Custard Apple in Pregnancy – Benefits, Side-Effects and Precautions

The Indian name for custard apple, sitaphal, has been derived from the Sanskrit words sheet, which means ‘cold’ and phal, which means ‘fruit’. This is a fruit that is known to cool the body and is full of numerous health benefits. The custard apple has tiny bumps all over it and is utterly delicious, though a little messy!

If you’re wondering whether you can eat custard apple in pregnancy, then this article is for you. We have also mentioned the nutritional value of the fruit and a few custard apple recipes below that you can relish during your pregnancy period. Let’s read all about sitafal in pregnancy!

Can You Eat Custard Apple During Pregnancy?

Having doubts about consuming sitafal during pregnancy? Is custard apple good for pregnancy? Worry not! We have the right answer for you!

Custard apple is good for pregnancy and is safe to consume during this time. This sweet seed fruit offers numerous health benefits for pregnant women, which we have also discussed below.

Nutritional Value of Custard Apples

The nutritional value per 100 g of custard apples is as follows (1):

How Much Custard Apple a Pregnant Woman Can Eat

A pregnant woman can safely eat ½ to 1 full custard apple (sitaphal) per day, provided she has no gestational diabetes or allergies. While custard apple in pregnancy 2nd and 3rd trimester can provide essential vitamins and natural energy for fetal growth, it should be eaten in limited quantities. When it comes to custard apple for pregnancy, limit to 3–4 times per week to avoid excess sugar intake and digestive issues like bloating. Always remove the seeds (toxic).

Benefits of Custard Apples (Sitafal) During Pregnancy

Do you know about custard apple benefits in pregnancy? Pregnant women can get the following benefits from this nutritious fruit during pregnancy.

1. Reduction in Morning Sickness

Vitamin B6 curbs the sensation of nausea and morning sickness (2).

2. Healthy Weight Gain

The fruit is high in calories and natural sugar. Thus, it will help in weight gain.

3. Regulation of Blood Pressure

Blood pressure tends to fluctuate during pregnancy. The potassium and magnesium content regulate blood pressure (3).

4. Relief from Constipation

Dietary fibre maintains the health of the digestive system and treats constipation, softens stools, and improves bowel movement. It also reduces diarrhoea. (Custard apple can’t reduce diarrhoea)

5. Reduction in Stress

Magnesium relaxes the muscles and regulates the cardiovascular system. It reduces stress and protects the heart.

6. Boost to Foetal Development

The overall nutritional components aid in the development of the skin, tendons, and blood vessels of the foetus.

7. Cleansing of Toxins From the Body

The fruit contains antioxidants that cleanse the body of toxins, thus keeping the kidneys in optimal condition (4). These antioxidants also help to build a strong immune system.

8. Relief From Dental Problems

The fibre content in custard apple keeps the teeth sparkling white, heals gums and does away with bad breath.

9. Prevention of Premature Delivery

Copper mineral is essential for the pregnant woman, who needs a 100mg dose for the strength to protect the foetus. Custard apple provides a certain portion of this copper mineral. Along with reducing the risk of miscarriage, it also reduces the chances of premature delivery (5).

10. Helps in Digestion

The fruit is rich in fibre that helps in digestion.

11. Enhances Mood

Custard apple is rich in Vitamin B6, which helps elevate mood and reduce symptoms of depression or sadness.

12. Provides Energy

Sitaphal provides a lot of energy in terms of calorific value to pregnant women.

13. Increases Muscle Strength

Custard apples have higher protein content and help increase muscle strength in the would-be mothers.

Risks of Eating Custard Apples During Pregnancy

Keep the following things in mind to avoid unfortunate incidents:

• The seed can mess up your digestive system.
• If you’re allergic to cold foods, it’s best not to consume this fruit.
• As custard apples are high in sugar, patients with gestational diabetes should not consume them. (Or take it in moderation).
• Overweight women should avoid eating this fruit. (No need to avoid completely can be taken in moderation)

When to Avoid Custard Apple in Pregnancy

Custard apple is a healthy addition to most pregnancy diets, but certain health conditions and risks call for caution or complete avoidance. Below are the key scenarios where skipping the fruit is wise.

• Custard apple seeds can be harmful if swallowed whole or crushed — they may irritate the gut or cause digestive distress.
• If you have a known sensitivity to “cold” or mucus-forming foods, this fruit might trigger throat discomfort or allergic reactions.
• Women diagnosed with gestational diabetes should either avoid custard apples entirely or eat only a very small portion after checking with their doctor, due to the fruit’s high natural sugar content.
• If you are overweight, you don’t need to eliminate custard apples completely — just limit yourself to a small serving occasionally (e.g., half a fruit, twice a week).
• Avoid if you suffer from chronic acid reflux or heartburn — custard apple can aggravate these symptoms due to its creamy, dense texture.
• Do not eat custard apple if you have low blood pressure — the fruit may cause a further dip in pressure for sensitive individuals.

