Saffron is one undeniable ingredient name that many pregnant women hear during their gestation period. Particularly, in India, kesar is highly recommended for pregnant ladies.
But women will have a lot of confusion during pregnancy like, is it right to consume them? How should I eat and how much should I take? So, this blog is to help such women because scientifically the proof for eating saffron and pregnancy is not as much as the compulsion to consume it.
Let’s know about this golden spice in detail! and learn how to intake saffron during pregnancy!
Is saffron safe during the gestation period?
Before knowing how can you intake saffron, you must know whether it is safe during pregnancy and how much you should intake. This is very important because many myths are around saffron consumption during the gestation period.
So, it’s good to eat these red threads. Yeah, saffron is a preferred and the safest choice during your pregnancy. But what matters is that the quantity you intake.
How much saffron should I consume?
Pregnant women can consume only a small amount of saffron, which is around 1.5 grams per day. Eating a gram more than this quantity could be toxic as saffron is very potent.
So, be mindful while grabbing this little red thread that adds a golden shade and taste to your foods. On the other hand, the timing of food intake is very important and different from normal days when you’re pregnant.
Because pregnant ladies need to eat frequently in smaller amounts; in this case; what can be the right time to eat saffron?
Which is the right time to consume saffron during pregnancy?
After your first trimester, from the fourth month. Yeah, existing research reported that consuming saffron during the first trimester can increase the chances of miscarriages as this report was taken among the pregnant women who consumed saffron in the first trimester.
Hence, make sure to avoid saffron during this period to improve fetal development and the success of pregnancy. Plus, consulting your fertility expert is pivotal to know whether your body can gain benefits from saffron or not. Especially, consultation becomes a priority and mandatory when a woman is pregnant with the help of Assisted Reproductive Technologies ARTs like IVF or IUI.
Therefore, ensure you start taking saffron from the second trimester only in moderate amounts. The bold benefits of saffron during pregnancy are evident, especially in the third trimester, as it helps relieve excessive muscle contractions and relaxes the joints.
But what is the right way to consume saffron? Can you eat directly? No, here are the different ways to intake saffron.
How can a pregnant woman take saffron?
Ayurveda and ancient wisdom suggest pregnant women can consume saffron milk, but no amount more than 1.5 should be included per day.
Kesar milk is the best drink to consume during pregnancy, so add a few strands of saffron to the lukewarm milk and stir well. That’s it your saffron milk is ready. Drinking kesar milk itself is one of the best things during gestation from the second trimester, so you can include it either morning or night.
Yes, drinking saffron milk in the morning can boost your mood and keep you energized throughout the day. When it comes to night, kesar milk promotes relaxation and enhances the quality of sleep. Here, pregnant women can choose according to their convenience and comfort.
And also, saffron is a part of Indian, Iranian, and Moroccan cuisines. In India, generally, this red spice is used in items like curries, and biryani, and infused in dessert syrups like Malpua and Jamuns.
Benefits of drinking saffron milk
The most expensive spice is commonly used to treat depression, so there are some benefits available because of consuming saffron in gestation.
- It prevents high blood pressure as it has components like. crocin and safranal that help in combating hypertension.
- Kesar soothes the digestive system and relieves morning sickness in pregnant ladies, which gives them a huge relief during gestation.
- It relieves muscular cramps and prevents mood swings, drinking a glass of saffron milk eases mood alterations and reduces depression.
- Finally, yet importantly, kesar can improve the quality of sleep, which is a mandatory thing during pregnancy. Because pregnant women may struggle with sleep issues and getting a good sleep itself a dream for them, saffron milk aids in providing quality sleep.
Along with the numerous advantages, there are some reasons to avoid saffron during pregnancy. Take a glance at such reasons, why and how need to avoid saffron.
Who should avoid saffron?
Women allergic to saffron should cut off this item at any stage of their life. That’s why consulting a doctor before consuming saffron is preferred for every pregnant lady.
Women who are about to undergo a surgical procedure such as saffron can slow down the CNS central nervous system, which can interrupt or affect the treatments while anaesthesia or other medicines are given. Thus, stop consuming saffron at least two weeks before the surgery.
Some women could be sensitive to saffron and experience symptoms like dry mouth, numbness of the eyelids and lips, nausea, and anxiety. As a pregnant lady, if you sense any of such symptoms, then you must stop saffron.
Does saffron cause miscarriages?
Another important reason to stop saffron during gestation is the risk of miscarriages. Yes, women who are experiencing sensitive symptoms like nausea, anxiety, numbness of lips, and dry mouth should immediately consult the doctor.
Consuming saffron in high amounts can be very toxic to the health of both baby and mom. In addition, researchers suspect that there could be a possible link to abortion as it can induce uterus contraction.
Therefore, adding one or two strings of saffron comes around 0.2 to 1 gram and the measure to consume is 1.5 grams. Hope you understand, what is the importance of saffron intake, eat according to that and enhance your health during gestation.
Winding up
In the end, saffron can be a delightful and beneficial addition to a pregnant woman’s diet only when consumed in moderation. Always remember to consult your healthcare provider for personalized advice and to ensure whether saffron fits with your overall health or not. Their valuable advice and personalized care can save you from the risk of miscarriages and support for healthy delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)
No, still many elders suggest pregnant ladies drink saffron milk during pregnancy to enhance the skin tone of a baby. However, no scientific evidence is available proving that a baby’s skin tone increases after a mom consumes saffron. So, eating saffron with this intention may not give the expected outcomes.
Carotenoid crocin and crocetin in saffron help you relieve morning sickness and nausea. This golden spice also increases sleep quality and eases digestion, which makes it an ideal ingredient to add to several dishes.
Antioxidants in saffron can combat free radicals and promote healthy skin. That’s why manufacturers include saffron as an important in their products. However, saffron during pregnancy is not a mandatory thing, ladies must intake saffron in moderate amounts.
