Can Pregnant Women Eat Sapota? A Complete Guide

Pregnancy casts so many changes in a woman’s life-a time filled with joy, curiosity, and a lot of questions, with food being one of them. One of the questions often asked by most is whether sapota is safe to eat or not. With its soft, sweet pulp and grainy texture, it is one of those fruits that, if considered safe or consumed, the pregnant lady would want a good share of. But does pregnancy allow the intake of sapota?

The short answer to this question is that sapota is generally safe to consume while pregnant in order to benefit health. However, like any other type of food, various guidelines and precautions should be kept in mind. So below is everything about eating sapota during pregnancy. Earlier in our previously published blog post, we talked about the pros and cons of eating Maggi during pregnancy.

What Is Sapota (Chikoo)?

Sapote is tropical; perfect description: sweet-malty flavor and soft texture. From Central America, it found its way through cultivation into India, Mexico, the Philippines, etc. It has a brown, soft, slightly gritty flesh with one to six glossy black seeds. Along with fiber, sapote is also rich in vitamins and minerals. 

Is sapota safe for pregnant women?

Sapote is a tropical fruit with a worthy description: an almost sweet, malty flavor and soft texture. It grows in Central America but has been cultivated in other areas such as India, Mexico, and the Philippines. It has a brownish flesh that is soft and a little gritty, with 1 to 6 glossy, black seeds. It offers a good supply of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.

Nutritional Benefits of Sapota During Pregnancy

Reasons why sapota may find a place on your pregnancy diet list.

1. Natural Energy Booster

Pregnancy produces tiredness and fatigue. One needs to have quick energy hits provided by sapota, which contains natural sugars-fructose and sucrose-as opposed to resorting to artificial sweets or caffeine. 

2. Loaded with Essential Nutrients

Sapote contains vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron, and potassium, which are important nutrients during pregnancy.

• Vitamin A is necessary for good eyesight and the functioning of the immune system.
• Vitamin C helps in tissue repair and also facilitates the absorption of iron by the body.
• Iron forms red blood cells and prevents anemia.
• Calcium forms bones in the developing fetus.

3. High in Dietary Fiber

Constipation is one of the emerging problems that happen during pregnancy due to hormonal changes and iron supplements; free bowel movement may be maintained as the fiber in sapota aids digestion and reduces bloating. 

4. Enhances Immunity

Various antioxidants, along with vitamin C present in sapota, enhance immunity and thus protect mothers from various infections and diseases.

5. Anti-Inflammatory

The tannins present in sapota have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial actions; hence, they calm an upset stomach and shield the digestive tract from infections.

6. Relief from Morning Sickness

The gentle sweetness combined with the fragrant notes of a ripe sapota-Calma could possibly bring relief to nausea, especially during the early days of pregnancy.

Precautions When Eating Sapota During Pregnancy

Although sapota is generally considered safe, there are a few precautionary characteristics:

1. Moderation in Consumption

Sapodillas have a high sugar content. Overeating can cause gestational diabetes, excessive weight gain, or blood sugar spikes. One medium-sized sapota an hour is usually enough.

2. Keep away from Unripe Sapota

Unripe sapota contains tannins and latex that may irritate the throat or cause discomfort in the stomach, including constipation.

3. Wash very well

Wash the fruit thoroughly to remove pesticides if you intend to eat the skin.

4. Avoid Descending Gestational Diabetes (Unless Advised by the Practitioner)

If diagnosed with gestational diabetes, seek your doctor’s advice on sapota consumption because of its sugar content.

How to Include Sapota in a Pregnancy Diet

• Want to safely and wonderfully profit from sapota?
• Eat it fresh and ripe as a healthy snack.
• Add sapota to a smoothie made from milk or yogurt for a calcium-replenishing drink.
• Use it for dessert like sapota kheer (pudding) with slight amounts of sugar.
• Prepare a sapota milkshake as an instant energy drink; better skip added sugar if you can.

Avoid mixing sapota with heavy ghee or cream very often, as this could generate unneeded weight gain during pregnancy.

Who Should Avoid Sapota?

• Though this fruit is fine for most pregnant women, the following conditions require caution:
• Gestational diabetes
• Allergies to tropical fruits
• Having overweight conditions or rapid weight gain
• IBS or other gastrointestinal disorders triggered by excess fiber or sugar

In any of these situations, a discussion about your diet should be the first thing you share with your healthcare provider.

Conclusion: Should You Eat Sapota During Pregnancy?

Definitely—sapota is a fruit safe to eat during pregnancy if eaten in moderation. It averts gastrointestinal issues, fosters immunity, and promotes natural energy. Moreover, make sure it is fully ripe, clean, and in moderate quantities in everything taken during pregnancy. Everything is in balance, including food during pregnancy.

During pregnancy, every bite counts. In gestation, inclusion of nutrient-laden fruit such as sapota helps in feeding the mother and the baby, with caution given to how much and how frequently.

Frequently Asked Questions