I love adding cocoa powder to my smoothies and desserts. Now that I'm pregnant, I'm wondering if it's safe and beneficial to continue consuming cocoa powder.
Oh those cravings are so real, please don't feel guilty for wanting some chocolate! I remember crying over wanting chocolate cake, it's completely natural to have these sweet cravings.
My clinical nutritionist at Fortis told me that high-quality unsweetened cocoa is actually okay in moderation. You should check with your hospital's diet plan once just to be sure about the quantity.
A little bit of cocoa powder is totally fine, but keep an eye on caffeine. Just don't overdo it with multiple cups of hot chocolate everyday, moderate use is safe.
I was so scared to eat anything with caffeine after my loss, so I completely avoided cocoa in the first trimester. If you feel even slightly anxious, maybe wait a bit or ask your doctor to be safe.
I used to have mild hot cocoa sometimes when I was pregnant and even now while nursing. It really helped with my mood swings, just try to buy organic one without too much sugar.
Cocoa has antioxidants which is great, but it also has trace caffeine. My doctor advised limiting it to 1-2 spoons a day and choosing high-quality brands.
Yum, chocolate cravings are the best! I make chocolate milkshakes with cocoa powder almost every alternate day, it's my absolute favorite treat right now.
