Let us know about Fenugreek during pregnancy. Women face a lot of suggestions and advice regarding food during pregnancy. This is food and it is to be avoided. Eat more of it or don’t eat it at all. With these types of suggestions, pregnant women often get confused as to whom to listen to and whom not. In this article, know whether pregnant women should consume fenugreek or not. Along with this, it has also been explained in detail in this article that what is the effect of consuming fenugreek on a pregnant woman and her unborn child.
read in detail below
Let us first know whether it is safe to consume fenugreek during pregnancy.
Is it safe to take fenugreek during pregnancy?
Fenugreek is safe for pregnant women only when taken in moderation. Taking an overdose can lead to premature onset of uterine contractions. According to a research published on the NCBI website, fenugreek has a hypoglycemic effect (lowering blood sugar). Also it can accelerate the secretion of oxytocin (a type of hormone). Both of these result in contraction of the uterus. For this reason, fenugreek needs to be consumed with caution during pregnancy, Pregnant women can include its fresh leaves in their diet. Along with this, fenugreek can also be consumed in limited quantity in the form of dal, fenugreek bhaji or delicious fenugreek paratha. Nevertheless, before consuming fenugreek, do ask the doctor once whether the benefits of eating fenugreek can be taken during pregnancy, because everyone’s pregnancy and health are not the same.
Let us know further in the article what can be the disadvantages of fenugreek.
disadvantages of eating fenugreek during pregnancy
1. Uterine contractions
Consuming fenugreek during pregnancy can show signs of uterine contractions. Fenugreek is one of the herbs that are known to stimulate the uterus. They are consumed in the last stage of pregnancy to induce labor. Also, fenugreek is used to clean the uterus after delivery or abortion. Therefore, in some cases, consumption of fenugreek can lead to preterm birth or miscarriage. This is the reason why it is advised not to consume fenugreek before the 37th week of pregnancy.
- Digestive Problems
Soluble fiber is found in fenugreek. For this reason, consuming fenugreek in excess during pregnancy can affect the digestive system of the pregnant woman. Actually fenugreek is used to reduce weight, because it slows down the digestion process. Also can reduce the absorption of food by the intestines. This activity of fenugreek can make a person feel full (3) . In such a situation, if a pregnant woman consumes fenugreek, then eating less can cause nutritional deficiency in the pregnant woman .
- Odor in urine and sweat
A pregnant woman is advised to stay in a clean and odor-free environment, as many women become more sensitive to smells during this time. The smell can cause nausea and vomiting in pregnant women (4) . Fenugreek in pregnancy can pose a risk of these problems, because after its consumption, the sweat and urine of pregnant women can smell bad.
According to a study published on the NCBI website, consumption of fenugreek can cause sweat and urine to smell like the strong chemical element sotolan. For this activity of fenugreek, eight types of compounds found in it can be held responsible (5) (6) . Therefore, fenugreek during pregnancy may inadvertently cause problems for pregnant women.
4. Fenugreek can cause allergies
In many cases, the disadvantages of eating fenugreek during pregnancy can also appear in the form of allergies. Consuming fenugreek can cause respiratory allergies such as stuffy nose and cough. Its use can cause problems like shortness of breath, tightness in the chest or throat, chest pain, skin blisters, rash or itching. Therefore, experts may advise against its use in sensitive situations like pregnancy. Also, it would be right to consult a doctor for more information
5. Fenugreek with medicines
Experts believe that fenugreek should not be consumed with other medicines, especially with diabetes medicines. Therefore, pregnant women should not start consuming fenugreek on their own, but consult a doctor first.
6. Increase in estrogen
Consuming fenugreek can increase the reproductive hormone estrogen. In one research, it has been observed that fenugreek extract can improve the fertility of women by increasing estradiol serum (a type of estrogen).
At the same time, this estrogenic effect of fenugreek can create many health challenges in pregnant women. The increased amount of estrogen can cause problems like preeclampsia (a problem associated with high blood pressure) in pregnancy (10) . Also, the increased amount of estrogen can also cause premature delivery (11) .
7. Nervous system disorders
Consuming fenugreek seeds during pregnancy can also cause congenital malformations. Although there is no conclusive evidence, fenugreek consumption is associated with an increased risk of congenital disorders such as hydrocephalus, anencephaly, and spina bifida. Therefore, avoiding fenugreek consumption during pregnancy may be a better option as a precautionary measure.
In this article, you have come to know about the side effects of consuming fenugreek during pregnancy. From the above, scientific facts show that the benefits of eating fenugreek during pregnancy are less and the disadvantages are more. Therefore, it will be better if you do not consume it. Hope you have liked this information about the effect of fenugreek on the body during pregnancy. A healthy mother lays the foundation for a healthy baby life, so expectant mothers should pay attention to their diet from the early days of pregnancy.
