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Eating Garlic During Pregnancy - Benefits, Risks & Recipes
Garlic is a herb that is grown all around the world and is a commonly used ingredient in many recipes. But it is more than just a flavouring agent as it offers various medicinal benefits too. But does it also benefit a pregnant woman? Find out!
Garlic is known to help treat certain pregnancy-related problems like high blood pressure and blood circulation. But if you are pregnant, you should be very careful about the quantity of garlic you include in your diet. Eating garlic or any other food will have an impact on your health as well as your baby’s health so you must be careful before including any new food or herb in your pregnancy diet.
Is It Safe to Eat Garlic During Pregnancy?
Garlic is safe for consumption during pregnancy as long as it is consumed in moderate amounts. This is especially true for the first trimester of pregnancy. If you want to add garlic to any dish you make, make sure you don’t add in too much as eating too much garlic in the first trimester of pregnancy can affect the health of the foetus negatively.
You must also exercise caution while including garlic in your diet in the second trimester as well as the third trimester of your pregnancy, as eating excess garlic during this time could lower your blood pressure levels and thin your blood. Hence, proper guidance from a doctor is advised about the quantity of garlic that is suitable for you.
How Much Garlic Can You Eat While Pregnant?
Pregnant women can consume about two to four cloves of fresh garlic daily. This translates to a rough 600 to 1200 mg of garlic extract. During pregnancy, you can also use about 0.03 to 0.12 ml of garlic essential oil after consulting with your doctor.
Benefits of Eating Garlic While Pregnant
Garlic is known as a healthy add-on in a pregnancy diet for various reasons. Here are some of the benefits of eating garlic during pregnancy.
Lowers Cholesterol Levels and the Risk of Heart Problems
Garlic is a well-known remedy for heart problems. Eating garlic during pregnancy can lower the chances of these complications. Garlic in its crushed or chopped form has allicin compound in it, which helps balance cholesterol levels.
Helps Prevent Cancer
Consuming garlic can prevent the occurrence of cancer, especially colon cancer. Eating garlic, onions, and chives can lower the risk of stomach and oesophageal cancer.
Lowers the Risk of Infections
Eating foods with garlic in them can boost your immune system and help fight various illnesses. By including garlic in your diet, you can combat infections and a cold or flu, and keep your baby healthy.
It Can Help Treat Skin Problems
The anti-microbial properties of garlic make it an ideal remedy for skin infections or even infections of the mouth. Topical application of garlic in such cases is known to provide relief.
It Can Help Prevent Hair Loss
Garlic is rich in allicin, a compound that is based on sulphur. Sulphur is known to prevent hair loss and also promote the growth of new hair.
Lowers Fatigue
Garlic is also known to lower the instances of fatigue in pregnant women. Tiredness and fatigue is a common problem during pregnancy but these can be taken care of by eating garlic. Eating garlic can even provide relief from dizziness and vomiting sensation during pregnancy.
Side Effects of Eating Food With Too Much Garlic in It
Despite the multifold benefits that it offers, garlic, when consumed in large amounts, can lead to a few side effects in pregnant women. Here are some of the side effects of consuming too much garlic during pregnancy.
Garlic is a natural blood thinner. If you consume excessive amounts of garlic, it may lead to uncontrollable bleeding during labour or delivery, whether normal or C-section.
Eating garlic in excessive amounts can result in low blood pressure. While low blood pressure can be beneficial for women with preeclampsia, it may be harmful to others. During pregnancy, the blood pressure lowers due to expanding vessels in the first few weeks. However, when the blood pressure drops to a dangerous level, it may send a woman’s body to shock and she might faint.
Garlic may react negatively with certain anti-coagulation medications like insulin, cyclosporine, coumadin, and saquinavir.
It can increase the insulin release and lower the levels of sugar in the blood.
It may also lower one's ability to absorb iodine and lead to hypothyroidism.
Many women believe that eating garlic during pregnancy can cause a miscarriage. While garlic has certain properties that may cause a miscarriage, but it happens only when a woman consumes it in large quantities.
Healthy Garlic Recipes for Pregnant Women
Adding a small amount of garlic in your pregnancy diet can be beneficial for both the mother and the baby. If you want to add garlic to the dishes you make, you should consult a doctor before you do so. In case your doctor approves of your garlic intake, then you can try out the recipes given below.
