Pregnancy is a roller coaster ride. One day you feel like gobbling up the whole menu while most of the days you just want to keep your gut in. During such a state most of the expectant moms have had success in keeping fruits down without much fuss. Is consuming passion fruit during pregnancy safe is one question most pregnant women may have.
Fruits and vegetables are nutrient-dense and when you add a variety of them to your diet, you can assure that your body will stock up on most of the vitamins, fibers, and nutrients required for your baby. Among the top list of beneficial fruits, the passion fruit has a strong footing with its powerhouse of nutrients. Passion fruit juice is also popular. If you want to enjoy it while pregnant, you can do so, but be aware that commercial versions may contain a high amount of sugar for a relatively small amount of fruit.
In This Article
- What is a Passion Fruit?
- Nutritional Value of Passion Fruit
- Is Passion Fruit Safe During Pregnancy?
- 10 Amazing Benefits of Eating Passion Fruit During Pregnancy
- Is it Safe to Consume the Seeds of Passion Fruit?
- Does Passion Fruit Cause Any Side Effects?
- How to Select and Store Passion Fruit?
- Tips to Consume Passion Fruit During Pregnancy
- Recipe For Passion Fruit Juice
- FAQ’s
What is a Passion Fruit?
Passion fruit is a small, heart-shaped, tropical fruit gaining recognition among health-conscious youngsters. The fruit has its origin from the Passiflora vine, a form of passionflower. It is often considered a type of berry due to its tough outer skin and glutinous seedy center. The fruit comes predominantly in two varieties; purple and yellow varieties
Nutritional Value of Passion Fruit
Though being small in size, the passion fruit is packed with calories, fiber, vitamin A, B2, B3, B6, and Vitamin C. Grown in a tropical atmosphere, the fruit is loaded with minerals like potassium, magnesium, copper, and iron. This calorie-rich fruit is also dense in carotenoids and polyphenols. The small fruit is also a powerhouse of antioxidants beneficial for both the mother and the unborn child.
Is Passion Fruit Safe During Pregnancy?
It is hard to find a small fruit packed with innumerable nutrients like the Passion fruit. It is considered one of the safest and healthiest fruits that ensure the growth of your unborn child. The passion fruit can work wonders for your immune system and safeguard the fetus too.
[Read : Is It Safe To Have Acai Berry During Pregnancy?]
10 Amazing Benefits of Eating Passion Fruit During Pregnancy
The major benefit of passion fruit is that it is low in calories and high in nutrients. Other benefits of consuming passion fruit during pregnancy are:
1. Promotes Growth and Development of the Fetus
Passion fruit is loaded with antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins, that are essential for the development of the fetus. Consuming passion fruit during pregnancy will ensure a good amount of nutrients to the mother and baby.
2. Relieves Insomnia
This super fruit is bursting with alkaloids namely Harman, which is known to relieve stress and anxiety, aid in treating insomnia often suffered by pregnant women.
3. Boosts Immunity
Vitamin C forms nearly 50% of the nutrient-dense fruit. It is a well-known fact that a diet rich in Vitamin C ensures a strong immune system during pregnancy.
4. Regulates Blood Pressure
Often during pregnancy, expectant mothers suffer from fluctuating blood pressure. The high amount of potassium in passion fruit cuts the risk by half and helps in regulating blood pressure.
5. Excellent For Bone Health
Bone health is a big concern during pregnancy. The consumption of passion fruit helps to ward off brittle bones as the fruit is rich in minerals like iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and copper. This in turn aids in protecting the bone density and prevents the early onset of osteoporosis during pregnancy.
6. Promotes Healthy and Smooth Digestion
It is a known fact that pregnant women face a number of digestive issues like heartburn and GERD due to the growing fetus. The rich fibrous pulp of passion fruit aids in easy digestion and promotes a healthy gut.
7. Improves Blood Circulation
Expectant mothers require having a good production of hemoglobin to ensure the nutrients reach the fetus. The high iron content in passion fruit aids in increasing the production of red blood cells and keeps anemia at bay.
8. Enhances Skin and Eye Health
Vitamin A present in the fruit helps in improving eyesight and reduces the risk of vision-related issues. Vitamin A also boosts skin elasticity as an added bonus to a pregnancy glow.
