Olive oil in pregnancy: the benefits for mother and baby

The ‘king of condiments’ of the Mediterranean diet becomes the undisputed star even during a woman’s gestation period. Guide to the benefits of EVO oil in pregnancy and how to use it to best effect.

Olive oil in pregnancy is the most valuable source of monounsaturated fats strongly recommended by doctors for the health of the woman and the fetus. This food should be consumed throughout the nine months of gestation, obviously in the right doses and taking care to opt for 100% Italian quality extra virgin oil. The right daily doses of oil, calibrated according to one’s body mass, in the context of a balanced diet, contribute greatly to the health of the pregnant woman and to the proper development of the fetus.

When we refer to a balanced diet, we mean to reiterate how outdated is the belief pregnant women “must eat for two.” Non-physiological weight gain, in fact, makes no contribution to the health of the unborn child, let alone the woman, quite the contrary. However, one should not incur another dangerous attitude, which is to strongly reduce the caloric intake in order not to gain weight by demonizingextra virgin oil in pregnancy because it is a source of fat. In this way, we will deprive our bodies of a treasure trove of absolutely natural vitamins and antioxidants , feeling compelled to carry on a deficient and utterly frustrating diet.

After these dutiful remarks, let’s go into the benefits of oil for pregnant women, listing thehealth properties and providing some useful tips for its proper use (including external!).

Why is Extra Virgin Olive Oil preferable during pregnancy?

Olive oil nutritional properties.

Before we delve into discussing the benefits of oil in pregnancy, it is most important to have a good product on our hands and not to settle for taking ‘whatever comes along’ from the supermarket shelves. If you really have no idea what product to choose, look for oil companies that are historically active in the area, producing extra virgin oils certified to quality standards (here is a link to the selection of the Salento-based company Frantoio Congedi).

Nutritionally, EVO oil maintains an optimal balance of polyunsaturated and saturated-monounsaturated fatty acids, particularly oleic acid, which reduces levels of ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol without compromising the percentage of good HDL cholesterol. This good lipid profile is important during pregnancy, a period when one should not overindulge in saturated fats but, more importantly, in bad hydrogenated fats.

In addition to providing good fats to the body, oil an extraordinary source of antioxidants and vitamins, such as vitamin E, vitamin A, carotenoids, polyphenols, omega-3 and omega-6, active ingredients that give the mother and fetus all the nutrients they need at this particular time of life.

Italian oil is also attributed with anti-inflammatory and protective properties for the cardiovascular system, thanks to the presence ofoleocanthal, a functional substance that determines the typical ‘tingling sensation in the throat,’ a hallmark of a quality extra virgin oil. Some studies have compared the analgesic properties of oleocanthal to those of ibuprofen and NSAIDs in general, despite having a different chemical form.

Oil and constipation in pregnancy.

Consumption of olive oil reduces gastric acidity, improves digestive health, and stimulates bowel function, resulting in better assimilation of food and resolving some typical problems of the period, such as bothersome constipation.

How much EVO oil in pregnancy?

The recommended dose of evo oil for a pregnant woman is a minimum of two tablespoons per day (about 20 g), preferably raw. This ration can be increased according to the starting weight and the pregnant woman’s energy expenditure during daily activities.

During pregnancy, the skin of the abdomen The recommended dose of evo oil is a minimum of two tablespoons per day, which corresponds to about 20 g. It undergoes progressive stretching, becoming thinner and more fragile. To prevent excessive skin sagging, it is necessary to nourish the skin, facilitating the subsequent return to the usual shape after delivery.

Extra-virgin olive oil provides a number of nutrients that protect the skin and make it soft: oleic triglycerides and phytosterols are good fats that, in addition, help to strengthen the skin, alleviating the tension that is created on the belly when it grows. Stretch marks and lack of elasticity are then counteracted by vitamin E, polyphenols, omega-3, omega-6, vitamin A and carotenoids.

The presence then of vitamin E, gives extra virgin olive oil a strong antioxidant and elasticizing power, which prevents stretch marks or resolves recently formed ones (pink or reddish-purple in color).

Olive oil on skin, panacea against stretch marks.

Applying extra virgin olive oil to the skin of trouble spots, such as the belly, breasts, thighs and buttocks, helps bring more elasticity and moisture to the treated area. Obnoxious pregnancy stretch marks can, thus, be prevented by massaging the skin daily in circular motions throughout the gestation period.