In this article we are going to answer: can you eat Irish soda bread when pregnant, what Irish soda bread is, whether Irish soda bread is healthy to eat when pregnant, what happens if you eat too much Irish Soda Bread, and how to add Irish Soda Bread to my healthy diet.
Can you eat Irish soda bread when pregnant?
Yes, you can eat Irish Soda Bread when pregnant. It is a very healthy bread to eat when pregnant because it doesn’t have a lot of sugar in it. You can make it with raising and whole wheat to make it healthier.
Irish Soda Bread has low sodium in it, you need to eat it in moderation if you have high blood pressure problems or preeclampsia. Remember, you can’t consume more than 1500 mg of sodium with these conditions when pregnant.
What is Irish Soda Bread?
Irish Soda Bread is a type of bread most famously attributed to Ireland where it was first created by Native Americans. The history of this bread started in the 1830s when baking soda or bicarbonate soda was first introduced.
It is made with 4 basic ingredients: soft wheat flour, salt, baking soda, and sour milk (buttermilk). The mix of baking soda and buttermilk acts like yeast.
It has a unique taste of soda because of the reaction of acidic sour milk and baking soda, which form small bubbles of carbon dioxide in the dough.
Basic ingredients remain the same but there are some variations of Irish Soda Bread that add raisins, caraway seeds, and honey. There are also some people that add grains, and flavorings like cream of tartar, orange zest, oats, herbs, and walnuts.
Is Irish Soda Bread healthy to eat when pregnant?
Irish Soda Bread can be considered a healthy bread because it doesn’t have any sugar in the recipe. There are some variations that add sugar but the original recipe is healthy. You can make it healthier if you bake or buy Irish Soda bread made with wholemeal instead of white flour.
You can add Irish Soda Bread to your healthy, balanced diet. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. A few nutrients need special attention during pregnancy, like folic acid, calcium, vitamin D, and omega 3 fatty acids.
- Ideally, 2 servings of fruit and 5 servings of vegetables every day
- Increase your intake of whole grains and cereal foods. Choose high fiber options
- Milk, hard cheese, and yogurt are great options because they are high calcium foods.
- Choose low-fat options and good fats: fats from vegetable sources like almonds, olive oil, and avocado.
- Choose lean proteins and choose low mercury fish options.
- Drink plenty of water
- Always stay active
Weight gain should be closely monitored because the mother and baby’s health depends on it.
What happens if I eat too much Irish Soda Bread when pregnant?
Too much Irish Soda Bread can lead to rapid weight gain. If you gain too much weight during pregnancy there are several complications mom and baby can suffer.
- Gestational Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Complications during birth
- Baby health
Gestational Diabetes
You can develop gestational diabetes, you may need to take medication and the mother can develop diabetes even after the baby is born.
High Blood pressure
You can develop eclampsia and preeclampsia. Both can lead to mother and baby complications and even death.
Complications during birth
If you gain too much weight it’s more likely that you end up in cesarean because vaginal birth tends to be more difficult with excess weight. Also, babies of mothers who gain too much weight are usually bigger.
Baby health
Moms that gain too much weight tend to have babies with high birth weight and these babies have more risk of being obese and developing diabetes when older.
How can I add Irish Soda Bread to my diet when pregnant?
Irish Soda Bread is part of almost every meal of Irish families. You can add it as a side of your favorite meal, you can eat it with some jam, jello, or butter, or eat it with your favorite cheese and ham. It can also be accompanied by a hearty stew or with your favorite coffee or tea.
Other FAQs about Bread that you may be interested in.
Can you cook garlic bread in the air fryer
Conclusion
This article answered Can you eat Irish soda bread when pregnant, what Irish soda bread is, is Irish soda bread healthy to eat when pregnant, what happens if you eat too much Irish Soda Bread, and how to add Irish Soda Bread to my healthy diet.
Citation
https://www.prima.co.uk/diet-and-health/healthy-living/news/a29862/best-bread-to-eat/
https://www.today.com/food/irish-soda-bread-not-actually-irish-1d80357685
https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/262532/irish-soda-bread-with-raisins/