9. Brings Down Respiratory Problems
Passion fruit is a natural expectorant that has proven to alleviate symptoms of wheezing and asthma in expectant mothers.
10. Brings Down Joint Pains
Pregnant women run the risk of early onset of osteoporosis and joint pain due to the pressure borne by the joints during pregnancy. The mineral-laden fruit also aids in the prevention of osteoporosis and eases joint pain.
[Read : Is It Safe To Have Pineapple During Pregnancy?]
Is it Safe to Consume the Seeds of Passion Fruit?
The whole small fruit except the outer skin is edible, including the pulp, seeds, and juice of the fruit. Consuming this fruit during pregnancy has a lot of benefits and absolutely no side effects. The awareness regarding the powerhouse fruit has garnered much interest among the new-age mums. There are many ways to consume the fruit, and the yummiest way is in juice format.
Does Passion Fruit Cause Any Side Effects?
Usually, passion fruit is devoid of any side effects if consumed in moderation. However,
- Overconsumption of passion fruit can cause short-term distress like diarrhea and bloating during pregnancy. This is owing to the fact that passion fruit is loaded with fibers.
- Even though less reported, the passion fruit can cause allergic reactions. The expecting mothers with a history of latex allergy should be on guard. This is because passion fruit contains chemicals, which are of the same kind that are found in latex.
- When you consume too much passion fruit, it can make you slightly nauseous.
How to Select and Store Passion Fruit?
1. Selecting
Select passion fruit that is large and heavy. Choose ones that are not smooth-skinned, why because they will not be ripe. Choose the dimpled and shrunken skin ones (which shows the fruit is ripe). Never choose overly hard passion fruit, which is under-ripe.
2. Storing
You have to consume ripe passion fruit at room temperature within two days. You can freeze the whole passion fruit or its pulp and seeds (by scooping out to an airtight container) which can be stored for three months. However, we recommend eating fresh fruits to get all its nutritional benefits.
[Read : Eating Guava During Pregnancy]
Tips to Consume Passion Fruit During Pregnancy
Both the fruit and juice of the passion fruit will blend well with other fresh fruits, particularly tropical fruits. You can enjoy the fresh fruit by slicing it in half. You can also add it to fruit salad and prepare the juice.
Recipe For Passion Fruit Juice
Cut 4 or 5 passion fruits in half and scoop out the pulp. Add them directly to the blender along with sugar and water. Run the blender until the ingredients are mixed well. Run through a sieve and serve chilled. Cheers to a cup of good health.
FAQ’s
1. Can Eating Passion Fruit During Pregnancy Help the Baby?
Yes, it can. It promotes fetus growth. It is rich in antioxidants and nutrients important for fetus development.
2. Can I Eat the Passion Fruit Seeds When Pregnant?
Yes, you can. The seeds are completely edible. They are very nutritious too.
3. Can I be Allergic to Passion Fruit When Pregnant?
Yes, you might. Though this is not common, it is possible. Pregnancy can stimulate a lot of allergies.
4. Can Passion Fruit Help With My Insomnia During Pregnancy?
Yes, it can. It is rich in Harman. This can reduce your stress and promote good sleep.
Read Also:10 Benefits And 4 Side Effects Of Eating Jackfruit During Pregnancy
FAQs
Is Passion Fruit During Pregnancy Safe ? ›
Passion fruit – Passion fruit contains vitamin C, magnesium, iron, phosphorous, and very healthy for you during pregnancy. It boosts immunity, increases iron and hemoglobin levels, and also reduces insomnia.
Can I eat passion fruit in first trimester? ›Passion fruit can be eaten throughout pregnancy, even in the first trimester. Anecdotally, sometimes sour or tart flavors can help with pregnancy nausea, so if you're suffering from morning sickness, you might want to see if passion fruit alleviates these symptoms.
Who should not eat passion fruit? ›Passion Fruit Risks
Passion fruit is usually safe to eat and good for you, but some people are allergic to it. This is more likely if you're allergic to latex. People allergic to passion fruit or latex might also react to fruits such as: Papaya.
The skin is tough and most consider inedible. Avoid super hard or excessively wrinkled passion fruit. That usually means that they are past the peak of ripeness. If you wait too long to eat them, then they can mold.
