While physicians and herbalists recommend pregnant women avoid the use of fennel as an herbal medication due to its uterine stimulation properties, eating fennel as a vegetable during this time is perfectly safe. It is quite good for you and your growing fetus, providing a variety of vitamins and minerals that contribute to a healthy pregnancy.
Vitamin C
Fennel, a crisp vegetable that imparts a taste similar to licorice, is a good source of vitamin C. Pregnant women require approximately 80 mg of this vitamin each day; a 1-cup serving of raw fennel provides 10.4 mg per day. The vitamin C you get in fennel helps skin, cartilage, tendons and bones form in your fetus, and you need it to repair tissues in your body and keep your skin healthy. A study published in the November 2010 issue of the "Journal of Pineal Research" indicates that vitamin C may also increase blood flow through the umbilical cord, which benefits the fetus.
Manganese
Eat fennel to boost your intake of manganese while you're pregnant. You require 2 mg of manganese daily during this time, and a serving of fennel bulb contributes 0.2 mg of this mineral to your meal plan. The manganese in fennel benefits your fetus' bones and cartilage, but take care to monitor your intake of antacids and laxatives. Pregnant women sometimes experience heartburn and constipation that calls for treatment, but these medications contains magnesium, which can decrease your body's ability to absorb manganese.
Potassium
One cup of fennel contains 360 mg of potassium, or 7.6 percent of the amount -- 4,700 mg -- pregnant women require each day. Your body produces considerably more blood while you are pregnant to supply both you and your fetus, so more potassium is important for the chemical balance of blood. Additionally, eating a diet high in fennel and other potassium-rich foods can reduce swelling from water and fluid retention that often occurs during pregnancy.
Folate
Pregnant women need folate to help prevent birth defects. A cup of fennel bulb contains 23 mcg of folate, or vitamin B9, and you should consume 400 mcg every day. If you have previously given birth to a child with neural tube birth defects, your physician may recommend a greater increase in folate intake.
References
- BabyCentre: Herb and Drug Safety Chart
- BabyCenter; Vitamin C in Your Pregnancy Diet; August 2009
- USDA National Nutrient Database: Fennel, Bulb, Raw
- "Journal of Pineal Research"; Melatonin and Vitamin C Increase Umbilical Blood Flow Via Nitric Oxide-Dependent Mechanisms; A.S. Thakor, et al.; November 2010
- Baby Center; Manganese in Your Pregnancy Diet; August 2009
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Manganese; June 2009
