Can you eat marshmallows when pregnant?
In this article we are going to answer can you eat marshmallows when pregnant, what are marshmallows, are marshmallows healthy to eat when pregnant, what happens if you overeat marshmallows and what sweet treats can you have when pregnant.
Can you eat marshmallows when pregnant?
Yes, you can eat marshmallows when pregnant but as with all candies, they need to be eaten in moderation. Marshmallows contain too much sugar and it can do you harm.
If you are craving just some marshmallows it is okay, but do not eat too much. If you have problems with rapid weight gain, gestational diabetes, or insulin resistance you should not eat jelly sweets at all.
You can look for sugar-free marshmallows for healthier options.
What are marshmallows?
Marshmallows are a type of confectionery sweet that is typically made from sugar, water, and gelatin. The ingredients are whipped to a solid-but-soft consistency. Marshmallows are usually used in baking as a filling or molded into shapes and coated with cornstarch or chocolate.
The name Marshmallow comes from the plant Althaea Officinalis, a herb native to some parts of Europe, North Africa, and Asia. It was the first part of the ingredients until candy makers began to replace the mallow root with gelatin which created a more stable form of marshmallow.
The main ingredients are 4, sugar, water, air, and a whipping agent that is usually a protein, for example, gelatin or egg whites. Sugar can be sucrose, corn syrup, or inverted sugar. Additional ingredients can be artificial flavors or acids.
Are marshmallows healthy to eat when pregnant?
No, according to the USDA and FDA, marshmallows are food with minimal nutritional value. The ingredients are made from having a zero nutritional impact. You need to avoid them as much as you can because they do not have vitamins or minerals to give some health benefits.
One regular marshmallow has 23 calories, 0 grams of fat, 5.8 mg of sodium, 0.4 mg of potassium, 5.9 grams of carbohydrates which are 4.1 grams are sugar, and 0.1 grams of protein.
The recommendation is to eat no more than 30 grams of sugar when pregnant, with just 5 marshmallows you eat 30 grams of sugar. Occasionally eating marshmallows won’t cause any harm, but regularly eating marshmallows can pose a health risk for pregnant women.
What happens if you overeat marshmallows?
Marshmallows contain excessive amounts of sugar. It can lead to rapid weight gain and more health complications. Some complications of rapid weight gain can be fatal for the baby and mom.
- Gestational Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Complications during birth
- Baby health
Gestational Diabetes
You can develop gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is a state where blood sugar is high and can’t be regulated by insulin. You may need to take medication and the mother can develop diabetes even after the baby is born.
High Blood pressure
Your body 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.
This is a table that can guide you on how much weight you should gain. Remember, that dieting while pregnant is very dangerous. It is very important to always include all food groups. Just limit your intake of sugar and junk food.
| BMI at beginning of pregnancy (kg/m2) | Recommended weight gain during pregnancy (kg) |
| 18.5 underweight | 12.5 -18.0 kg |
| 18.5 – 24.9 healthy | 11.15 – 16 kg |
| 25.0 -29.9 overweight | 7.0 – 11.5 kg |
| more than 30 overweight | 5.0 – 9.0 kg |
What sweet treats can you have when pregnant?
If you are craving something sweet try to stick to your healthy and balanced diet by adding some fruit, dark chocolate, or sugar-free marshmallows. Sugar can be a very dangerous ingredient so try to avoid it as much as you can.
Conclusion
This article answered can you eat marshmallows when pregnant, what are marshmallows, are marshmallows healthy to eat when pregnant, what happens if you overeat marshmallows and what sweet treats can you have when pregnant.
Citation
https://cen.acs.org/food/food-science/s-marshmallows-ingredients-work-together/99/web/2021/04
https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=diabetes-and-pregnancy-90-P02444
https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/burned-marshmallows-healthy-11886.html
