Entering pregnancy can bring mixed feelings. At the same time, you might feel excited yet worried about going through this period.
Indeed, during this time, it’s important for mothers to ensure that the baby receives sufficient nutrition to support optimal fetal growth and development.
Well, if you’re reading this, your decision is spot on! Perhaps you’re considering consuming cheese and wondering, can pregnant women eat cheese? To find out the answer to the question spinning in your mind, let’s dive into the full explanation below!
Nutritional Content in Cheese
Fundamentally, cheese is a food rich in nutrients. Cheese is considered a good source of three important nutrients needed by humans:
- Protein: Helps in tissue formation and repair
- Calcium: Important for bone and tooth growth
- Fat: Energy source and can help with vitamin absorption
With nutritional content that is good for bodily health, pregnant women are certainly allowed to consume cheese, with the caveat that they do not have specific allergies. It’s advisable that you consult with an expert or professional before deciding to consume cheese. Be aware of any restrictions during your pregnancy.
Read more: The Nutritional Benefits of Cheese
Benefits of Cheese for Pregnant Women
So, with its important body nutrients, how can cheese be beneficial for pregnant women? Here are several benefits of cheese for pregnant women that Belmoomy needs to know:
1. Helps Develop Baby’s Bones and Teeth
One of the main benefits of cheese for pregnant women is its calcium content. Calcium is a crucial mineral for fetal bone and tooth development. Calcium helps ensure that the baby’s bones and teeth grow strong and healthy.
Additionally, calcium is important for maintaining the bone health of pregnant women. So, consuming cheese wisely can help maintain bone health for both mother and fetus.
2. Supporting Tissue Growth and Fetal Development
Protein is an important nutrient needed during pregnancy to support tissue growth and fetal development. Cheese contains high-quality protein, which can help meet these needs. Protein is also required to build new cells in the pregnant mother’s body and fetus, making it very important to include in daily diet.
3. Supporting Brain Development
Besides calcium and protein, cheese also contains good fats, including omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids have been proven to play a crucial role in nervous system development, especially fetal brain development. Consuming cheese containing omega-3 fatty acids can help support optimal brain development during pregnancy.
4. Helps Produce Blood Cells, Nerves, and DNA
Vitamin B12, found in cheese, is an important nutrient that supports various bodily processes, including the production of blood cells, nerves, and DNA. During pregnancy, producing healthy blood cells is crucial to ensure that the pregnant mother and fetus receive sufficient oxygen. So, cheese can be a beneficial source of vitamin B12 for the health of pregnant women and fetal development.
5. Enriching Breast Milk Nutrition for Nursing Mothers
The benefits of cheese do not end with childbirth. After giving birth, cheese can also help enrich the nutrition in breast milk provided to the baby. Nutrition given to babies through breast milk is very important for healthy growth and development. By wisely consuming cheese during breastfeeding, mothers can ensure their babies receive sufficient nutrition.
Read more: The Benefits of Cheese for Children
Cheese Safe for Pregnant Women
Belmoomy needs to know that not all cheese is safe to consume during pregnancy.
According to Healthline, raw food and unpasteurized dairy products are foods that need to be avoided during pregnancy because they can cause poisoning from harmful bacteria like Listeria, Salmonella, E. coli, and Campylobacter.
So, if you really want to consume cheese, choose cheese that has gone through pasteurization. Examples of pasteurized cheese include:
- Hard cheeses, such as cheddar, parmesan, and gruyere
- Semi-hard cheeses, like edam and stilton
- Soft cheeses, like spreadable cheese, cream cheese, and mozzarella
Belmoomy doesn’t need to be confused about where to find the cheeses mentioned above. We have several variants of the above cheeses, such as The Laughing Cow Creamy Cheese Triangles and Babybel Cheddar Cheese.
Now, Belmoomy doesn’t need to hesitate about consuming cheese during pregnancy. However, always consult with a doctor or nutritionist to ensure you receive nutrition that meets your specific needs during pregnancy.
