A pregnant woman certainly needs nutrition and nutrition for the fetus she is carrying. Maintaining nutritious food intake is certainly a must for every pregnant woman. The nutrients needed by pregnant women certainly come from foods and drinks that have high nutritional content.
Pregnant women should increase the portion of food and drink than usual because they are carrying a fetus that requires adequate nutritional intake for its growth and development. However, not all foods and drinks are good for pregnant women. There are several foods and drinks that actually have a negative impact on the continued growth of the fetus. Of course, the fetus in your uterus needs to be protected from both food and drink intake or your lifestyle because this will have an impact on fetal development.
Knowing what foods and drinks are good and bad for pregnant women to consume is certainly highly recommended. Especially when there are myths about foods and drinks that are prohibited by pregnant women. Of course, this condition makes a pregnant woman worry and sometimes discourages her from consuming these foods and drinks. In fact, this type of food and drink turns out to be very good for the fetus in your womb.
May Pregnant Women Drink Yogurt
For this reason, looking for clear information and sources regarding what foods and drinks can and should not be consumed is a way that is highly recommended for you. Nowadays, news circulates about foods and drinks that contain substances that are harmful to pregnant women because there are fast food and drinks that are currently on the market.
Like the dilemma in consuming yogurt drinks. Some argue that drinking yogurt is not good, but for others it is recommended. So, if you want to know the answer, take a look at our explanation below so you can avoid feeling the dilemma that is currently haunting you.
Before we discuss the topic of allowing pregnant women to drink yogurt, we must first get to know what yogurt is and what nutrients it contains. Is it really safe or dangerous for a pregnant woman?
For that, knowing in advance what yogurt drinks are is the best step before you decide to consume yogurt.
What is Yogurt?
Hearing the word “yogurt”, of course your ears are familiar with this type of drink. As you know, yogurt is a type of drink with a very soft texture and delicious for consumption, both young and old. Generally, yogurt is consumed as a companion drink or snack which is usually mixed with fruit.
As quoted from wikipedia, yogurt or yogurt is milk made through bacterial fermentation. Milk that can be used as yogurt, of course, any type of milk, including soybean juice. However, currently yogurt is dominated by the production of fermented cow’s milk.
From the results of this fermentation, milk sugar (lactose) produces lactic acid which functions in the formation of milk protein so as to produce a gel-like texture with a distinctive aroma. Currently, yogurt is available in various flavors such as vanilla, strawberry, fruit, chocolate and other flavors.
Making yogurt requires precision and the right process. In the process of forming yogurt, it requires specific bacteria which are blended into milk under a certain temperature according to the environment. The bacteria that are usually used in the manufacture of yogurt are the types of bacteria thermophilus, Streptococcus salivarius subsp, bulgaricus, and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp.
These bacteria then release lactic acid as a waste product after previously remodeling the natural sugars from the milk content. In the process of making yogurt, the bacteria that are put into milk become more active and live in a good environment. The sour taste produced by yogurt makes the protein content of yogurt higher.
Is Yogurt Safe for Pregnant Women?
Apart from the many news and myths that are spread in the community about whether or not yogurt is allowed to be consumed by pregnant women. Of course, this is a conversation that must be found on a common ground. Because, this will make a pregnant woman hesitant.
In fact, many doubt yogurt as a type of food or drink that is safe for pregnancy. The reason is, the process of making yogurt is carried out using a fermentation system by introducing bacteria into it. However, you need to remember, yogurt is produced by a process called pasteurization. This process is a process for heating food that aims to eliminate and kill harmful organisms such as molds, protozoa, yeast and bacteria. Actually, the pasteurization process does not kill the whole organism, but reduces the bad bacteria contained in a food or drink that causes disease in our bodies, so that what remains is only good bacteria.
Regarding whether yogurt is safe or not, if it is done with a pasteurization process, then yogurt is a type of food or drink that is certainly safe for pregnant women. In general, most of the yogurt products on the market are indeed done through a pasteurization process. So, this type of yogurt food or drink is certainly safe for pregnant women and fetuses. However, you also have to be careful in choosing yogurt, make sure you first read on a package that if there is a description of pasteurization, then it is safe for you. Conversely, if there is no information regarding pasteurization, then you must be careful and selective in choosing yogurt products.
