While you are pregnant, you need to know that you are eating for two people, and not just for one. You need to minutely supervise your diet, and keep yourself away from sugar-rich food, high-fructose drinks, and other junk food, which will only fill you with empty calories, without any nutrition. Your focus should be on eating healthy food, which gives you nutrition in every bite. One such food is Couscous, which has some mind-blowing benefits, and should be had by every pregnant woman.
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What is Couscous?
Couscous is a food, which is traditional to North Africa. It contains small rolls of semolina flour, or wheat. Though, mistaken for grains, it is actually the same grain, which is used for making pasta. For preparing couscous, one only needs to add some hot water, and allow them to fluff up, so that they become a more basic meal. The food is mostly available in its natural and original form in Mediterranean, and other North African countries. Other countries, like UK, USA, etc., get it in the form of prepared or pre-steamed varieties. For those varieties, a little bit of hot water is sufficient for fluffing it up.
Couscous can be used very commonly in the cuisines just the way the pasta or rice is used. It can also be used beneath veggies, sauce, or meat. One can also add them to salads.
Couscous – Nutritional content
Couscous contains a good amount of Vitamins, and minerals, such as Thiamin, Niacin, Selenium, Folic Acid, Manganese, etc. It also contains Sodium, Protein, Choline, Folate, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, and Selenium, which are really essential minerals, and helps in the growth and development of the baby.
Couscous has lots of health benefits, ranging from preventing cancers, to improving the health of the heart, and preventing infections. It also promotes the metabolism in the body, and improves the digestive system. All of these are necessary for a pregnant lady, during her pregnancy.
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11 Benefits of Couscous for Pregnant Ladies
1. Healthy heart
The foremost criterion for the pregnant lady, is to keep her heart healthy and active. For this, she really needs a good amount of Selenium, which is present in Couscous. Selenium is one of those trace minerals, which cannot be found easily in any food items, but it is really essential for the humans. For this purpose, one can take a single serving of couscous, which will give about 60% of the daily required selenium. Selenium is a powerful antioxidant, which mainly functions in blood vessels, for reducing the plaque build-up. It protects the body from heart attacks and strokes.
2. Rich in Potassium
Couscous is also loaded with Potassium, which is required for reducing the blood vessels contraction. It reduces the blood pressure, and keeps the heart healthy and strong.
3. Prevents Cancer
A pregnant lady doesn’t eat just for herself. She has to eat for her baby’s health as well. Selenium in couscous is very useful for protecting the person and her child from cancers.
4. Boosted Immunity
Couscous is also useful in boosting the immunity level in a person. It fights against increase of free radicals in the blood. It also regenerates the Vitamin C and E, which are required for improving the immunity of the system.
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5. It helps fight against tiredness
Pregnancy takes a toll on the ladies, and they feel continuously tired. But, taking couscous, which is loaded with many vital nutrients, can help in fighting against abnormal tiredness, and weakness, and give the necessary energy.
6. Healing of wounds and illness
During pregnancy, the body has to function overtime, and has to take care of the illnesses, with its limited resources. Taking care of 2 lives, instead of 1, can be quite a challenging task. Couscous can help the person in dealing with all kinds of illnesses, and recovering faster from it. The high level of protein in it, can help in improving the metabolism, and in repairing the wounds, externally, as well as internally.
7. Better Digestion
Digestion is another major issue during pregnancy. And, in this regard, couscous can help the person in better digestion. As it contains about 10% of the fiber, which is recommended during the day, it can aid in digestion and gastrointestinal problems. It helps in moving the food through the digestive tract. Fiber is also useful in cleaning the arteries, and stripping them off the harmful LDL cholesterol. It also helps in protecting from constipation, which is a common issue during pregnancy.
8. Maintains optimum balance of fluids
Fluids are an integral part of the body, as the body is made up of more than 90 % water. Couscous has a good amount of potassium, which is useful in regulating the fluids. This balance of fluids is useful in regulating the blood pressure, and reduces risks of heart attacks, strokes, atherosclerosis, etc. It is also useful in eliminating the toxins, and in regulating the excretory activities.
9. Improved metabolism
The high level of protein in couscous is useful in regulating the metabolic activities inside the body. Protein is essential for the growth and development of the foetus, especially, its nails, teeth, and other body organs.
10. Anti-bacterial properties
Couscous is also known to have some strong anti-bacterial properties, which can keep the infections at bay. A pregnant lady is more susceptible to infections, allergies and diseases. So, having couscous can keep her protected from getting herpes, cancers, shingles, and cold sores.
11. Energy giving food
A pregnant lady requires a lot of energy, and couscous is loaded with carbohydrates, which can give the required energy to the lady, to sustain herself and her growing foetus.
Though, couscous comprises mainly of carbs, it is a useful food item, which can be easily had during pregnancy. The various health benefits of this super food can make this food item to be a must-have during pregnancy. So, go ahead and get yourself a packet of couscous, and give your baby a healthy environment inside.
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References
http://www.zliving.com/food/food-drink/benefits-of-couscous-recipes-your-family-will-love
