Should pregnant women drink cocoa?

Should pregnant women drink cocoa or not? Cocoa powder is always considered a healthy drink, with a delicious and sweet taste that not only appeals to children but even adults are also attracted by that sweet taste. However, in case you are pregnant or breastfeeding, should you drink cocoa?

First, to answer the question "should pregnant women drink cocoa or not". Let's learn together a health effect of cocoa.

- Antioxidant. Hot cocoa contains most of the antioxidants found in green tea, black tea and red wine, the researchers say. This substance will prevent free radicals. Thereby slowing down the aging process, prolonging life.

Very rich in flavonoids. This is an active ingredient that helps the body process nitric oxide. Support to improve blood flow, reduce blood pressure, help protect the "health" of the heart.

- High nutrition. Cocoa is considered by some researchers as a new vitamin. Helps keep the body healthy through positive effects on the heart and blood circulation system.

- Energy drinks. When you feel tired, you can drink a cup of hot cocoa. You will be “charged” immediately. At the same time, drinking cocoa before bed can help you fall asleep easier.

Pregnant women should drink cocoa or not?

Although it is a very nutritious drink. However, the caffeine content in this drink is a problem that pregnant women need to pay attention to. So how much should caffeine be limited?

In one survey, researchers found that women who consumed more than 200 mg of caffeine per day were twice as likely to have a miscarriage than women who did not consume caffeine. And this is widely publicized in the media from 2008 until now.

Some other studies have shown that when pregnant women consume too much caffeine during pregnancy, the baby will be born with low birth weight, faster heart rate and breathing rate. And often babies are startled in the first days after birth. Caffeine is a stimulant. Has the ability to cause insomnia, increase heart rate, promote gastric acid secretion, leading to the occurrence of heartburn. The same is true for newborns, so you need to limit your caffeine intake while breastfeeding, especially in the first few months.

Back to the caffeine in cocoa. 10g of pure cocoa powder (equivalent to making 1 cup of cocoa) contains about 8 milligrams of caffeine (According to data from the United States Department of Agriculture). In 1 cup of coffee contains about 160 milligrams of caffeine (about 20 times more than cocoa).

So with very low caffeine content in cocoa like this. Pregnant women can fully enjoy cocoa-based beverages during pregnancy, but should not drink much. Especially should not drink cocoa with too much sweetener.

According to a report in the journal New Scientist, pregnant women who regularly eat dark chocolate (with over 70% pure cocoa content) during pregnancy also bring many other positive health benefits. Reducing the risk of preeclampsia, stabilizing blood pressure, reducing stress, etc.

In short, the answer to the question "should pregnant women drink cocoa or not" is yes. However, you should not drink too much in a day!