Pregnancy food safety · 4 entries
Spices during pregnancy
Cook with whatever you like. Spices in the amounts you actually cook with — cinnamon in porridge, cumin in a curry, chili, turmeric, garlic, paprika — are food, and no US health authority restricts them in pregnancy. The distinction that matters is dose. A spice taken as a supplement, a concentrated extract or a strong medicinal tea is a different thing, and those are not tested or regulated the way medicines are. Ask your provider before taking any of them. Ginger is worth knowing about in the other direction: it is one of the few remedies with real evidence behind it for morning sickness.
Every spices entry, with a verdict
Sorted with the ones worth knowing about first. Avoid means skip it entirely; take care means it depends on how it was prepared.
Spices to avoid
AvoidThere is no US list of spices to cut out during pregnancy — the amounts you cook with are food, not medicine. Fenugreek in a curry, asafetida in a dal, peppermint tea: all fine. What is worth leaving alone is the concentrated stuff: supplements, capsules, extracts and strong medicinal teas. Fenugreek and angelica in those forms are traditionally used to bring on labor or to thin the blood, and nobody has tested them in pregnancy. Save them for afterwards, along with any herb sold as a remedy rather than a seasoning.
All types of pickles
SafeYou can enjoy pickles, but don't overdo it. Excessive amounts of pickles can cause dehydration and heartburn, eating spicy pickles can even trigger diarrhea. If you are prone to gastritis while pregnant, it is better to avoid eating pickles during this time.
Spices to be careful with
SafeYou should avoid large amounts of nutmeg and cassia cinnamon. Note that adding some into your meal sometimes is NOT dangerous! A grating over custard or a spoonful in your oatmeal is fine. Garlic, though, is not on this list at all — it is food, it is good for you, and there is nothing to limit. If it gives you heartburn, ease off for that reason, not a safety one.
Almost all types of spices
SafeSpices are okay during pregnancy, some of them can even ease some of your symptoms. The best spices for pregnancy are ginger (it is known well for fighting nausea and vomiting), turmeric (magic stuff — pain reliever, skin improver, natural detoxifier, oxidative stress reducer), black pepper (rich source of chromium that can prevent increasing blood sugar level and cholesterol), cardamom (also fighting nausea), fresh chives (rich and natural source of folate that is needed for the fetus brain development, cell division, and DNA synthesis). Don't forget that moderation is the king, don't overdo it with any spices, even totally safe ones.
Other categories
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