Is It Safe To Eat Muskmelon In Pregnancy? And How To Eat?

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Muskmelons are among the many tasty and nutritious fruits mostly available in the summer months. There are numerous muskmelon benefits. Thus, you may consider having muskmelon in pregnancy to meet your daily dietary and prenatal nutrition requirements. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) suggests that women should consume two cups of fruits daily when pregnant, and muskmelons can be a good way to achieve the same (1). Call this fruit cantaloupe, rockmelon, sweet melon, or kharbuja, it remains sweet and tasty. Continue reading this post to know more about eating muskmelon when pregnant, its health benefits, and the safest way to eat the fruit.

Is It Safe To Eat Muskmelon During Pregnancy?

Yes, you can eat muskmelon but in moderation. They are extremely beneficial during pregnancy and provide the best of nutrients while catering to the taste buds. Moderate in calorie count and high in nutritional value, muskmelon is good for pregnant women. These are one of the to-be-eaten fruits for the growth and development of your baby.

However, do not be surprised if your doctor tells you to avoid the fruit, as it could contain listeria bacteria on the outside. It is safe as long as you wash well, peel the outer cover, cut, slice and eat the inside pulp carefully.

So, why did we categorize this fruit as ‘to-be-eaten’?

Did you know?

Cantaloupes do not ripen or sweeten after being picked from the vine. However, they will become softer and juicier if not cut. Do not store them beyond four days at room temperature (10).

Cantaloupe’s Nutrition Facts

Muskmelons contain the most vital components essential for the growth of your fetus. We advise you to add a decent amount of muskmelon in your weekly diet because 100 grams of muskmelon provides you with the following nutrition (2):

• Energy – 34 Kcal
• Carbohydrate – 8.16gm
• Protein – 0.82gm
• Fat – 0.18gm
• Sugar – 7.88gm
• Dietary fiber – 0.8gm
• NiacinⁱA water-soluble type of B vitamin necessary for the skin, nerves, and digestive system (B3) – 0.694mg
• FolatesⁱNaturally occurring form of Vitamin B9, responsible for protein metabolism and the production of red blood cells – 14µg
• CholineⁱAn essential nutrient needed by cellular function and the body for metabolism – 7.6mg
• Vitamin A – 232 RAE
• Vitamin E – 0.05mg
• Vitamin C – 10.9mg
• Vitamin K – 2.7mcg
• Potassium – 157mg
• Sodium – 30mg
• Calcium – 9mg
• Phosphorus – 17mg
• Iron – 0.38mg
• Zinc – 0.44mg
• Magnesium – 13mg

If you are asking, “How are these nutrients going to be helpful to me?”, then here is the answer.

Muskmelon Benefits During Pregnancy

The nutritional value of cantaloupe is immense. It balances fluids and electrolytes within the body and manages the body’s heat. The super advantages of having cantaloupe are:

1. Enhances baby’s cognitive development

Vitamin A is critical for the growing fetus to develop healthy cognitive functions and ward off any congenital disabilities. It supports the growth of your baby’s heart, lungs, kidneys, eyes and bones (3). Muskmelon contains a good amount of vitamin A. Being rich in folic acid, it also helps prevent neural tube defectsⁱSevere birth abnormalities of the central nervous system that develop early during pregnancy (4).

2. Helps in formation of healthy bones and teeth

Mulskmelons are considered among calcium-rich foods that help in forming healthy bone and tooth structures in your baby. Calcium is vital for both mother and child during pregnancy.

3. Prevents pregnancy anemia

Being one of the iron-rich foods, muskmelon helps in the healthy production of hemoglobin (5). A good count of red blood cells prevents anemia in pregnant women. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2019, the global prevalence of anemia in women of reproductive age was 29.9% and 36.5% in pregnant women. It is therefore important to include iron rich foods such as muskmelon in your diet to avoid any iron-related pregnancy complications. Muskmelon is also known to improve the blood flow through the uterine cavity with sufficient oxygen for the baby.

4. Phosphorus induces muscle contractions

Phosphorus is essential for active muscle contractions during labor. It also helps in blood clotting, kidney function, nerve conduction, tissue repair and heart function.

5. Anticoagulant property

Muskmelons contain abundant anticoagulants, otherwise called blood thinners, which prevent the formation of blood clots

. The clots pose the risk of blood vessels blockage, kidney failure, and heart stroke in mothers. Muskmelon has the right amount of anticoagulants.

