Pregnant women should eat more chocolate, a study suggests

‘Pregnant women eat chocolate!’ announced news headlines last year. These articles described a study that found eating chocolate daily could benefit your unborn baby!

Given the lengthy list of foods women are told to avoid during pregnancy – including seafood, soft cheese, and alcohol – this news is likely warmly welcomed by moms-to-be. Plus, most women love chocolate! 

So, is it safe to eat chocolate during pregnancy second trimester? Can I eat chocolate cake during pregnancy? Read and you’ll find out. 

Can I eat chocolate when pregnant?

Chocolate – particularly dark chocolate – contains flavonoids. This is a naturally occurring compound that is rich in antioxidants. Flavonoids are part of the polyphenol – a type of phytochemical – family.

Many foods such as vegetables, berries, red wine, and green tea contain flavonoids. Flavonoids are known for lowering the risk for heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and other common diseases.

The study presented to the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine concluded that eating chocolate every day has positive effects on a pregnant mom’s fetal growth and development. This is because flavonoids in chocolate improve blood flow in the mother’s body.

Is dark chocolate good for pregnancy? A specific class of flavanols found in chocolate has been linked to a decreased risk of heart problems and high cholesterol. Darker chocolate contains a higher amount of flavanols.

Increased blood flow helps the placenta to develop and function normally. This should result in a good outcome for the pregnancy.

Benefits of eating chocolate for mommy and baby

For Mommy:

• A 2010 study found that regularly indulging in chocolate can significantly reduce prenatal hypertension and preeclampsia risk. 

Consuming chocolate throughout the first and third trimesters of pregnancy was associated with a lower risk of preeclampsia in a study of over 2,000 pregnancies, but only the first trimester was associated with a lower risk of gestational hypertension. 

• Magnesium, copper, and iron are among the minerals present in dark chocolate.
• Dark chocolate also contains antioxidants, which are good for everyone’s health, not just for pregnant women.
• One 2018 study found that eating dark chocolate every day for eight days improved various indicators of brain function in comparison to a control group.

For Baby:

• Two groups of pregnant women participated in a study in 2016 where participants consumed 30 grams of chocolate per day for 12 weeks (that must have been a challenging study to participate in, right?). 

Both groups—one consuming low flavanol chocolate and the other high flavanol chocolate—exhibited improved blood flow to the fetus during their ultrasounds.

• A study discovered that eating chocolate may make newborns have “sweeter” temperaments, lending scientific support to your grandmother’s tales about your growing tummy. 

In a study involving roughly 300 mothers, those who consumed chocolate frequently believed their 6-month-olds had more positive attitudes.

Can I eat chocolate when pregnant: What is ‘too much’?

But Dr. Robyn Horsager-Boehrer from UT Southwestern says it is important to look a little closer at the details of this study.

She points out that the study did not examine whether chocolate itself was good for pregnant women and their babies.

“I am also specifically concerned about when pregnant women should eat chocolate.”  Are there possible negative effects of eating dark chocolate during the third trimester?

“Doctors have known for a long time that anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen can cause pulmonary hypertension in pregnant women. So, we caution expectant moms not to take them, especially in the third trimester,” says Dr Robyn.

Is dark chocolate good for pregnancy? 

Dr. Robyn says that food rich in polyphenols (such as dark chocolate) can also trigger this condition.

Healthline says you can have chocolate—especially dark chocolate—in moderation throughout your pregnancy. The benefits, which may include lowering blood pressure, reducing the risk of specific issues, and improving blood flow to the mother and the unborn child, are fairly well established.

Although there is some evidence that chocolate consumption rises during the third trimester, this evidence is insufficient for medical professionals to advise against it.

Last but not least, while expecting, you may want to monitor your total caffeine and sugar intake and ensure that eating chocolate is included in those totals.

Can I eat chocolate when pregnant in the third trimester?

Though researchers are unsure of the ramifications, the positive relationship between chocolate and blood flow may present more of a problem throughout the third trimester.

A 2014 study looked at chocolate intake throughout the third trimester. It was determined that the baby’s ductus arteriosus could suffer negative impacts from late pregnancy (DA). The DA, a vital blood vessel for fetal development, disappears shortly after birth.

Researchers essentially advised women to exercise caution while ingesting chocolate during this stage of pregnancy because its anti-inflammatory properties might work against them.

Can I eat chocolate when pregnant?: Knowing what’s moderate

Robyn concludes that expectant moms can eat a little chocolate early in their pregnancy. As the study concludes, it can benefit your blood flow and, therefore, your baby.

“And, when you get to your third trimester, talk to your doctor about whether you should scale back on your chocolate consumption,” she says.

Also, remember that chocolate doesn’t have much nutritional value. So you never want to go overboard with it.

If you’re going to have chocolate during pregnancy, here are 6 things to remember:

1. Keep it pure. Can I eat chocolate cake during pregnancy?

If you want chocolate, have chocolate not a chocolate cake.  This gives the intense chocolate flavor without the extra calories and unhealthy fats

2. Opt for dark. Is dark chocolate good for pregnancy?

The darker the chocolate, the more flavonoids (and usually less sugar) it contains.  This is the stuff that is rich in antioxidants.

3. Think bite-size

30 grams a day is a bite-size amount of chocolate. Remember moderation is key.

4. Savor it

Slow down and enjoy it instead of gobbling it down on the go. This maximizes the pleasure of eating it and stops you from overeating.

Republished with permission from theAsianparent Singapore

Additional information from Margaux Dolores

Here at theAsianparent Philippines, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advise or medical treatment. theAsianparent Philippines is not responsible to those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend to consult your doctor for clearer information.