Is it safe to use passion fruit seeds? ›Eat the pulp, seeds and all
The seeds are edible, but tart. Scoop out the passion fruit pulp with a spoon and place it in a bowl. You can also enjoy passion fruit pulp straight from the shell.
Is passion fruit healthy for babies? Yes—when it is ripe. The pulp of the unripe fruit plus the leaves, peel, and skin of both the unripe and ripe fruit are toxic. Ripe passion fruit is fragrant and has deeply wrinkled skin.
What not to eat during pregnancy? ›- soft cheeses.
- undercooked or raw meat, fish and seafood.
- pre-prepared or unwashed fruits and vegetables.
- soft-serve ice cream.
- undercooked or raw eggs.
- unpasteurised milk.
- alcohol.
In these countries, however, the banana passionfruit is treated as an invasive species. Fine Dining Lovers' description of the fruit may remind you more of a spreading weed that smothers other vegetation. Gastro Obscura goes further and flat out states that the plants are illegal to cultivate in New Zealand and Hawaii.
Is passion fruit good for fertility? ›High vitamin C content- The immune system benefits from vitamin C, and it also aids in the absorption of iron from food, which is crucial for both men and women hoping to conceive.
Does passion fruit have folic acid? ›The yellow passion fruit is a good source for meeting the recommended requirements, as just 110 g are needed to cover the recommended daily intake of 300 µg folate for adults; however, longan fruits, okras, pete beans, papayas, mangos, jack fruits, and feijoas are also good sources of folates.
What are the side effects of passion fruit? ›
An excess consumption of passion fruit can result in short-term gastrointestinal distress due to the high content of dietary fibres. May cause an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals.
Is it safe to Eat Raw passion fruit? ›To eat a passion fruit raw, cut it in half and use a spoon to remove the pulp from the rind. The rind is not edible. People can eat both the seeds and the pulp, or just the pulp.
Why shouldn't you chew passion fruit seeds? ›Passion fruit's 'toxic' skin
The story about the passionfruit's seeds being harmful comes from the composition of the fruit's skin. The exotic fruit's skin can contain cyanide, which, if consumed in huge quantities can be poisonous. So, the seeds are not poisonous, but the skin can be.
Purple. One of the surprises on the purple chart is the amount of passion fruit that counts as one of your 5 a day – you need to consume an impressive six to make up a portion. That's a lot of seeds to be spooning out…
Is passion fruit a superfood? ›Superfood #4: Passionfruit
This delicious and healthy snack is full of iron, which assists your body to absorb its plentiful vitamin C. Passionfruit is a great treat for all those mommies-to-be out there as they protect both you and your little bump from infection.
Purple: Originating in the Southern Brazil/Northern Argentina area, the purple passion fruit has a rich flavor, is less acidic than the yellow, and is really juicy on the inside. Yellow: They're not entirely sure where this variety originates, though it tends to come from tropical areas, like Hawaii.
Is passion fruit good for breastfeeding mothers? ›Some citrus fruits include oranges, tangerines, guava, and passion fruit. These are detrimental to the baby's digestive function. They can also give babies heartburn.
Why does passion fruit make you sleepy? ›One of the powerful medicinal compounds in passion fruit an alkaloid Harman functions as a sedative. This compound is beneficial in reducing restlessness, insomnia, and nervous anxiety thereby helping you to get a good night's sleep. The next time when you are troubled getting a sound sleep, try some passion fruit.
What does passion fruit do for your lungs? ›As described, passion fruit has the properties to aid in the functioning of the respiratory system. This means an easement of coughing fits, reduction of asthma attacks, and limited chances for wheezing. The bioflavonoids within passion fruit provide a soothing effect on the respiratory system.
Which fruit is avoid in pregnancy? ›Papaya – It tops the list for obvious reasons. Raw or semi ripe papaya contains latex which can induce premature contractions and that can be dangerous for your baby.
What fruits should pregnant avoid? ›
So, continue taking fresh fruits in moderation, with special emphasis on low glycemic fruits like apples, pears, oranges, peaches, etc. Fruits to avoid during pregnancy with gestational diabetes include high-sugar content fruits or dried fruits like raisins, mangoes and cherries.
What can cause miscarriage in early pregnancy? ›- Infection.
- Exposure to TORCH diseases.
- Hormonal imbalances.
- Improper implantation of fertilized egg in your uterine lining.
