Can I Drink Hot Chocolate While Pregnant? You may love hot chocolate during pregnancy – it’s warming, comforting and delicious. But is it safe to drink while expecting? The answer depends on what you put in your hot cocoa. The unprocessed version of cocoa is considered safe while pregnant. However, the same cannot be said for processed hot chocolate drinks or powders with additives such as sugar or artificial sweeteners. This article explains everything you need to know about drinking hot chocolate when pregnant.
What’s in Hot Chocolate?
If you want to drink hot chocolate while pregnant, you’ll want to double-check the ingredients list. In general, hot chocolate is made from cocoa powder, milk and sugar or another sweetener. Hot cocoa comes in two main forms: – powder or mix – and a liquid variation. Hot cocoa powder is a mix of cocoa and other ingredients, including sugar and milk powder, which are dissolved in hot water to make a drink. A liquid variation, such as Swiss Miss, is a premade product, which is ready to drink.
Hot Chocolate During Pregnancy: Is It Safe?
Is hot chocolate healthy for pregnant women? Yes, it is. Hot chocolate is actually a great source of nutrients for pregnant women, including fiber, magnesium, B vitamins and iron. If you love hot chocolate, you should keep drinking it during pregnancy. However, you should try to go for the unprocessed version and make sure there are minimal added ingredients. Hot chocolate is safe for pregnant women as long as there isn’t any added sugar. However, you might have to do some research to find a hot chocolate that does not contain any sugar. Many hot chocolate brands contain sugar, which can be harmful to a growing fetus.
How Does Cocoa Benefit Pregnant Women?
Hot chocolate provides a variety of nutrients that pregnant women need, including magnesium, iron and B vitamins. Magnesium – Magnesium, which is found in cocoa, is needed for a healthy immune system, blood flow, muscle contraction and cell growth. Magnesium deficiency can lead to leg cramps and constipation, so it’s important to get enough through your diet. Iron – Iron is needed to prevent anemia, which is a common problem in pregnancy. Cocoa contains more iron than other common chocolate sources, such as milk chocolate and dark chocolate. B vitamins – B vitamins are essential for energy, metabolism, pregnancy and fetal development. The most common B vitamins in cocoa are B2 and B3, which are also found in peanuts and peanut butter.
Best Hot Cocoa Brands for Pregnancy
As long as you stick to unprocessed cocoa, you can safely consume it while pregnant. Some good brands of hot chocolate to look for include: – Swiss Miss, Nestlé, Lindt, Ghirardelli, Hershey’s and Hershey’s Special Dark. If you discover that your favorite hot cocoa product has sugar, it’s best to switch to a cocoa mix or powder. This way, you can make hot chocolate without sugar, which is especially important for pregnant women.
Is Dark Chocolate During Pregnancy Safe?
Dark chocolate is made from cocoa, which is the part of the cocoa bean that is rich in flavonoids. Most studies on cocoa and pregnancy show that cocoa is safe for pregnant women. In fact, cocoa may have benefits for pregnant women, including reduced blood pressure and improved cardiovascular health. That being said, it’s important to use dark chocolate as a treat and not a regular part of your diet. While dark chocolate can be good for your pregnancy, eating large amounts could be harmful.
3 Healthy Ways to Make Hot Chocolate While Pregnant
There are a few ways to make hot chocolate while pregnant. You can use cocoa mix or powder, or you can use an unprocessed cocoa bean. Cocoa mix/powder – To make hot chocolate with cocoa mix/powder, you’ll need to follow the instructions on the package. Cocoa beans – Cocoa beans come either roasted or raw. To make hot chocolate with cocoa beans, you first need to roast them. To roast the beans, place them in an airtight container and bake them in an oven at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes. Once you’ve roasted the beans, you can add them to a blender with warm milk and some sugar or vanilla extract. Blend the powder until it is a smooth consistency, then let the mixture sit for 5 minutes before drinking. You can sweeten the cocoa with a little bit of honey, if you prefer.
Bottom line
Hot chocolate makes a great drink for cold winter days, but it’s important to check the ingredients list for any added sugar. While hot chocolate is safe for pregnant women, you should try to go for the unprocessed version and keep added sugar to a minimum. If you love the warm drink, no need to give it up just because you’re expecting. As long as you go for the unprocessed version, you can safely consume hot chocolate while pregnant.