Is Yakult Good for Pregnant Women?
Good nutrition is essential at all stages of life, but it is especially important during pregnancy because it affects both the mother and the child. Including probiotics in your daily diet is one of the best ways to maintain good health. Continue reading to find out more about the advantages of probiotics for pregnant women.
A pregnant woman has to deal with all of the hormonal changes that her body experiences. To make it worse, you have to fight digestive issues such as constipation, heartburn, acidity, bloating, and diarrhea. One of the best ways to ensure good gut health is to include a probiotic or good bacteria in your daily diet.
However, if you are pregnant, you must be wondering: is Yakult OK when pregnant? Yakult does not appear to be unsafe for pregnant or lactating women because probiotics are well tolerated when pregnant or breastfeeding. Including Yakult as a part of the daily diet during pregnancy has been shown to reduce heartburn, bloating, and acidity. However, women still need to use caution when choosing fermented and probiotic foods, as some of them are not a good option because they could contain harmful bacteria.
Is it OK to take probiotics while pregnant?
Probiotics are living organisms found in foods and beverages such as yogurt, kefir, and kombucha. Certain amounts may provide health benefits such as improved digestive health and a lower risk of heart disease.
Several studies have found that taking probiotic supplements while pregnant is safe and does not have any negative consequences. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, probiotics are well tolerated. [1] Probiotics are rarely absorbed into the bloodstream when consumed. As a result, probiotics are unlikely to cause serious side effects or harm to your developing baby. There has also been no correlation with miscarriages or birth defects.
However, it is difficult to say that any supplement is completely safe to take while pregnant. As a result, before beginning any supplement during pregnancy, always consult with your healthcare provider.
What Exactly Is Yakult?
Yakult is manufactured by a Japanese company that produces probiotic milk beverages. To make the beverage, skim milk is fermented with a strain of beneficial bacteria called Lactobacillus casei Shirota (LcS). Yakult contains bacteria that enter the intestine and provide the body with a variety of health benefits.
Nutritional Values of Yakult
Yakult is packaged in a 65ml bottle. The USDA has approved the nutritional values found in Yakult.
- 50 calories
- There is no fat, no cholesterol, and no dietary fiber.
- 15 g sodium
- 12 g carbohydrates
- 10 g sugar
- 0.8 g protein
The Advantages of Yakult During Pregnancy
Enhances Bowel Movement
Several studies indicate that certain probiotics may improve bowel movement and relieve constipation after only six weeks of consumption. [2]
Reduces acidity and heartburn
Including a probiotic in your daily diet while pregnant has been shown to reduce heartburn, bloating, and acidity.
Decreases the possibility of allergies
Women who take probiotics while pregnant and breastfeeding are less likely to have children with allergies.
Decreases vaginal infections
Probiotics may help reduce the risk of vaginal infections by increasing the beneficial bacteria in the vagina, which inhibits the growth of harmful infection-causing organisms.
Lowers the chance of gestational diabetes
During pregnancy, women might suffer from a special kind of diabetic disorder known as Gestational diabetes. An important study found that taking probiotics during pregnancy reduces the risk of gestational diabetes significantly.
Eczema prevention in infants
Eczema is a chronic skin condition that causes itching and inflammation of the skin. It affects up to 25% of children. According to one study, babies born to mothers who consumed probiotics are less likely to develop eczema. [3]
Yakult and pregnancy warning: The only Downside
The only reason for labeling processed probiotic drinks like Yakult as “Warning” is due to their high sugar content. The sugar content of Yakult is extremely high. It has 11.4g of sugar per 65mL serving, which is almost 3 tablespoons per Yakult.
High blood sugar levels can cause problems for you and your baby, such as a greater probability of needing surgery to deliver, a higher risk of childhood obesity, early labor, or the death of the baby before or shortly after birth.
What is the best probiotic for pregnancy?
During pregnancy, different probiotic strains perform different functions in the body. The best probiotic for you may be determined by your goals.
Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium lactis, and Bifidobacterium bifidum strains have received the most attention during pregnancy due to their numerous health benefits for both the pregnant mother and the baby.
If you want to take a probiotic while pregnant, consult with your doctor about which one is best for you.
Other Advantages of Yakult
Yakult is said to be safe for consumption by adults, children as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women. Drinking one bottle of Yakult fermented milk per day delivers several health advantages to your body.