- How old you are.
- Uterine abnormalities.
- Incompetent cervix (your cervix begins to open too early in pregnancy).
Passion fruit is almost one third fiber, which helps lower cholesterol levels, regulate your blood sugar levels and clean out your colon.
Is passion fruit allowed in US? ›Yes. It prefers to grow in the subtropics so they are most likely to be cultivated in south Florida and Southern California, or Mexico. They don't seem to travel well, but you can sometimes find them in upscale groceries next to the mangos and guavas. You can also buy passion fruit juice in bottles at various stores.
Are there bugs in passion fruit? ›The pests of passion fruit are mites, fruit flies, thrips, aphids, anthribid beetles, and mealy bugs. The major pests are broad mites, carmine spider mites, red and black flat mites, barnacle scales, and fruit flies.
What fruit is good for pregnant woman? ›Berries — such as blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, and goji berries — are rich in all kinds of goodness, such as: carbohydrates. vitamin C. fiber.
Can you have mango when pregnant? ›Not only are mangos safe to eat while you're pregnant, but they contain a host of nutrients that are beneficial to you. One ¾ cup serving of mango is a good source of folate, which is a key pre-natal vitamin. Women who don't get enough folate are at risk of having babies with neural tube defects, such as spina bifida.
How can I strengthen my uterus during pregnancy? ›- Eat a more balanced diet. ...
- Talk to your doctor about supplements. ...
- Reduce your caffeine intake. ...
- Move more. ...
- Exercise mindfully. ...
- Kick the smoking habit. ...
- Reduce stress when possible.
Many fruits contain folic acid, but citrus fruits rank highest — oranges are especially high in the vitamin. Other folate-rich fruits include grapefruit, papayas, grapes, bananas, strawberries, raspberries and cantaloupe.
Why is passion fruit superfood? ›Passion fruit is believed to help alleviate the symptoms of osteoporosis and even improve respiratory conditions, such as asthma. The super-fruit also boasts cancer-preventing properties and is an excellent source of vitamins, especially vitamin C and A. It's also very high in fibre - so great for digestion.
Is passion fruit high in iron? ›
Excellent Food Source for Iron Deficiency: Among fruits, passion fruit is one of the best sources of iron (3.78 mg of iron in a serving size of 1 cup) and also a rich source of Vitamin C (70.8 mg of Vitamin C in a serving size of 1 cup).
How does passion fruit reduce anxiety? ›Scientists believe passionflower works by increasing levels of a chemical called gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. GABA lowers the activity of some brain cells, making you feel more relaxed.
Can I eat passion fruit at night? ›Passion fruit promotes restful sleep
Trouble sleeping? Eat Passion fruit. It contains medicinal alkaloids and several phytonutrients that serve as powerful sedatives. Regular consumption of Passion fruit is recommended for insomniacs because the alkaloids reduce sleeplessness, restlessness and relieve anxiety.
Fruits high in natural sugar include litchis, passion-fruit, pomegranates, mangoes, cherries, oranges, kiwifruit, grapes, guavas, and bananas.
Are there any poisonous passion fruits? ›Poisoning. Blue passionflower leaves and unripe fruit contain cyanogenic glycosides which turn into cyanide when eaten. It can cause nausea and vomiting in humans and animals. Toxic parts of the plant are bitter and not usually eaten so poisoning is not common and rarely serious.
Should I swallow or chew passion fruit seeds? ›Scoop out the seeds, juice and pulp and eat it; you can chew them up or swallow the seeds whole. It will be a little tart, a little sweet, smell amazing and a lot of crunchy. Passion fruit seeds are high in magnesium, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C and they add a nice little crunch to whatever you put them on.
What fruits are in the first trimester of pregnancy? ›Fruit to Include in Pregnancy Diet
Bananas– Rich in carbohydrates, prevents anemia and helps maintaining colon health. Oranges– Keeps you hydrated and are rich in Vitamin C. Avocados- Rich in healthy fats and contains folate which promotes healthy growth of the newborn baby brain in fetus.
Pineapple is safe to eat while pregnant. But you may want to limit how much of it you eat. The most common species of pineapple in the US, the Smooth Cayenne, has a high acid content. Heartburn and acid reflux are common when pregnant, and acidic foods can make these problems worse.