Patient's question:
Now I'm 22 weeks pregnant. It's the season for lychees, and I really enjoy eating them, so I eat some every day. Today, I have some blisters in my mouth. I've heard that lychees can cause "fire" in the body, and I'm worried that eating too many might lead to excessive "fire" during pregnancy, as well as other potential effects.What kind of help do I need: Can pregnant women eat lychees? Are there any benefits for the fetus?
Doctor's answer:
Pregnant women eating lychees in moderation during summer has no significant impact on the fetus. Fruits like lychees, which are considered "hot" in nature, are not off-limits but should not be consumed excessively. Every fruit provides the nutrients you need, so it's beneficial to eat a little bit of everything for the baby. Vegetables are the same way. As long as the pregnant woman is healthy, there's no need to be too particular about whether fruits are "hot" or "cool" in nature.It's important to note that pregnant women should avoid eating fruits immediately after taking them out of the refrigerator. Fruits stored in the fridge for a long time tend to be very cold, and consuming them suddenly may cause discomfort. It's best to let them sit for a while before eating.
Although fruits are a good source of nutrition for both pregnant women and fetuses, it's not advisable to eat too much of them because fruits are high in sugar, which can easily lead to weight gain. Excessive sugar intake also increases the likelihood of giving birth to a large baby, which may complicate a natural delivery and even necessitate a cesarean section. Additionally, if the pregnant woman is already overweight or has a family history of diabetes, she is more prone to developing gestational diabetes.
Generally, pregnant women should consume no more than two servings of fruit per day to meet their nutritional needs, such as one apple and one banana, or one peach and one banana. It's also worth mentioning that during the summer, when the weather is hot and pregnant women tend to have strong "qi" (a traditional Chinese concept of energy), they are more prone to experiencing "internal heat." Therefore, it's best to eat fewer "heating" fruits like lychees.