Is It Safe To Eat Cantaloupe While You Are Pregnant?

While you are pregnant, you need to be extra careful about what you are eating and what you are avoiding. Everything that you will eat during the months that you are pregnant will have a direct impact on you and your baby’s health.

If you have enjoyed eating cantaloupes before you were pregnant, you may wonder if it is still safe to have it now that you are pregnant. To know whether cantaloupe during pregnancy is a healthy food choice to include in your diet or whether you should give it a miss read our post below.

What Is A Cantaloupe?

A cantaloupe is a kind of fruit that resembles a melon. It is a sweet fruit that is also sometimes referred to as a Persian melon, a mush melon, a rock melon or even a muskmelon.

Is It Safe To Eat Cantaloupe During Pregnancy?

• When you are pregnant, it is important to include a variety of fruits and vegetables in your daily diet. Doing so will provide most healthy nutrients that your unborn baby needs for proper development.

• A cantaloupe is a fruit that is extremely rich in its nutrient content. While most doctors will recommend that you do go ahead and eat it while you are pregnant, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind. While eating cantaloupe will not cause any side effects for you or your unborn baby, there are certain things on the outside of the fruit that may harm you both.

[ Read: Muskmelon During Pregnancy ]

• While the bacteria mostly grow on the outside of the cantaloupe, once you cut it open, it can also infect the inside and result in severe infection. Hence, you need to be careful and speak to your doctor about whether or not you should eat cantaloupe melon during pregnancy or give it up altogether for a few months.

Outbreak Of Listeriosis Due To Whole Cantaloupe In The United States:

2011 was witness to one of the worst outbreaks of listeria in the United States [1]. While many people were affected, there were reports of 33 death cases and one miscarriage among a woman who was infected while she was pregnant. Also, there were various other cases reported in which people were affected by various other types of infection that were related to the listeriosis.

Listeriosis is a type of food poisoning which happens when you have foods that have been contaminated with the Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) type of bacterium. During pregnancy, listeriosis can result in stillbirth, miscarriage, premature birth and even various infections and birth defects to the newborn.

Health Benefits Of Cantaloupe During Pregnancy:

Here are some of the health benefits that you can avail of by eating cantaloupe fruit during pregnancy:

1. Will Not Cause Extra Weight Gain:

When you eat cantaloupes during your pregnancy, it will not cause any extra weight gain. Cantaloupes have very low calories, which will keep you full when you eat them but not increase your weight more than is necessary. It means that while you can enjoy it as a full snack, you will not have to worry about excessive weight gain or obesity.

[ Read: Watermelon During Pregnancy ]

2. Rich In Vitamin A:

Cantaloupe is loaded with vitamin A, which converts the food to beta-carotene and will aid in your newborn’s vision.

3. Rich In Potassium:

The potassium content in cantaloupes will help to keep your blood pressure levels in check, especially during your pregnancy months.

4. Rich In Nutrients:

Cantaloupe is filled with a host of nutrients such as folic acid, B-complex vitamins such as B1, B3, B5 and B6.

[ Read: Fruits To Eat During Pregnancy ]

Side Effects Of Eating Cantaloupe Melon During Pregnancy:

Here are some of the health benefits that you can avail of by eating cantaloupes while you are pregnant:

1. The Risk Of Listeriosis:

The rind of cantaloupes often contains the bacteria that can give rise to the listeriosis infection. Hence it is a very deadly health risk, especially while you are pregnant.

2. Pesticide Residues:

Cantaloupes are considered as one of those fruits that have some of the highest amounts of residual pesticides. It can often lead to certain allergies especially as you are extra sensitive when you are pregnant.

While eating a cantaloupe does have its benefits and negatives while you are pregnant, make sure you first speak to your doctor and check how to proceed.

Moms, did you eat cantaloupes while you were pregnant? How did they help? Tell us below.

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