Hummus, a Mediterranean condiment commonly served with falafel or as a dip vegetables, traditionally combines chickpeas, sesame paste called tahini and garlic. A study published in the February 2007 issue of the journal "Clinical Infectious Diseases" suggests that pregnant women avoid eating some types of hummus due to its implication in food borne illnesses that may trigger miscarriage, although there are ways to include this nutritious food in your diet.
Potential Dangers
The food-borne illness associated with hummus is listeriosis, a condition triggered by a bacteria; the hummus may become infected with the Listeria bacterium if it is commercially prepared. Listeriosis can not only cause miscarriage, it can also cause preterm delivery. Symptoms for the pregnant woman include nausea, diarrhea, muscle aches and fever, and it can eventually lead to convulsions, headaches and balance problems. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience these symptoms and suspect listeriosis.
Solution
Because hummus is in danger of containing the Listeria bacteria when prepared in commercial conditions, the solution is to prepare it at home. To protect yourself against infection in the home environment while you're pregnant, clean all surfaces of your kitchen thoroughly with hot, soapy water and take care when handling chicken, fish and meat so it does not come into contact with surface or ingredients use in the preparation of hummus. Do not leave hummus sitting at room temperature for more than an hour or two, particularly during hot weather.
Macronutrients in Hummus
The macronutrients in the foods you eat, including hummus prepared at home, contribute to your energy levels, an important factor when you're pregnant as many women experience fatigue during different stages of their pregnancy. Hummus is a good option for boosting carbohydrates and protein intake in a healthy manner. A 2-tbsp. serving of one recipe for hummus provides you with 8 g of carbs and 2 g of protein. You need at least 225 to 325 g of carbohydrates and 50 to 175 g of protein each day.
Hummus Provides Potassium
Two tbsp. of hummus contains 74 mg of potassium, which is 3.7 percent of the amount you need each day when you are pregnant. The potassium available in hummus is critical while you are pregnant because of the extra blood volume in your body -- potassium serves as an electrolyte that keeps the chemical balance of the blood in the right ratios.
References
- "Clinical Infectious Diseases"; Listeria Monocytogenes Infection From Foods Prepared in a Commercial Establishment; J.K. Varma, et al.; February 2007
- USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service; Protect Your Baby and Yourself From Listeriosis; January 2011
- McKinley Health Center; Macronutrients: the Importance of Carbohydrate, Protein, and Fat; March 2008
- Babzone; 4 Ways to Boost Your Energy during Pregnancy; B. Stokes; March 2010
- "Eating Well"; Roasted Garlic Hummus; November December 1993
- MayoClinic.com; Healthy Diet: End the Guesswork With These Nutrition Guidelines; February 2011