1. Cauliflower Soup With Garlic
Cauliflower soup with garlic in it would serve as a perfect appetiser for a healthy meal. You can make this healthy vegetarian soup in a jiffy.
Ingredients
2 to 3 sliced garlic cloves
2 tablespoons of oil
A bowl of chopped cauliflower
5 cups of chicken broth with low sodium
Some freshly chopped thyme leaves
Black pepper and Kosher salt
How to Make
Heat some oil in a pan and add the garlic to it. Stir it until it starts to give its distinct aroma or until it turns golden brown in colour. Turn off the flame. Transfer it to a bowl and keep aside.
Take the chicken broth in a deep vessel. Add the cauliflower, thyme, salt and black pepper to it. Let this mixture simmer for 15 minutes until the cauliflower turns tender. Allow it to cool for some time.
Transfer it to a blender and blend it to a smooth puree.
Garnish it with the roasted garlic and thyme and enjoy.
2. Snow Peas Stir-Fried With Garlic
An all-time favourite of kids and adults, snow peas can be had as a side dish. You can make it in no time and enjoy during pregnancy.
Ingredients
3 cloves of garlic, minced
2 cups of snow peas
½ tablespoon of cooking oil
1 tablespoon of sesame oil
1 tablespoon of toasted sesame seeds
Salt as per taste
How to Make
Boil some water in a deep vessel and add the snow peas, salt, and some cooking oil to it. Let it cook for about one minute and keep aside.
In a pan, fry the minced garlic and add the boiled snow peas to it. Sprinkle some salt and sesame oil and stir-fry.
Transfer the stir-fried peas into a plate and garnish it with toasted sesame seeds.
3. Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe
Honey garlic chicken tastes delicious and can be eaten with rice.
Ingredients
¼ cup garlic, minced
1 cup of soy sauce
1 cup of honey
¼ cup minced ginger
4 boneless chicken thighs
How to Make
Preheat the oven to 200 degree Celsius.
Whisk the honey, garlic, ginger, and soy sauce together until they blend well.
Take the chicken thighs in a bowl and pour the above mixture over the chicken thighs, and let them marinate for an hour or more.
Place them in the oven for about 20 minutes. Flip in between and glaze with the honey-garlic mixture and cook again.
You can eat honey garlic chicken with rice or veggies.
FAQs
1. What If I Eat Too Much Garlic While Pregnant?
Eating garlic can be very beneficial during pregnancy as long as it is consumed in moderation. Eating too much garlic during pregnancy may irritate your digestive tract and upset your stomach. Excess garlic may even lead to some other serious issues like low blood pressure, blood thinning, etc. It is advised that you consume no more than 2 to 3 cloves of garlic daily to avoid any complications. In case you notice any signs of complications, it is best to reach out to your doctor immediately.
2. What If I Eat Raw Garlic on an Empty Stomach?
Eating raw garlic on an empty stomach causes no problems. In fact, it is known to help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of catching colds or infections.
Garlic is an age-old remedy for many health conditions. It proves to be beneficial even during pregnancy, however, only when consumed in limited amounts. You are advised to discuss with your doctor about the benefits and side effects of consuming garlic during pregnancy before you make it a part of your diet.
Also Read: Consuming Ginger During Pregnancy Read more
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Keeping Allergies at Bay when Introducing Solid Foods to your Baby
Your baby is growing up fast. She has crossed the age of six months, and she can probably sit up on her own. She looks with interest as you have your meals. This is the best time to introduce her to solids! However, the journey of your baby from breast milk to solid foods might cause some food allergies. It is critical for you to be aware of the foods that can upset your baby’s digestive system and know just how to save him from scary allergies!
Starting solid foods is quite an adventure for your little ones. They have fed exclusively on milk - breast milk or formula - all this while and it is now time to eat something more interesting! While starting solid foods is crucial for your child's growth and development, this is also a very sensitive time for his stomach. Many babies come down with one food allergy or the other when they start solid foods, or have been eating solid foods for a relatively short period of time. While these allergies are common, that doesn't make them any less painful for your baby!
Common Food Allergies To Guard Your Baby Against - and What Causes Them
1. Hives
Hives are pale, patchy areas on the skin that are itchy and pinkish in appearance. They are often known to disappear and make a sudden re-appearance again.
