There are so many yes’s and no’s during the fertility, pregnancy and postpartum phase of life for women.
But have you heard about the one food item that has plenty of health benefits?
Turns out, consuming dates could be the secret food you need to help in that final stage before meeting your newborn!
What are the general health benefits of dates?
They are full of fiber and macronutrients.
In my interview with Dr. Sylvie Royston, she discusses dates in depth and how they positively impact your blood sugar. Read about it here.
How can you incorporate dates into your days?
Sharing some of my favorite recipes:
- Adding 1 or 2 in the blender with a protein powder and Malk almond milk
- Slicing and stuffing dates with Fage Greek yogurt + cinnamon sprinkle
- Mashing and making refrigerated protein balls with your flour of choice, dairy of choice, spices, and powdered peanut butter
- Just as is! An easy grab and go snack that is flavorful + filling
What is my favorite brand of dates?
Joolies organic medjool dates (pit-free). They are soft and fresh tasting. Nutrition wise 2-3 equals 110 calories, about 30 carbs with 3 grams of fiber.
I had the opportunity to interview Tyler Kist, DPT, on the topic of dates + labor.
How do dates play a role when it comes to labor?
“Consuming 6-8 dates per day nearing the 36th week of pregnancy has been proven to help soften the cervix and help with labor,” Kist said.
What benefits can you expect from eating dates?
- “This can help with reducing the need for induction,
- can speed up the time of active labor, and
- can help with digestion which will help with energy during the labor process,” he continued.
In addition to dates, I was curious if there any other foods that have also been known to provide labor and delivery benefits.
“Raspberry leaf tea can help with increasing blood flow to the uterus which has been known to help with contractions,” Kist said.
If your nutrition and dietary guidelines allow for it and you enjoy dates, I would certainly try incorporating dates in that final month of pregnancy.
There’s so much going on with moms and their bodies. I think most would agree that labor is always a big question mark. Anything we can safely incorporate to ease that process is such a positive.
This website does not provide medical advice. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It is for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of a medical professional or other qualified health care provider on any health matter or question.