Pregnant women must always pay attention to their food intake, from its cleanliness to nutritional value. Besides being able to support the development of the fetus, intake of vitamins and minerals can also help maintain the health of the mother. Both of these nutrients can be obtained from fruits.

Fruits are known for their nutrients which are good for the body. Consuming fruit during pregnancy is also highly recommended to help maintain the health of the fetus. Not only that, consuming fruits during pregnancy is also known to improve the cognitive function of the baby. This claim is further supported by the results of a recent study published in the PLUS ONE journal. Researchers found that high fruit intake during pregnancy can have a significant positive impact on children's cognitive function.

Using a mammalian model, the researchers replicated the effects found in humans to find out more about the role of fruit intake on children's cognitive abilities. The researchers found that children born to mothers who consume fruits have a better cognitive function, especially in memory abilities. The results of this study reinforce the results of a previous study published in the EBioMedicine journal in 2016.

In the previous article, we explained more about the kinds of fruits recommended during pregnancy, such as apricots, oranges, mangoes, pomegranates, avocados, bananas, and apples. These fruits are known to be rich in vitamins and minerals that are good for fetal health. Vitamins A, C, E, and K have a role in helping the process of growth and development of the fetus during pregnancy. In addition, minerals such as calcium, iron, and magnesium can also help maintain the health of your baby.

Text by Anggie Triana
Stock photos from Google Search Images

Source(s):

• Flanagan-R.W., Scavuzzo, C., Mandhane, P.J., et al (2020). Prenatal fruit juice exposure enhances memory consolidation in male post-weanling Sprague-Dawley rats. PLOS ONE, DOI: https: ttps: //doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0227938.
• Bolduc, F.V>, Rosenfelt, C.S., Langer, S., et al (2016). Cognitive Enhancement in Infants Associated with Increased Maternal Fruit Intake During Pregnancy: Results from a Birth Cohort Study with Validation in an Animal Model. EBioMedicine, DOI: 10.1016 / j.ebiom.2016.04.025.
• Science Daily - DOes consuming fruit during pregnancy improve cognition in babies? (2020). https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200304141703.htm, 11 March 2020.