Foods that cause them: soybeans, wheat, fish, eggs and shellfish
2. Eczema
Eczema is a reddish rash on the skin which is dry, thickened and scaly in appearance. Although eczema is usually aggravated by heat, dust and pollution, food sources are not uncommon.
Foods that cause them: dairy products, soy and eggs
3. Breathlessness
This is the scariest allergy of all. Your little one’s airway closes, and she finds it hard to breathe. Like all allergies, the exact cause cannot be pinpointed, but there are certain foods proven to bring this on in some babies.
Foods that cause them: certain types of nuts and eggs
Must Do's to Avoid Food Allergies in Babies
The key to preventing food allergies in babies is simple: totally avoid foods that cause them. But this is simpler said than done! If you are feeding a little bit of everything to your baby, as most mother do, tracking the allergen becomes all the more difficult. It is best to consult your allergist at the earliest in case of an outbreak. The expert, after taking a few blood or skin tests, would be able to tell you the foods that are triggering the allergic reactions in your baby.
Here are some must-dos you should keep in mind to avoid allergies and ensure that your baby is gaining all the right nutrients from the food she is just beginning to eat:
1. Introduce Solids Very, Very Gradually
This is the most important step. You must never rush into solid foods. Introduce solid foods to your baby in a phased manner only, and be constantly vigilant to any reactions or symptoms she might develop as a result.
2. Never Forget to Read Food Labels
Whenever you feed your baby anything brought from the store, read the food labels carefully. This is especially critical before introducing a new food, and will go a long way in preventing severe allergic reactions in your baby.
3. Give Detailed Instructions to Caretakers
Leave detailed written instructions about the foods to be avoided if you have day-care workers, babysitters or relatives taking care of your little one. Also, make sure that the caretakers know exactly what steps to follow in case of an allergic outbreak.
4. Make An Anti-allergy Action Plan
Allergies usually don’t follow any rules and recurrence is usually more severe than the first episode. Consult with your baby’s pediatrician or allergist, and chalk out a detailed action plan for a sudden outbreak of allergies. The doctor might prescribe an epinephrine auto-injector which automatically administers the right dose of epinephrine to your baby.
5. Finally, Keep Track of and Act According to Your Family History
If allergies run in the family, chances are your baby would also inherit them. In that case, delay the introduction of solids for as long as possible and breastfeed your baby. Breast milk improves the immunity of your little one, and makes her less prone to allergies.
Although food allergies seem like scary monsters, the good news is that most children outgrow them before they begin school. However, if your little one does have an allergy, ensure that you use anti-allergic products like fabrics, detergents, etc. as food allergies can trigger allergies of other kind as well. A little bit of vigilance and care is all that is needed to keep those allergies at bay. Good luck! Read more
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Lessons I have learnt from my kids during my journey of motherhood!!
We talk and write a lot about what we are teaching our children and what they are learning from us. But sometimes we missed noticing a few important lessons we learned from them. If we start monitoring those and implement in our lifestyle, I am sure we can create a better living world full of innocence and love.
# Be Yourself
we modify ourselves with different situation and people. Be exactly who you are, not just a replica of someone else, not a filtered version of what other people want you to be.
# Laughter is the best medicine
Happiness is a state of mind and not the situation. I have seen my kids laughing at any silly jokes and always happy at most of the circumstances. If we keep following the same it gives us a pleasant life and good health.
# Make friends
"Will you be my friend"? Well, we can't ask this question to anyone who is stranger to us but the motive behind this is that we need to reach out and make connections, in work or personal life. Friendship is a miraculous relationship.
# Easily forgive
I have seen both the kids having catfight and the very next moment playing and dancing with fun and joy. The same way we need to keep our ego aside in case if any difference with anyone around us and settle our scores easily.
# Relax and take a peaceful nap
When I am in a kind of stress it's difficult for me to get sleep. But kids have this immense talent to take a nap with no worries. Sleep refreshes our mind and a peaceful nap creates wonders. So a relaxed nap is a must for all.
# Expression of love
The way my kids express their love in any circumstances is what gears me up even at the weirdest times. An emotional hug, sweet kisses, Numerous time expressing the love you are what all create magic. We need to express our love the way our kids do. We missed out expressing our love to loved ones. So let's start adoring it.
