Picture this. It is late in the evening, dinner is done and you are sitting comfortably watching TV, feet up. Baby is kicking vigorously in your tummy.
Suddenly, and out of the blue, you are craving and craving for…durians!! But mmm, can pregnant women eat durian?
Lucky for you, it’s that time of the year again. The fruits are bountiful, choices are ripe and variety aplenty. Drop by your favourite stall and go for it, I say.
The main question for all expecting mothers is ‘can pregnant women eat durian’ despite all the cravings, but before we go into detail, here are a few fun facts about durian for your knowledge.
FUN FACTS: Durians 101
Over the years, this delicious fruit has got some bad press. While its loyalists need no convincing, others may be wondering if the durian, deliciousness aside, is worth its bite.
With that, we decided to delve into its fleshy goodness to see if the nay-sayers are right, or if the durian is more than meets the eye.
Expecting and lactating Mums, we have also got you covered. To know more, read on.
It’s The Season
The Malaysian Durian season runs roughly from April right up to September every year.
June and July are the durian’s most prolific months, with the season tapering around September.
So, if you are hankering for a taste of that creamy, delicious fruit, now is the time to go out and get them.
With the rising fame of durian, global demand for the fruit has skyrocketed in recent times. COVID-19 however, has put a damper on demand since, with borders shut around the world, exports have fallen.
This translates into more goodies for us on the home front!
Durian stalls are popping up like never before, all around town. Customers are spoilt for choices with the staggering variety on offer.
With the market flush with the fruit, you can get more bang for your buck, when you hone your bargaining skills and get the best price for your heart’s desire.
Yummy, Yummy In My Tummy
Mums out there, deliciousness aside, is the durian good for you? Can pregnant women eat durian? And, what about lactating mothers?
The short answer is a resounding YES to all questions!
Fear not, durians are perfectly safe to eat during pregnancy, when consumed in moderation.
Hang on though, the durian is not only yummy, it also has a fascinating nutritional backstory. To know more, so you can eat the fruit without worry or guilt, read on.
Yin & Yang of Food
In Chinese culture, foods are categorised into heaty, cooling or neutral foods.
It is believed that consuming too much of either heaty or cooling foods upsets the constitution of the body, and can bring about illness.
To be in the pink of health, you will need to delicately balance your consumption of heaty and cooling foods to achieve an equilibrium. Neutral foods can be consumed all the time.
In Malaysia, that is like walking a tightrope, because, let’s face it, the Malaysian food scene is a riot of choice, styles and preparations.
Looking at the above image, durians fall into the heaty category. To ensure you maintain the equilibrium, one option would be to pair your durians with mangosteens. Most durian stalls also sell mangosteens alongside durians.
Variety
In pregnancy, whether it is your first or subsequent ones, your body experiences a lot of changes. Sometimes those changes affect taste buds and you may find your usual bevvy of favourites unappetising.
With this in mind, your favourite durian may also not be up to par. You could be put off by its overpowering smell or prefer not to eat it as a fruit. But you may be still hankering for a taste of its creamy goodness.
Not to worry, the durian is a very versatile fruit and can be made to suit any taste and fancy.
-
Some Like It Hot
One of the best ways to have it hot is in the form of Pengat Durian. It is akin to the Pengat Pisang, but with durian instead of pisang in it. T
he soup should be served steaming hot. It makes a nice ending to a meal, or alternatively, served on its own, perhaps at teatime.
You can hunt it down at local haunts or try making it yourself if you would like to challenge your culinary skills.
Alternatively, you could have durian with pulut rice, which is a variation of the more common, mango sticky rice. Have it as a snack or a dessert, if you like.
In some cultures, durian flesh is cooked with white rice and then eaten with dishes, as a savoury accompaniment.
Try one or all, in your own time.
As pregnancy advances, and your baby grows, your uterus will push up against your stomach, sometimes making eating a challenge, since you will satiate very quickly.
If you are not able to stomach whole servings of these rich offerings, consider snacking on samplers of them. Daddy-to-be can help finish the rest if you are unable to do so.
-
Some Like It Cold
Pregnancies flush your body with hormones. These hormones, along with the little one, can raise your body temperature, making you feel hot and sweaty all the time. This can exacerbate as your pregnancy progresses.
