A Guide On Spicy Food During Pregnancy

Posted on: 18 July 2016

When it comes to diet during pregnancy, extra caution should be observed, as your food intake can affect your unborn child. Expectant mothers also tend to have cravings for spicy foods, which can bring about concerns on just how healthy spices are during this delicate period.

You may have heard a lot out there about how spicy foods can affect women during pregnancy, such as that hot spice could potentially induce labor or affect fetal development. But are there really any truths in such information? Read on to learn more about spicy foods and pregnancy so you can better take care of your unborn child and stick to a diet that is healthy for both you and the baby. 

Spices will affect your baby

Many pregnant women consider halting the intake of spices for fear that spicy culinary dishes will affect their unborn child. However, this isn't true, as only a small portion of the food you take during pregnancy actually makes it to your milk supply.

In fact, taking spices during pregnancy could do your baby good by exposing them to a wider food palate early in life. Contrary to popular belief, spicy foods also typically won't cause a miscarriage or induce labor.

The expectant mother has nothing to worry about

As much as they won't harm your unborn child, food spices could actually harm you as the mother by bringing about indigestion, heartburn and other digestive problems. Some spices can also exacerbate morning sickness. These symptoms are however subjective, and what could affect one expectant mother could have no effect at all on another.

Therefore, it is important to find out what side effects you have and do away with spices that cause problems. You should also try out new spices in small quantities to see if they affect you negatively. Additionally, take precautions such as purchasing spices from trusted vendors and checking the expiration date on your spices. 

All spicy foods are okay

Just because spices and pregnancy can go together without any major complications, it might be assumed that all spicy foods are safe for the unborn baby. However, there are certain foods that are generally toxic to the baby, whether spiced or not.

For instance, it is advisable to stay away from foods such as uncooked seafood, raw meat, unpasteurized dairy products and fishes with high mercury content such as swordfish and sharks. Such foods could potentially cause birth defects and serious illnesses to both the mother and unborn child. If you are interested in spices, look for healthy spices online

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