Eating dates could help promote labor | The State
Dates are a fruit with a natural sweetness that is nutritious and with health benefits that can be impressive.
The consumption of these fruits during the last weeks of pregnancy has been used to facilitate natural childbirth by promoting cervical dilation and reducing labor time.
Several scientific studies have analyzed the supposed effects of dates in labor. One of the analyzes is an article published in 2020 by the journal BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth (BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth).
Eight studies were included in the investigators’ review. The meta-analysis showed that consuming dates can significantly reduce the active phase of labor, the stage during which the cervix dilates.
According to the analysis, consuming dates can also improve the bishop’s score, a measure that rates the preparation of the cervix for vaginal labor.
In previous studies it has been pointed out that the consumption of dates affects uterine contractions and the duration of the labor processes. It is noted that consuming dates in late pregnancy was effective in reducing the duration of labor processes and reduced the need for oxytocin to accelerate labor.
In the study of 182 pregnant women, the 91 pregnant women who consumed between 70 and 76 grams of dates per day starting at week 37 of pregnancy were in active labor for an average of 4 hours less than those who did not eat dates
However, scientists also state that more studies and research is required to confirm the effects of dates in labor.
How is it that dates can promote natural childbirth?
“The effect of dates in pregnancy is likely due to compounds that bind to oxytocin receptors and appear to mimic the effects of oxytocin in the body. Oxytocin is a hormone that causes contractions during labor, ”Healthline explains.
Dates also contain tannins, compounds that help ease contractions. The plus of these fruits is that they also provide natural sugar and calories, which are necessary to maintain energy during childbirth.
Dates only offer benefits for pregnant women:
Antioxidants
Dates provide you with fiber, potassium, protein and contain many antioxidants with anti-inflammatory effects, including carotenoids, polyphenols, tannins and sterols.
By fighting inflammation and oxidative stress, dates have been indicated promoting brain health.
They promote digestive health
Dates are rich in fiber, 100 grams of contains almost 7 grams of fiber. Fiber can prevent constipation and benefit digestive health.
A study, in which healthy men ate 7 dates a day for 21 days, the researchers found the subjects experienced improvements in the frequency of their bowel movements and a reduced level of chemicals in the stool such as ammonia.
According to the researchers, their data indicates that consuming dates may reduce the risk of colon cancer without inducing changes in the microbiota.
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