Many women have cravings for spicy food during pregnancy and this is common. But is it safe to eat spicy food during pregnancy? You are not advised to consume hot spices like green chillies and red chillies during pregnancy, as they can lead to acidity, heartburn and many other digestive problems. Instead, pregnant women can opt for black pepper. Black pepper has medicinal properties which are very good for your health. But when it comes to pregnancy, you should not take chances. So if you want to include black pepper in your pregnancy diet, the first thing you need to know is whether it is safe for you or not.
Is it safe to eat black pepper during pregnancy?
Yes, it is safe to consume black pepper during pregnancy, but it should be consumed in moderation. Like other food items, it should be consumed in very limited quantity, it does not cause any harm to you and your baby. You can use it alone or mix it with cumin powder and add it to salads, fruits and vegetables. However, excessive consumption of black pepper can cause acidity, miscarriage, indigestion and heartburn.
Nutritional Value of Black Pepper
Black pepper is an excellent source of nutrients. It contains Vitamin C and Vitamin K. Apart from this, minerals like iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper are also found in black pepper. It is also considered a very good source of antioxidants.
Benefits of consuming black pepper during pregnancy
Including a limited amount of black pepper in your diet during pregnancy can prove to be very beneficial for you. What can you benefit from this is explained below.
1. Improves Immunity
Consuming black pepper improves the immunity of the body. During pregnancy, regular and moderate consumption of black pepper in your diet helps in boosting your immunity naturally.
2. Improves digestion
Due to the continuous growth of the uterus during pregnancy, it affects your digestive system, due to which you start having acidity, indigestion and heartburn. To deal with this problem during pregnancy, you can include black pepper in limited quantities in your diet. It helps in reducing the problem of flatulence and gas during pregnancy.
3. Provides relief from cough and cold
If you have cold and cough during pregnancy, it is not recommended to take medicines for the same, as these combined with pregnancy medicine can have side effects that can be harmful to you and your baby. But you can try some simple home remedies to get rid of cough and cold. Adding black pepper to the soup and consuming it will cure your cold quickly.
4. Helps fight depression
Depression is common in pregnant women during pregnancy and after delivery. If you consume black pepper in moderation, it is very good for your mental and emotional health, but it should not be consumed daily as it can have a bad effect on your health.
5. Keeps blood pressure under control
The problem of blood pressure can be very harmful for pregnant women, as it can cause problems in the third trimester and during delivery. By consuming black pepper, it controls high blood pressure.
6. Prevents Cancer
Black pepper has antioxidant properties that balance the rapid changes in a pregnant woman’s body and prevent cancer-causing free radicals from attacking healthy tissue. Black pepper contains an antioxidant called piperine, which helps in killing cancer cells and even inhibits the growth of cancer cells. Consuming black pepper along with turmeric can also stop the growth of breast cancer cells.
Side Effects of Consuming Black Pepper During Pregnancy
Black pepper can be consumed during pregnancy and it will not harm you if you include it in your diet in moderation. But, some women may experience some side effects even if they consume black pepper in moderation.
1. Can be allergic
Some women are allergic to certain foods during pregnancy. Some women may have allergic problems due to the consumption of black pepper. If you experience any such reaction, it is better not to consume black pepper, especially during pregnancy. For spicy flavor, you can just add a pinch of black pepper to your food and then see if you are having any reaction to it. You should visit your doctor if the allergy symptoms are severe.
2. May cause irritation
After consuming black pepper, you may feel a burning sensation in the stomach or throat, which is normal. But during pregnancy, when you have problems with indigestion and heartburn, consuming black pepper in such cases can make the situation worse. In such cases, it is best to avoid spicy food.
3. Increases body heat
If you are pregnant during the summer time, it is better that you do not consume spicy things, because it increases the body heat even more. Including black pepper or other spices in your diet can increase your body heat and you may face problems like indigestion, mouth ulcers and many more.
Warning
If you use black pepper in moderation in your diet, it does not cause any harm, but it can have some side effects for pregnant women. It can make your pregnancy difficult by causing digestive and stomach related problems. You should avoid excessive consumption of black pepper, as it can lead to early contractions and heartburn. Also, if black pepper oil is used topically, it can act to stimulate the uterus and cause you to experience premature contractions.
Black pepper is called the king of spices and it is also very good for your health. However, it should be consumed in limited quantity only. By including it in your pregnancy diet, it helps to overcome many of your pregnancy related problems. But before including it in your diet, you must take the advice of your doctor.
