Is Zobo a good drink for pregnant women?
Zobo drink is a popular drink in Nigeria and it is made with hibiscus flower and is very healthy.
Some of the health benefits of Zobo drink, but why are pregnant and breastfeeding women not encouraged to drink it?
Zobo increases the risk of pregnant women giving birth to babies with low birth weight according to a study.
Babies are said to have low weight when they weigh less than 8 ounces.Babies with low weight look smaller than babies with normal weight, and their head may be bigger than the rest of the body.
Zobo can affect an unborn child.Babies with a low weight are more likely to have health problems than babies with normal weight.
The babies can be placed in the intensive care unit to gain weight and treat health problems.
Respiratory distress syndrome caused by immature lungs, inability to maintain body temperature, low levels of oxygen at birth, infection, bleeding in the brain, difficulty feeding and gaining weight are some of the health problems that affect low weight babies.
Babies with a healthy weight are less prone to diseases later in life.Heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and Obesity are some of the health conditions babies with low birth weight are at risk of.
It is not safe for a breastfeeding mother to consume too much zobo because it will make it difficult for her to eat much food.When Zobo is used to control weight gain, the woman is unable to eat much and this affects her nutrition and that of the baby.
It can delay puberty which is dangerous to the growth and development of the individual and will affect the baby, even up to his/her puberty level.
Zobo can be used to treat morning sickness, fatigue, weakness and nausea, even though some women praised it for helping them through their pregnancies.
Zobo should be taken in moderation, at least a cup a day, for women who need it to help with the signs and symptoms of pregnancy.
Some women have said that taking little quantity will help them manage the symptoms of pregnancy and it won't cause problems.At most two cups of zobo a day is enough for breastfeeding mothers.
It is highly advised not to consume more than one cup of zobo a day during the first few months of the baby's life.
Excess zobo should not be taken by women who want to get pregnant or who are on fertility treatment.It can cause menstruation in some women.
Zobo can be eaten daily after the first few weeks of a baby's life, because the pregnancy is now established and it will offer some health benefits to pregnant women.