That being case, hot desserts are out of the question!
The durian is such a versatile fruit, you can do almost anything with it. Satisfy your cravings with a scoop, or two, of durian ice cream.
Sample durian macarons, durian cendol, or those delicate, but delicious durian crepes, for variety.
Stick containers of them in the fridge, and snack on bulbs of them, when cravings strike. The durian is such a filling fruit, it can keep you feeling fuller for longer.
Health Benefits – Here comes the answer to ‘can pregnant women eat durian?’
This thorny fruit contains a treasure trove of health benefits, hitherto unknown.
The Institute of Bioproduct Development at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia has done an interesting study on the Nutritional Contents and Benefits of Durian.
The study makes a fascinating read, and if you might like to know more about our delectable treasure, just click the link and read all about it.
Chockfull Of Vitamins
Contrary to popular opinion, the durian is chockfull of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Additionally, it also contains protein, carbohydrates, and fibre.
Dare I say it, the durian looks like a whole food.
But, can pregnant women eat durian?
For expectant Mums, durians, in moderation would be good for baby, and good for you. The same would also apply to lactating Mums.
Some Mums make meal exchanges when they feel a durian craving coming on. Instead of overeating, they eat the durian as a meal onto itself.
The creamy food satisfies and satiates. If this is made as an occasion rather than the norm, it should be alright.
Keeping Mummy And Baby Healthy
Parsing through the list of vitamins, minerals and nutrients, here is a breakdown of the goodies found in the tasty durian.
-
Folic Acid And Iron
Folic acid and iron are crucial to a foetus’ development.
Folic acid helps tissue growth and aids in the development of the baby’s brain, spine and neural tube, thus preventing spina bifida or anencephaly.
Iron is also important for both Mummy and baby since it is the building block required for blood production.
When pregnant, your body needs to produce about 50% more blood. In addition to that, iron is also used to make blood for the baby’s own circulatory system.
An iron deficiency can cause anemia.
Mild anemia could cause fatigue, weakness and headaches, among other symptoms.
If the condition is not treated and becomes severe, it could trigger premature birth, low birth weight, or even infant fatality.
-
Calcium and Potassium
If iron is the building block for blood, these two are building blocks for bones.
While our bones comprise mostly of calcium, potassium is a key player in its distribution. It also keeps that calcium locked tightly in your bones, among its many benefits.
-
Tryptophan
Durians contain tryptophan which is an amino acid. Tryptophan is needed to increase the levels of serotonin and melatonin, which are hormones.
These three aid sleep and sleep-wake cycles. Sleep, as you know, is very important for good health. This is even more so with a baby on the way.
-
Fibre
There is nothing like being regular if you know what I mean.
Some expectant Mummies breeze through pregnancy without any problems. However, there is a good number out there who come down with constipation.
Filling up on fibre is a good aid in resolving that problem, in addition to drinking lots of water and liquids.
Fibre also works to keep that rumble in your tummy contained.
Hunger can be a constant in some pregnancies. Satiate it with whole foods, which include whole grains, yoghurt, nuts, and of course, fruit.
Durian flesh is creamy, filling and satisfying. A little may be sufficient to satiate your hunger pangs.
Caloric Count
The durian is chockfull of goodness but there is one disadvantage to it, and it is a pretty big one.
Brace yourself!
It is a high-calorie food.
So if you are watching your weight, whether pregnant or otherwise, you will have to watch how much you consume.
Generally, being overweight is not good for health and, being overweight in pregnancy may bring about complications.
The same also applies if you are underweight. In fact, when it comes to weight, the Goldilocks Theorem applies, it must be just right!
By all means, have your tasty treat, but in moderation.
Looking on the bright side, the durian contains no cholesterol.
One Last Thing
The only constant in pregnancy is change.
Some may be able to gasak anything and everything, and be as fine as a fiddle.
Other expectant Mums, may face digestion issues. While studies have found that durians aid digestion, things may not be plain sailing during pregnancy.
To make sure you do not overstretch your tummy, a word to the wise, go slow.
The durian wins hands down as a beneficial food, but only when taken in moderation, whether within or outside pregnancy.