Eating nuts in pregnancy

Are nuts safe to eat in pregnancy? The jury is still out on this one!

There's already some debate as to whether you should eat nuts during pregnancy, and now new research suggests that they may put your unborn baby at greater risk of developing asthma.

The Dutch study found that children diagnosed with asthma or asthma-like symptoms (such as shortness of breath and wheezing) in their first eight years of life were significantly more likely to be born to women who ate nut products every day of their pregnancy, than women who ate nuts only rarely.

It's suggested that this is because babies may become more prone to asthma if they're exposed to allergy-causing substances from nuts while in the womb.

The scientists say that it's too early to advise avoiding nuts altogether, however, and mums-to-be should stick to a varied diet during pregnancy, and moderate their intake of nuts. 

For vegetarians and vegans, nuts can be a great source of protein during pregnancy. If you do lessen your nut consumption, make sure you're getting enough protein from other sources.