How to Include Custard Apple in Your Pregnancy Diet

It is quite easy to include custard apple in your pregnancy diet, and there are many ways you can do so. Some ways to include this incredible fruit in your diet are:

• Add a little lime juice to the custard apple, as a complementary flavour.
• Make various desserts using sitaphal and add a handful of nuts on top.
• Prepare a milkshake or add it on top of the ice cream.
• If you have a sweet tooth, you can add a few drops of honey to it before eating.

Precautions You Should Take

While eating custard apples, you can take the following precautions:

• Scoop the pulp out with a spoon, taking care to avoid the seeds.
• Don’t consume raw custard apples. Ripe ones are bright green and feel pulpy.
• Consult your gynaecologist before consuming this fruit.

Custard Apple Recipes for Pregnant Women

Try these tasty custard apple recipes!

1. Custard Apple Rabdi

A rich and creamy dessert made with sweet custard apple pulp blended into thickened milk, perfect for a flavorful indulgence.

Image Credit: Pinterest

Ingredients:

• Custard apple, peeled and deseeded – 2
• Milk – 2-3 cups
• Condensed milk – 2 tbsp
• Jaggery – to taste

For Tempering:

• Ghee – 2 tbsp
• Green elaichi or cardamom – 2-3
• Cashews – a handful
• Almonds – a handful

Method:

1. Refrigerate the custard apple pulp for 30 minutes.
2. Add milk to a vessel and boil it.
3. Add condensed milk and jaggery to this milk.
4. Let it boil on a low flame for 6-7 minutes.
5. Pour this mixture on to the pulp.
6. Garnish with cashews and almonds.

2. Custard Apple Smoothie

A refreshing and creamy smoothie made with sweet custard apple, perfect for a quick and healthy treat.

Ingredients:

• Custard apple – 1
• Milk – 1 cup
• Vanilla ice cream (optional) – 1 scoop
• Sugar – to taste

Method:

1. Add milk to the pulp.
2. Also, add sugar and vanilla ice cream.
3. Blend it.
4. Pour it into a glass and celebrate your pregnancy!

3. Custard Apple Ice Cream

Creamy frozen dessert bursting with the natural flavor of custard apple in every scoop.

Ingredients:

• Custard apple – 4 cups pulp
• Skimmed milk – 2 cups
• Milk powder – 1 cup
• Powdered brown sugar – 1/3 cup
• Fresh cream – 1/2 cup
• Vanilla essence – 1 tsp

Method:

1. Take a big bowl and add milk, milk powder, sugar powder, fresh cream, and vanilla essence to it and mix well until the sugar is dissolved.
2. Add custard apple pulp to it and mix again.
3. Pour the mixture into a shallow container, cover and freeze. Leave it for some time.
4. Blend the mixture to get a smooth consistency.
5. Pour the mixture again into a shallow container, cover, and freeze.
6. Serve after some time.

FAQs

1. Is it safe to eat custard apple leaves and seeds during pregnancy?

No, you should not consume custard apple leaves during pregnancy as it can disturb your digestive system. For custard apple seeds, although they should not be consumed, if you swallow the seeds by chance, they’ll not hurt you, and your body will flush them out in the stool.

2. Can breastfeeding moms eat custard apple?

Yes, you can enjoy eating custard apples while breastfeeding as it does not cause any harm.

3. Can diabetic pregnant women consume custard apple?

Custard apple is great for pregnant women and offers various health benefits. But when it comes to diabetic pregnant women, they must avoid eating this fruit.

Sitaphal is a power fruit that you can enjoy during pregnancy. If you don’t consume the seeds, you can enjoy their amazing benefits without worrying about the side effects!

Also Read:

Eating Banana in Pregnancy
Papaya when Pregnant
Eating Mango During Pregnancy
Plums (Aloo Bukhara) while Pregnant

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Sources References

1. USDA: Food Data Central – Custard-apple, (bullock’s-heart), raw

2. National Library of Medicine – Vitamin B6 is effective therapy for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study

3. National Library of Medicine – Dose-response relationship between dietary magnesium intake, serum magnesium concentration and risk of hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies

4. ResearchGate – A review on insight of immense nutraceutical and medicinal potential of custard apple (Annona squamosa Linn.)

5. Science Daily – Low zinc and copper levels might cause spontaneous abortion, study suggests