Pregnancy is a time when most women try to eat healthy. By consulting a professional dietician or by turning over the internet in search of new articles about nutritional value of obscure food items, women wish to reduce the risk and enhance the safety and security of the life that they wish to bring on board. There are new results of legitimate researches conducted on food items for their in-depth nutritional value, and a 2009 article suggests the watermelon rind benefits, especially on an expecting woman.

If you are on a spree of finding and enhancing your already healthy diet, here is a suggestion for you: eat the watermelon rind as well to enjoy even more nutrition from the fruit. The watermelon rind pregnancy benefits are immense, as they contain a host of vitamins and minerals which are necessary for the health of you and your baby.

Read More: Watermelon During Pregnancy: Must Have In Your Pregnancy Diet

What is watermelon rind?

If you are clueless as to what the rind is, it would help you to think of it in these terms: the part of the watermelon that you usually throw away after consuming the red, juicy portion is called the watermelon rind. Research suggests that it is perfectly edible and has a host of vitamins like A, B6 and C, which can be handy for the human body, especially for a pregnant woman. The fact that it is low in calories is an added advantage. You could make a tasty watermelon rind pickle with avocados, or consume it in the form of juice or a smoothie to reduce the ick factor of consuming the rind.

Are there any side effects to consuming watermelon rind?

Clearly the watermelon rind is not generally considered to be a part of the diet, as they are generally discarded during the consumption of the fruit. It is therefore logical to consider the possible watermelon rind pregnancy side effects before incorporating it into your routine. Some of these risks are listed below:

• If excessively consumed, the diuretic properties of watermelon may work against you, by flushing out essential nutrients from the body through urine.
• When consumed in excess, watermelon rind pregnancy side-effects include a higher risk of d developing gestational diabetes.
• If the watermelon was not fresh, consumption of the rind could trigger nausea and vomiting, something that pregnant women are particularly prone to.

Precautions to be taken

The side effects of watermelon rind may be neutralized by taking certain steps. They are given as follows:

• While including watermelon rind may be beneficial, consuming it in excessive proportions may adversely affect your well-being. Make sure that you consume it in regular, but small portions.
• You need to make sure the watermelon from which you procure the rind is fresh and not rotten or stale.
• Consuming the watermelon rind during pregnancy may trigger nausea and vomiting. It is best to consume it in the form of smoothies, juices or watermelon rind pickles to make sure that it does down in a smooth manner.

9 Amazing Health Benefits of Watermelon Rind During Pregnancy

If you are unaware of the watermelon rind as an edible product, chances are that you do not know about its many advantages either. There are surprising benefits to consuming the watermelon rind especially by a woman who is expecting to be a mother. Some of these benefits are listed below:

Relief from heart burn

In a woman expecting to be a mother soon, various bodily changes may result in difficulty while digesting food. Acidity and heart burns are common symptoms, the risk of which may be reduced by the regular consumption of watermelon rind during the period of pregnancy.

Reduces muscle cramps

If there is a painful symptom that women face during their pregnancy, it is the occurrence of muscle cramps. There is no immediate relief to these cramps which may occur anytime, in any of the muscles of the body. The watermelon rind benefits include a reduced risk and frequency of muscle cramps during this time which is uncomfortable in its own right.

Reduces swelling in the feet and ankles

Oedema is a condition that most pregnant women are familiar with. The additional weight and erratic hormone often cause swelling in the limbs, which can be kept in check with the watermelon rind pregnancy benefits.

Helps hydrate

Keeping the body hydrated is a constant necessity during pregnancy for it reduces risk of several other recurring symptoms. Drinking too much water may be uncomfortable. In that case, watermelon rind may come in handy, as they have a huge percentage of water in their nutritional content.

Read More: How Much Water Should You Drink in a Day During Pregnancy?

Helps against morning sickness

One of the most uncomfortable aspects of pregnancy is morning sickness. Watermelon rind pregnancy benefits make sure you can keep food down without the urge to throw up frequently.

Prevents heat rashes

With a foetus growing inside of you, the body temperature is bound to be high, which in turn may cause heat rashes. Watermelon rind can help prevent that when administered in the right way.

Boosts immunity

Generally, watermelon rind benefits include the boosting of immunity power of the body. This is particularly essential when a woman is pregnant.

Helps in femur bone formation

Watermelon rind can help in the bone formation of your foetus when your child is developing his or her skeletal system.

Read More: 21 Foods for Maintaining Your Bone Health and Prevent Bone Loss

Negates Urinary Tract Infection

UTIs are a dangerous and painful threat to a pregnant woman, but it can be easily taken care of with the regular consumption of watermelon rind that can prevent it from occuring.

The healthy advice that asks you to eat fruits during your pregnancy goes a step further with regard to the watermelon, asking you to consume the rind as well to boost watermelon rind pregnancy benefits, by enriching your body in essential vitamins and minerals.

References:

https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/benefits-of-eating-watermelon-during-pregnancy/

http://parenting.firstcry.com/articles/watermelon-in-pregnancy-is-it-safe-to-eat/?amp