Yakult contains around 10 million beneficial bacteria which are said to improve overall health and facilitates the fight against bad bacterial content in your body. Consuming Yakult probiotic drink can benefit you in the following ways:
Beneficial for treating digestive problems
Probiotic bacteria present in Yakult can soften stools and improve regular bowel movements. Yakult might also treat several other gastric issues such as diarrhea and constipation.
Cures severe respiratory tract infections
Yakult’s exclusive probiotic content is said to enhance your tolerance to harmful bacteria, thus, reducing the probability of developing severe upper respiratory infections among children and adults.
Helps maintain good mental health
Maintaining a balance between good and bad bacteria is necessary for good mental health. Any occurrence of alterations within gut microbiota can significantly affect your mental peace and lead to anxiety or depression. You could try crystals for your anxiety or depression.
Significantly helps in restricting the growth of cancerous cells
An imbalance of gut microbiota is proven to cause several autoimmune diseases, such as cancer. Probiotic content available in Yakult is said to prevent the growth of cancer-causing cells.
Enriches heart health
Yakult’s probiotic bacterial content helps to fight against inflammatory diseases and regulate cholesterol levels. As a result, Yakult is considered to be highly beneficial for cardiovascular health in humans.
Best Way to Get Probiotics During Pregnancy
When it comes to probiotic supplements, there are so many options that it can be overwhelming. Probiotic supplements can be taken orally or topically.
According to research, probiotics inserted into the vagina may have a greater impact on vaginal flora, whereas probiotics taken orally have a positive impact on the gut microbiome. [4]
Fermented probiotic foods such as Yakult, kimchi, kombucha, and yogurt are also excellent choices for maintaining gut health. However, the probiotics in these foods may not be as concentrated as those found in supplements, nor will they contain the same strains. However, fermented foods and prenatal probiotics make an excellent combination.
FAQs
Can Probiotics Harm a Growing Baby in the Uterus?
Prenatal probiotics are far from being harmful and have numerous advantages for both mother and child. A meta-analysis found no increase in pregnancy complications or harm to either the mother or the infant when probiotics were used. [5] Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains are examples of safe probiotics for pregnancy.
Is It Safe to Consume Probiotic Yogurt While Pregnant?
Yes. Yogurt is high in probiotics and can help with pregnancy complications. Yogurt improves vaginal pH when compared to antibiotics, which may reduce the risk of premature delivery. During pregnancy, yogurt also boosts metabolism, reduces inflammation, and improves infection outcomes.
Can Probiotics Be Taken with Prenatal Vitamins?
Probiotics and prenatal vitamins can be beneficial to a healthy pregnancy. Some prenatal vitamins contain probiotics. Whatever supplements you use, make sure to consult your doctor first and only use high-quality products.
How many Yakult in a day for pregnant women?
You can drink one or two bottles per day, either before or after meals. Lactobacillus casei Shirota is not retained in the body and passes through the digestive system with food. As a result, they leave the body after about a day, which is why we recommend one or two bottles of Yakult every day.
How quickly will I notice the effects of Yakult?
Yakult is a daily investment in your health. It can be included in a healthy diet to keep our bodies in top shape. Because everyone is unique, the effect of Yakult will most likely differ from person to person. It usually takes a few weeks to observe noticeable changes within your body.
Wrapping Up
Taking probiotic supplements while pregnant is probably safe. Although, there are no studies that certainly mention how effective probiotics can be during pregnancy. Certain benefits such as lowering the risk of premature labor or childhood eczema can come from probiotics.
Regardless, probiotics are not required or appropriate for all pregnant women. As a result, if you want to try probiotics like Yakult or probiotic supplements while pregnant, we recommend consulting with your healthcare provider.
References
- National Library of Medicine. “The effects of probiotics supplementation on metabolic health in pregnant women: An evidence based meta-analysis”. National Center for Biotechnology Information.
- Magan Trottier. “Treating constipation during pregnancy”. Can Fam Physician vol 58(8) (2012). 836-838.
- Stephen J Allen. “Probiotics in the prevention of eczema: a randomised controlled trial”. BMJ Open Access vol 99(11) (2014). 1014-1019.
- S Husain. “Effects of oral probiotic supplements on vaginal microbiota during pregnancy: a randomised, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial with microbiome analysis”. Wiley-Blackwell Online Open vol 127(2) (2020). 275-284.
- Jackie Elias. “Are probiotics safe for use during pregnancy and lactation?”. Can Fam Physician vol 57(3) (2011). 299-301.