Pregnancy is a special and a very delicate phase in any woman’s life. During pregnancy, the expecting mother should be very careful with her eating habits. It is believed that following a Mediterranean diet during pregnancy can have a positive effect on the body of the expecting mother and her growing baby. Mediterranean diet is the one that is influenced by the eating habits of Italy and Greece citizens. One of the health benefits of a Mediterranean diet is that it can reduce the risk of gestational diabetes. The typical Mediterranean diet includes the consumption of fruits, vegetables, nuts, olive oil, fish, and whole grains. Some other benefits of following the Mediterranean diet during pregnancy are as follows.

Prevents gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes causes high blood sugar that occurs during pregnancy. The symptoms of this problem are tiredness, dry mouth, and increased thirst. This disease can again cause other health problems like the formation of too much amniotic fluid in the womb of a pregnant woman. This can further prompt premature labor. Researchers have shown that if the pregnant woman consumes a Mediterranean diet then this condition can be avoided. This is because the Mediterranean diet is full of nuts, olive oil, fruits, and unrefined grains. This is considered as one of the main health benefits of a Mediterranean diet for pregnant women.

Less weight gain during pregnancy
It is seen that a pregnant woman who follows a Mediterranean diet tends to gain less weight during her course of pregnancy as compared to others who follow a regular style of eating. This is one of the top health benefits of a Mediterranean diet. This diet reduces the intake of sugars and animal fat, which keeps the body weight in control. The more the woman experiences pregnancy weight gain, the more she is likely to get affected by other problems like thyroid, hypertension, and high blood pressure.

Helps in avoiding allergic diseases
In a Mediterranean diet, you have to consume moderate amounts of fish, dairy products, poultry, eggs, and red meat. Such food items help the body of the pregnant woman to combat allergies. If the pregnant woman develops the risk of allergies, then she might face challenges during breastfeeding. An allergic mother breastfeeding the newborn can cause the baby to catch allergies and flu as well. Hence, allergy avoidance can be considered as one of the indirect health benefits of a Mediterranean diet for a pregnant woman.

Helps in controlling pregnancy complication like pre-eclampsia
Pre-eclampsia is a complication that affects multiple organs. This can cause a higher risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease in both mother and baby. Women who follow the Mediterranean diet eat more nuts, olive oil, fruits, and unrefined grains. This can help the mother maintain healthy body weight and also helps in the reduction of bloating during pregnancy.

The health benefits of a Mediterranean diet can be experienced by pregnant women if she uses extra virgin olive oil in all her meals. Following the Mediterranean diet has been correlated with preventing problems like heart disease, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure too.