Benefits of Yogurt for Pregnant Women
After we know that yogurt is safe for pregnant women. Now we turn to the benefits provided by yogurt for pregnant women and fetuses. Of course, there are several reasons why pregnant women consume yogurt. In addition to its delicious taste, the low-fat content of yogurt is also a consideration in consuming yogurt. Here are some of the benefits of yogurt for pregnant women and fetuses.
1. Source of Probiotics
As we know that pregnant women are prone to indigestion, namely constipation. By eating yogurt, a pregnant woman’s digestion will be better and avoid constipation. The probiotic content found in yogurt is also very helpful in the process of developing the baby’s nerves. Apart from fruits, consuming yogurt during pregnancy is highly recommended. However, you should eat no more than 200 grams of yogurt per day.
2. Source of Calcium
Apart from probiotic content, yogurt also has a good source of calcium for you and your fetus. Calcium is really needed by the body to help the process of forming bones and teeth for both mother and fetus. Calcium is also a source of minerals that are needed by the body because it absorbs essential nutrients for bone growth to avoid osteoporosis. The intake of calcium contained by yogurt i
s also very good in supporting fetal development.
3. Prevention of Neural Tube Defects
Defects in the baby’s neural tube can be caused by malnutrition of pregnant women during the first trimester. Of course, in this trimester, pregnant women are advised to consume enough folic acid to support the growth and development of important organs in babies. lack of folic acid intake will certainly result in failure and defects in fetal growth. for that, every 1 cup of yogurt contains 18 mcg of folic acid which is very necessary for pregnant women. By eating yogurt, of course you can avoid a deficiency of folic acid which is very important for fetal development in your stomach.
4. Adequate Protein Intake
Yogurt does come from fermented milk. We know that milk contains high enough protein needed by the human body. Likewise with yogurt, the protein content in yogurt will really help you and your fetus so that we are healthier and avoid feeling weak. So, by drinking yogurt, you will get a more powerful body, especially if you are carrying a fetus in the womb.
5. Keeping Electrolytes Balanced
Eating 1 cup of yogurt per day, of course you have got a source of potassium which is very necessary for pregnant women and fetuses. The reason is, every 1 cup of yogurt contains 398 mg of potassium. Of course, this much potassium content is the same as the potassium found in bananas. The potassium content in yogurt certainly functions to maintain electrolyte balance and maintain a balanced heart rate.
6. Contains Omega-3
Yogurt contains omega-3 which is needed by the body because it is a type of essential fat. Of course, by eating yogurt, you can meet the nutritional content that is needed by your body and fetus. Moreover, Omega-3 from yogurt is very good for fetal growth and development, especially the condition system, the brain, eyes and prevents the fetus from heart disease.
7. Avoid the risk of infection
Infection in pregnant women and fetuses can result from various sources. In fact, a woman who is pregnant is very susceptible to infection problems caused by viruses, bacteria and germs. The content of good bacteria in yogurt will fight bad bacteria that enter your body. To avoid getting infected by bacteria and viruses, consuming the recommended dosage of yogurt is highly recommended.
8. Avoid the Risk of Lung Infection
As we have explained in the points above, consuming yogurt can avoid the risk of getting an infection which will have an impact on the growth and development of your fetus. As testing conducted by a Specialized Journal in the field of industry in the UK has proven that yogurt can reduce the risk of pneumonia in the fetus. For that, eating yogurt is very good for pregnant women. In addition to maintaining the immune system in pregnant women, yogurt can also increase the baby’s immunity so that the body is more sensitive to fight bacteria.
Are you still hesitant to eat yogurt? As we have explained that yogurt is produced by a process of pasteurization and fermentation to get a source of vitamins and minerals that our bodies need. By eating yogurt regularly, of course, is a way for you to meet adequate nutrition for the growth and development of the fetus in your uterus.
However, you also need to be careful in choosing yogurt drink products that will have a negative impact on the fetus and your body. The recommended consumption of yogurt is about 220 grams per day.
Those are some of the benefits of yogurt that we can provide, despite the circulating myths about the dangers of yogurt. Hopefully our explanation regarding allowing pregnant women to drink yogurt can provide benefits for you, especially for pregnant women.