6. Fights common infections

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Vitamin C helps you to battle those annoying minor infections such as a cough, cold and flu during pregnancy by boosting immunity. This vitamin is also necessary for the growing baby to develop a healthy immune system. Drinking muskmelon juice in moderation may help meet your vitamin C intake requirements. Also, carotenoidsⁱPigments in plants, algae, and bacteria that give them their yellow, red, and orange hue (beta-carotene and lycopenei) present in cantaloupes can help strengthen the immune system of both the mother and the baby by fighting various life-threatening conditions such as cancer, making it part of several antioxidant-rich foods (6).

7. Treats constipation

The high water content in muskmelons prevents fluid and electrolyte loss from. Its coolant property manages the heat produced inside the body and thus provides relief from the common pregnancy problem of constipation, thus improving digestive health.

8. Vitamin B1 treats various issues

Thiamine or vitamin B1 helps in the healthy fetal development by aiding in the formation of the central nervous system while fighting several prenatal issues. The vitamin also helps control the extreme sense of nausea and morning sickness during the first trimester of pregnancy. It is also important for improving the quality of breast milk after delivery.

9. Regulates blood pressure levels

Potassium in cantaloupe regulates the fluctuating blood pressure levels through the course of pregnancy(7)

.

10. Ideal for overweight pregnant women

Overweight during pregnancy could pose a high risk of miscarriage, preterm labor, and high blood pressure. Muskmelon is a low-calorie fruit, so it is an excellent alternative for fatty foods. It is a fat and cholesterol-free substitute.

11. Aids in digestion

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Cantaloupe aids in the digestion of the food you take. It helps you stay away from heartburn, acidity, gas formation or any other digestive issues.

Nutrition fact

Cantaloupes have a low glycemic load (the ability to raise blood glucose levels) because of their high water content. Therefore, women with gestational diabetesⁱA temporary condition in which a woman is diagnosed with diabetes for the first time during pregnancy can safely consume them in their whole food form and moderate amounts. (11).

Are There Any Side Effects Of Eating Muskmelon In Pregnancy?

Muskmelon does not pose any side effects or allergies unless you consume a pesticide-ridden fruit.

The only reason for the fruit to be “kept away when pregnant” is due to the bacterium listeria. In the year 2011, the US experienced a terrible listeria outbreak (8), and it was found that muskmelon was the source of the infection.

There are chances for the bacteria to enter into the fruit when cut, and can initialize the infection in pregnant women. If affected, listeria could lead to stillbirth, preterm labor, and miscarriage.

Then, what is the right way to eat the fruit?

Safe Way To Consume Cantaloupes

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The fruit should be washed before you consume. It would help in washing off food-borne diseases such as listeriosisⁱA serious infection caused by eating contaminated food, primarily affecting immunocompromised and pregnant population and toxoplasmosisⁱA parasitic infection caused by eating uncooked meat (9).

Scrub and wash the rinds before cutting the fruit. Also, wash your hands after handling the melons. Once cut, eat the fruit immediately, and avoid refrigeration for a long period.

Infographic: Muskmelon Recipes To Try During Pregnancy

Muskmelons are delicious but eating the fruit the same way every day may feel uninteresting. So, here are some muskmelon recipes that are quick to make and fill you up with instant energy and freshness.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

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Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Jyoti BenjaminMS, RD, CSO, FAND, CD

Jyoti Benjamin has 25 years of experience as a clinical dietitian and currently works in Seattle. She focuses on teaching people the value of good nutrition and helping them lead healthy lives by natural means.Benjamin has a masters in Foods and Nutrition, and has been a longtime member and Fellow of AND (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics) and the International Confederation of Dietetic Association.

Read full bio of Jyoti Benjamin

Swati PatwalM.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA

Swati Patwal is a clinical nutritionist, a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and a toddler mom with more than a decade of experience in diverse fields of nutrition. She started her career as a CSR project coordinator for a healthy eating and active lifestyle project catering to school children.

Read full bio of Swati Patwal

Rebecca MalachiBSc

Rebecca is a pregnancy writer and editor with a passion for delivering research-based and engaging content in areas of fertility, pregnancy, birth, and post-pregnancy. She did her graduation in Biotechnology and Genetics from Loyola Academy, Osmania University and obtained a certification in ‘Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy’ from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU).

Read full bio of Rebecca Malachi

Aneesha AmonzMSc

Aneesha holds a Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology from USTM, Meghalaya and Master’s degree in Applied Microbiology from VIT, Vellore. With two years of experience, she has worked on different research projects in the field of Food Sciences.

Read full bio of Aneesha Amonz