you get.
- Second important and beneficial bacteria in yogurt is called Streptococcus thermophilus. It helps us break down food, absorb nutrients, and fight the “unfriendly” organisms in the gut that might cause diseases such as diarrhea.
Nutritional Value Of Yogurt
Depending on their manufacturing process and ingredients, yogurt can have several types. However, on average, 100g of plain, unsweetened yogurt made from whole milk can offer the following nutrients to you (1).
| NUTRIENTS | AMOUNT |
|---|---|
| Energy | 61kcal |
| Protein | 3.47g |
| Fat | 3.25g |
| Carbohydrate | 4.66g |
| Calcium, Ca | 121mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 12mg |
| Potassium, K | 155mg |
| Sodium, Na | 46mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 95mg |
| Fluoride | 12mcg |
| Folate | 7mcg |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 27mcg |
| Vitamin D | 2IU |
| Choline | 15.2mg |
Source: United States Department of Agriculture
Top Five Reasons Why You Should Consume Yogurt During Pregnancy
Image: Shutterstock
There are numerous health benefits of eating yogurt during pregnancy that makes it a perfect addition to your diet. Here are the nutrients you find in this tart and creamy, nutrient rich, textured dairy product:
- Yogurt is the easiest and most convenient source of probiotics (as discussed above), with all benefits of dairy plus a lot more due to the fermentation. People who get bloated or don’t have enough lactase to digest milk, also tolerate yogurt well.
- It is rich in calcium that aids in good bone health and teeth development in the little life developing inside you.
- Yogurt is rich in protein that helps in the development of new cells.
- It is one of the most vitamin and mineral-rich dairy products that top the charts in natural and more absorbable forms of folate, zinc, phosphorus, B vitamins. Needs for most of these nutrients are higher in pregnancy.
- Regular consumption of yogurt is known to reduce chances of preeclampsia, a condition that affects an estimated 5–7% of all pregnancies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preeclampsia is characterized by increased blood pressure and a high level of protein discharge in urine. Eating probiotic yogurt during pregnancy can reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia by 20 percent, according to a new study.
Quick factProbiotic Yogurt During Pregnancy
In a nutshell, yogurt contains probiotics and is a best source of some of the important and friendly bacteria in the gut. Let us take a closer look at the probiotics:
- The probiotics cannot cause infection But are a very essential part of your intestines.
- These beneficial bacteria aid digestion, which is why these are often termed as probiotics.
- The by-products of yogurt digestion (called short chain fatty acids) have innumerable positive health benefits.
- It alleviates constipation which is a common problem in pregnancy. So, go for those yogurts to keep your bowel movements regular.
Image: Shutterstock
Quick factImportant Considerations And Word Of Caution
Yogurt has tremendous benefits and is definitely a healthy addition in your diet. However, there are some considerations that you must be careful of:
- Women who are on immuno-compromised or are on immuno-suppressive medications should always check with their doctor before consuming yogurt and other fermented foods.
- Beware of the additives and added sugar that adds extra calories and poses problems in weight management. It’s better to add your own natural cut-up fruits to flavor it for less calorie intake.
- Avoid non-pasteurized yogurt, as it may pose health risks.
Image: Shutterstock
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much yogurt should a pregnant woman eat?
Consuming a 200grams tub of yogurt per day will provide around 300mg of calcium, helping you obtain the recommended calcium intake of 1000–1300mg for pregnancy (2).
2. Which yogurt is best for pregnancy?
Greek yogurt during pregnancy is highly recommended due to its superior nutritional content. Not only does it contain twice the protein of regular yogurt, but it’s also rich in probiotics, which support gut health (3). It is also high in probiotics, vitamins, phosphorus, calcium, and other essential minerals for a healthy mother and baby (4) (5).
3. Can I eat yogurt instead of milk during pregnancy?
If you face indigestion from drinking milk during pregnancy, substituting yogurt for milk is perfectly acceptable to meet your calcium requirements (6).
4. Can I have yogurt drinks during pregnancy?
Yes, you can have yogurt drinks during pregnancy. However, sweeten it with honey or fruits instead of adding sugars to your smoothie.
5. Does yogurt help with indigestion and heartburn?
The probiotic-rich yogurt maintains a healthy balance of microbiomes in your intestines and helps digestion. Moreover, it coats the inner lining of the esophagus (food pipe), helping prevent irritation from the stomach acids (7).
6. Is flavored yogurt safe to eat during pregnancy?
Most flavored yogurts are loaded with sugar. Therefore, you should consume flavored yogurt in moderation to avoid excessive weight gain, especially if you have gestational diabetes (3).
So next time try jazzing up your plain yogurt with a variety of fruits, nuts, seeds, or toasted oats. Another way is to consume hung yogurt which is double the protein as it’s so close to greek yogurt. Possibilities are endless with his natural Godsend food source.
Let’s find fun and healthy toppings for you and enjoy it in a relaxed way. Welcome to the small joys of pampering yourself during pregnancy as you step into this wonderful journey called motherhood!
Infographic: Reasons Why You Should Consume Yogurt During Pregnancy
Yogurt is a delicious and versatile food that offers various benefits for pregnant women, including aiding digestion, strengthening the immune system, and promoting healthy fetal development. This infographic will review the advantages of consuming yogurt during pregnancy, so save it and share it with fellow expectant mothers who are uncertain about its consumption. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Illustration: Yogurt During Pregnancy - Is It Safe To Consume?
Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team
References
- Yogurt, plain, whole milk
https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/171284/nutrients - Calcium.
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/calcium - 5 Snack Foods to Eat While Pregnant.
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/5-snack-foods-to-eat-while-pregnant - Top 7 Probiotic-Rich Foods.
https://blog.ochsner.org/articles/top-7-probiotic-rich-foods - Yogurt Greek plain lowfat.
https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/170903/nutrients - Nutrition During Pregnancy.
https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/nutrition-during-pregnancy - Foods to help your acid reflux and heartburn
https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2017/foods-help-acid-reflux-fd.html - Andy He, et al.; Benefits of Probiotic Yogurt Consumption on Maternal Health and Pregnancy Outcomes: A Systematic Review
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7449615/
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