# Activeness
Most of the kids are active these days and can charge their batteries to work fully loaded. They have no space for laziness. Following them up is not only makes us active but keeping us fit and healthy.
# Wonder about small things and explore them.
We come across many kids who keep on making us engaged by their queries of learning. Do they feel wonderful about any smaller things like? why stars shine in the sky, How do we get ice from freezer?? Depending on their age their queries varies. It keeps us also engaged and even made me curious about knowing facts which even I didn't bother to know.
# Be fearless
Kids just let their fear doesn't come on the way of their play. They become adventurous and fearless that somehow teaches us to fearlessly do our work which we have stopped due to fear.
we modify ourselves with different situation and people. Be exactly who you are, not just a replica of someone else, not a filtered version of what other people want you to be.
# It's okay to cry when you are upset
kids cry when they are upset and feel better. It doesn't mean they should cry for any smaller thing. But crying is benefit in two ways. First, it helps out to throw out negative energy created in body and second, it attracts pampered from dear ones which are near to you. Sometimes, we need this therapy to feel relaxed.
I have realised that there is still a hidden child in me when I start learning their habits and it reforms me a better person living a better life. Thanks to my little teachers.
By Sagarika Sahoo Read more
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Dr Sameer awadhiya has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
1 hour ago
Q. #asktheexpert
baby having nose block.. sleeping problem
what should I do?
Dr Sameer awadhiya
Paediatrician
1 hour ago
A. nasal blockage can be relieved by using nasal saline drops like nasoclear saline drops in thecg nose followed by nasal aspirator to take out the secretions very ghently
steam inhalation can also be helpful in this condition
Nikitha has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 2 months
1 hour ago
Q. At what month does the baby go from breech position to cephalic position?
Nikitha
Mom of a 9 yr 5 m old boy
1 hour ago
A. hello nearing your delivery it will happen.any concern then it would be better to check with your doctor and she will be able to guide you better on examination of the same and advise you accordingly which would be better and also safe
Dr Vandan H Kumar has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
1 hour ago
Q. @ the time of birth baby weight 2.475kg but after completed 6weeks baby weight approx 3kg, why baby weight gain very slow, till breast-feeding milk and urinate 6-7 times and potty 2-3 times. can u please suggest why slow in progress in weight gain???
Read moreDr Vandan H Kumar
Paediatrician
1 hour ago
A. the average birth weight of neonates is about 3 kg.
during the first few days after birth, the newborn loses
extracellular fluid equivalent to about 10% of the body
weight.
most infants regain their birth weight by the age of 10 days. subsequently, they gain weight at a rate of
approximately 25 to 30 g per day for the first 3 months of life.
thereafter they gain about 400 g weight every month,
for the remaining part of the first year. x
an infant usually doubles his birth weight (taken as 3 kg) by the age of 5 months. the birth weight triples at 1 year and is four times at 2 years of age.
the weight of ca child at the age of three years is usually
five times that of the birth weight.
Manisha Singh has added a new answer
Trying To Conceive
1 hour ago
Q. #asktheexpert mera baby 3 month ka h use gas bhuat banti h is karan wo bhuat rota hai
Manisha Singh
Expecting Mom due in 1 month
50 mins ago
A. it's very common for babies having gas problem ...you should recommend your doctor for this
Sai Prasanthi R L has added a new answer
Trying To Conceive
1 hour ago
Q. Hi
what to give 6 months old baby to eat
Sai Prasanthi R L
Mom of a 10 yr 2 m old boy
56 mins ago
A. Hello dear! Once your baby completes 6 months you can start giving small quantities of semi solids like homemade cerelac, mashed bananas, apple puree, ragi and so on. Continue with breastfeeding. Keep Babyhug tummy roll on handy
Dr Muhsina has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 2 months
29 mins ago
Q. now I am in 30 weeks of pregnancy I have vomiting.I couldn't control what the reasons for this vomiting
Dr Muhsina
Expecting Mom due in 3 months
8 mins ago
A. Some women may have vomiting throughout their pregnancy. The most common reason for vomiting during the third trimester may be gastritis. Make sure you eat small frequent meals, preferably every 2 hours. If your baby's weight during checkups are adequate..u needn't worry much about this. You can also consult your doctor and take anti emetics and PPIs if the vomiting is bothering you or interfering with your daily activities.
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