Carbohydrates are essential for the baby's development during pregnancy, as they provide energy and nutrition. This energy is required for a variety of processes during pregnancy, including the development of the baby's tissue, the increase of the mother's blood volume, and the preparation for childbirth.

Carbohydrates are converted into glucose within the body, serving as a source of energy for both physical and cerebral cells. Nevertheless, it is important to be aware that the excessive consumption of carbohydrates may negatively impact the health of pregnant women.

The impacts of excessive carbohydrate consumption

Consuming an excessive amount of carbohydrates, particularly from added sugars and starches, can lead to numerous health problems, such as:

Promotes metabolic imbalance

Consuming carbohydrates, particularly simple carbs, during pregnancy can lead to a significant increase in blood sugar levels. Therefore, the insulin hormone, which is responsible for controlling blood sugar levels, may experience imbalances.

Increases the risk of significant weight gain

Healthy weight gain during pregnancy helps the baby grow and develop. The recommended weight gain is dependent on the body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy.

Weight gain recommendations for pregnant women are generally as follows:

• Normal BMI (18.5-24.9): around 11.5-16 kg
• BMI below normal (less than 8.5): around 13–18 kg
• BMI above normal (25-29.9): around 7-11.5 kg
• BMI over 30 (obesity): around 5–9 kilograms

During pregnancy, the consumption of an excessive amount of carbohydrates, particularly simple carbohydrates, can lead to an excessive increase in weight.

Read more: Pregnancy Problems Due To Mothers Lack Of Nutrition And Unhealthy Eating Patterns

Increases the risk of insulin resistance

Insulin resistance can happen during pregnancy as a result of hormonal fluctuations that influence the body's insulin metabolism. During pregnancy, particularly in the second and third trimesters, the body produces an increased amount of hormones, including estrogen, progesterone, and placental hormones, which contribute to the body's reduced insulin sensitivity.

Gestational diabetes is a significant risk factor for pregnant women who experience insulin resistance during pregnancy, as their blood sugar levels elevate significantly. In the future, this condition will also elevate the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Increases the risk of heart diseases

An elevated risk of heart disease is also related to the consumption of an excessive amount of carbohydrates, particularly simple carbohydrates. A rapid increase in blood sugar levels, followed by a significant drop, can result from the excessive consumption of simple sugars. In the end, this can result in inflammation and oxidative stress in the body, which is a risk factor for heart disease.

How much is the recommended carbohydrate intake during pregnancy?

The recommended carbohydrate consumption during pregnancy varies for each pregnant woman, based on their specific energy requirements and health status. Nevertheless, experts recommend that pregnant women consume approximately nine to eleven modest portions of food each day. About a third of a cup is considered one serving of rice or other carbs.

Rice is not the only source of carbohydrates. Consuming whole cereals, whole grains, whole wheat bread, brown rice, skinless baked potatoes, and fresh fruit is also recommended.

Read more: Benefits Of Folate Acid And Dose During Pregnancy

Fresh fruit is high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, but it also contains simple carbs in the form of natural sugar. So, you should still limit how much fresh fruit you eat to keep your blood sugar from increasing too quickly.

If you need information regarding a nutritious dietary plan for pregnant mothers and growing babies, you can either visit a doctor or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.

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