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Pregnancy food safety · 4 entries

Spices during pregnancy

Of the 4 spices entries here, 2 are fine, 1 needs care and 1 is worth avoiding. Usually it's how something was cooked or stored that decides it, not the food itself — each entry says which, and why.

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

    Avoid

    Some spices need to be excluded from your menu during pregnancy. In this list are:
 • fenugreek (does stimulant effect on the uterus, ingesting seeds through mouth could cause bloating, gas trouble and diarrhea), 
• asafetida (natural contraceptive, can lead to blood loss and miscarriage), 
• angelica (substance which could cause thinning of blood), 
• peppermint (relaxes the uterus, also it can trigger menstruation).

  • Spices to be careful with

    Take care

    You should avoid large amounts of nutmeg and cinnamon. Note that adding some into your meal sometimes is NOT dangerous! Note that widely used garlic can also be dangerous as it contains some potentially toxic substance and when consumed in large amounts could cause heartburn and bleeding.

  • All types of pickles

    Safe

    You 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.

  • Almost all types of spices

    Safe

    Spices 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.

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