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Eating right should take center stage when you’re pregnant. That means the foods you eat must provide as many nutritional benefits as possible. Enter functional foods, which supply all of the nutrients crucial to your well-being and your baby’s growth. Following are the most important foods to eat during pregnancy.

AVOCADOS Loaded with fol-ate, potassium, vitamin C and vitamin B6 (which helps baby's tissue and brain growth as well as eases morning sickness), avocados are a delicious way to get your vitamins. Spread some ripe avocado on your whole grain roll as a healthy substitute for mayo. Tip: Keep in mind that avocados are high in fat (though the very good kind) and calories, which makes them filling — but be careful not to overdo it unless you're having trouble gaining weight.

NUTS are chock-full of important minerals (copper, manganese, magnesium, selenium, zinc, potassium, and even calcium) and vitamin E, plus they’re easily portable, making them a filling on-the-go snack. Even though they're high in fat, it's mainly the good-for-you kind. So in a nutshell, go nuts with nuts (a little if you're gaining quickly, liberally if you're gaining slowly). Tip: Nuts are a versatile super-food — toss them into just about any dish: salads, pasta, meat dishes, baked goods and more.

MANGOS Good news if your stomach does flips at just the thought of veggies: mangos contain more vitamins A and C bite for delicious bite than a salad. It’s a perfect complement to both sweet and savory dishes. Blend it into smoothies or soups, chop it up in salsas or relishes, simply scoop and enjoy. Tip: Like bananas, this tropical favorite is also packed with magnesium, which may help relieve a common pregnancy symptom: leg cramps.

Guava the good old guava is a tropical fruit that you will mostly love biting into while you are pregnant. Most women also report having guava cravings. Guava is mostly a mommy’s food, helping to regulate your immune system and blood pressure during pregnancy. Guava comes rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Iso-flavonoids, Carotenoids and Polyphenols. The fruit helps in easy digestion while providing strength to your growing baby’s central nervous system.

Kiwi's are ripe and tasty. They come with important nutrients like Vitamin C, E, A, Potassium, Phosporus, Magnesium, Folic Acid and dietary fiber. Kiwis are known to have healing effects on human respiratory system. You are less likely to be affected by cough, cold and wheezing if you eat kiwis every day. The fruit helps in lesser blood clotting because of its richness in phosphorus content. Kiwi also felicitates easy absorption of iron.

Apple having apple helps in many ways. It enhances the immunity and strength of your baby. There is reduced risk of wheezing, asthma and eczema in your child in his later stages of life if you take apple during your pregnancy. Apples are rich in Vitamins A, E, D and Zinc.

Pear there is a lot of confusion about whether pears are good to be consumed during pregnancy or not, so we suggest you definitely check with your doctor before having. Pears contain high amounts of folate or folic acid, ideal for would be moms. Folic acid is vital to prevent neural tube defects in growing babies during the pre-natal stage.

Chikoo (sapodilla) is very good during pregnancy. Chikoo is full of electrolytes, Vitamin A, carbohydrates and energy, perfect for lactating mothers as well. Chikoo has multiple health benefits for expectant moms. Apart from helping you cope with dizziness and nausea, chikoo also prevents conditions like irritable bowel syndrome. The fruit also helps improve the production of collagen, while fighting stomach related disorders like diarrhea and dysentery.

Custard Apple perhaps this is one of the best fruit during pregnancy that can be consumed, custard apple comes seasonally. So if you are pregnant right in time when the fruit arrives, feel free to indulge. Custard apple comes loaded with Vitamin A and C, which are absolutely good for the eyes, skin, hair, and body tissues of your growing baby. The tasty seasonal fruit is also said to enhance cognitive functioning of your baby in the pre natal period of development. For expectant mommies, high fiber in custard apple helps prevent constipation and also eases the pain while in labor. The rich antioxidants present in this delightful fruit help you keep active and detoxified while preparing for childbirth.

Pomegranates the red pearly pomegranates are nature’s gift to a pregnant woman. Pomegranates contain good amounts of energy, calcium, folate, iron, protein and Vitamin C. Thus it is absolutely beneficial to consume pomegranates during the pregnancy period, be it as a whole fruit or as juice.

These are some of the fruits that should be a part of your diet while you are pregnant. Remember, a balanced diet of fruits and vegetables along with other supplements is a must. Talk to your health care practitioner to know more about your daily fruit intake. Enjoy this wonderful period and pamper yourself with some super healthy fruits. What is your favourite fruit during pregnancy? We would love to know that: Happy Pregnancy!