Craving olives in pregnancy is common among ladies, but are olives good for pregnancy? The good news is that pregnant women can enjoy olives, but some points need to be considered before including them in your diet. Do you want to learn all about olives and pregnancy?
This article on Hipregnancy covers the top points a pregnant lady should know about olives. If ready, Let’s get started to find out the benefits and side effects of olives during pregnancy.
Can pregnant women eat olives?
Olives are nutritious options for pregnant women but should be taken in moderate quantities. You should consider some points if you want to include olives in your pregnancy diet.
You should avoid consuming traditionally cured olives from a deli or olives served from an open container. Instead, you can consume heat-treated olives, olives in brine, and olives from can, tin, or jar. Do you want to know what olives use in pregnancy? Let us tell you.
Olives can be added to pizza, salads, bread, and hot foods like pasta. To prepare such foods, you should use canned or jarred olives, which should be heated enough to be safe for pregnant ladies.
In sum, it is considered safe to eat olives in pregnancy, and heat-treated olives and the types in brine are the best choices for pregnant ladies.
Also Read: can you eat pineapple while pregnant
Nutritional value of olives
The following table shows the nutritional value of 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of rip, canned olives, including;
| Nutrition | Amount |
| Calories | 116cal |
| Carbs | 6 grams |
| Protein | 0.8 grams |
| Sugar | 0 grams |
| Fiber | 1.6 grams |
| Fat | 10.9 grams 2.3 grams Saturated 7.7 grams Monounsaturated0.6 grams Polyunsaturated |
If ready, let’s continue to learn why you should eat olives in pregnancy. The following part discusses the health benefits of olives for pregnant ladies. [ 1: healthline ]
Also Read: watermelon for pregnant
8 Benefits of olives during pregnancy
Olives and pregnancy can be good friends if you eat moderate amounts of heated or canned olives. The followings are some top health benefits of eating olives in pregnancy, including;
- Strengthening the immune system; olives are packed with vitamins A and E that give them antioxidant properties; therefore, eating olives during pregnancy helps boost immunity.
- Preventing anemia; olives contain high amounts of iron, which can prevent anemia while pregnant.
- Preventing cancer; oleic acid and antioxidant properties of olives make them good options to reduce the risk of stomach, breast, and colon cancers by killing cancer-causing cells in pregnant women’s bodies.
- Regulating high blood pressure; olives contain oleic acid, which can boost cardiovascular health, reduces LDL levels, and reduce the risk of hypertension.
- Improving gut health; consuming pickled olives in pregnancy provides probiotic qualities that can increase the amounts of beneficial enzymes and bacteria to improve gut health.
- Controlling gestational diabetes; monosaturated fat and antioxidants found in olives can decrease the risk of gestational diabetes by controlling and managing blood sugar levels.
- Boosting bone health; eating olives during pregnancy can minimize the risk of osteoporosis by increasing the number of osteoblasts; this is related to the polyphenol content of olives.
- Keeping in a healthy weight; olives are loaded with monosaturated fatty acids that can increase good cholesterol levels and decrease the chance of being overweight during pregnancy.
Also Read: avocado while pregnant
Black olives in pregnancy
Black olives are developed green olives that have been allowed to fully ripen and turn black on the tree before harvesting. They are often cured in brine and used in pizza, sandwiches, and salads.
According to studies, it is safe to consume black olives in pregnancy if canned or heat-treated. It is good to know that it is safe to eat black olives in early pregnancy, and they won’t risk your health and the developing fetus in the womb.
Black olives are healthy options high in fiber, healthy fats, antioxidants, vital minerals, and vitamins, all needed to support a healthy pregnancy. To conclude, consume moderate amounts of black olives during pregnancy.
Also Read: cherries while pregnant
Kalamata olives in pregnancy
Kalamata olives are considered the kings of olives. They are almond-shaped with deep purple skin. Kalamata olives are often used in Italian cuisine like pizza, and can be consumed during pregnancy if properly cooked.
These large olives are high in iron, calcium, healthy fats, and antioxidants, making them healthy options for pregnant women. Moreover, Kalamata olives are low in calories and help to keep you your weight in a healthy range.
You can easily find Kalamata olives on the market as they are the most common varieties available. Although they are pregnancy-safe foods, Hipregnancy recommends you consult your doctor before eating olives in pregnancy to know how much should be included in your diet.
Also Read: Monk Fruit During Pregnancy
Craving olives during pregnancy, boy or girl
You may wonder, why do I crave olives during pregnancy? can craving olives indicate my baby’s gender?
You should know that no scientific evidence supports the idea that craving olives in pregnancy can tell you are carrying a baby girl or boy. But it is not the end of the story! There is old wives’ tale about craving olives and pregnancy.
Old wives’ tale says that craving salty foods such as olives can indicate you are carrying a baby boy. We can’t tell you that this claim is true since no scientific evidence supports it.
So, if you want to know your baby’s gender, you should visit your doctor to find out the sex of your baby via ultrasound. It is an accurate way to predict your baby’s gender.
4 Side effects of eating olives in pregnancy
Although olives are beneficial for pregnant ladies, they may sometime harm you. The followings are some side effects of consuming olives during pregnancy, including;
- Consuming excessive amounts of salted olives during pregnancy can cause hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.
- Eating no heat-treated olives from a deli or served from open containers can increase the risk of food poisoning, followed by preterm labor, low birth weight, and even miscarriage.
- Olives may contain heavy metals due to environmental pollution. Consuming such olives in pregnancy can cause various health issues.
- In some pregnant ladies, olives may cause allergic reactions, including vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, and nausea.
Is olive oil good in pregnancy?
Olive oil is a healthy option for pregnant women if taken in moderation, and provides the following benefits;
- Minimizing the chance of gestational diabetes
- Improving baby’s brain and nervous system development
- Reducing wheezing in the baby’s first year
Add olive oil to dressings, sauces, salads, and veggies. Moreover, you can use olive oil to promote skin health by hydrating your skin, reducing acne, irritation, and rashes on the skin. If you are concerned about how to use olive oil during pregnancy, talk to your healthcare provider.
Conclusion
Olives are tasty option to include in several meals like salads, pizza, bread, etc. Consuming olives in pregnancy is considered safe, but some points should be considered. The best choices for pregnant ladies are canned and heat-treated olives.
This article on Hipregnancy provided the top points about olives and pregnancy. Hope you enjoyed it. If still, any questions need to be answered about olives during pregnancy, share them with us via comment.
The Hipregnancy team is always here to help you!
FAQ
Is olive safe during first trimester?
It is safe to consume olives during pregnancy first trimester, but they should be heat-treated to reduce the chance of food poisoning.
