The benefits and harms of ginger during pregnancy, can it be consumed, possible contraindications
During pregnancy, women have to carefully review their menu, since many familiar products are prohibited. You can use ginger during pregnancy, but only with the permission of a doctor, in limited quantities and not in all trimesters.
Useful properties of ginger
The composition of ginger is so rich that the eastern sages recommended keeping the root of the plant in the house at all times. It is distinguished by a high content of vitamins (A, B1, B2, E, C, PP, K), minerals (iron, magnesium, zinc, calcium, phosphorus), amino acids (threonine, valine, phenylanine, leysine, tryptophan), carbohydrates, proteins and essential oils.
Why is ginger root useful during pregnancy:
- a positive effect on the gastrointestinal tract (relieves heartburn, improves appetite, relieves heaviness in the stomach and gas formation);
- effectiveness for colds and acute respiratory viral infections (warms, relieves inflammation and irritation, sore throat, relieves cough);
- efficacy in toxicosis (relieves dizziness, nausea and vomiting, salivation);
- a calming effect on the nervous system (ginger relieves anxiety, irritation, fear, apathy, improves mood, normalizes sleep).
The plant lowers blood pressure, thins the blood, removes cholesterol and toxins from the body, has analgesic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.
Can ginger be consumed during early and late pregnancy?
The fragrant root in small quantities is completely safe for mom and fetus, if there are no contraindications. If a woman has not used it before, then during pregnancy you should not take risks and try new products. In the case when she has been familiar with the seasoning for a long time, then you can gradually include the plant in the diet, adding it to drinks and dishes.
Doctors recommend ginger during early pregnancy to relieve symptoms of toxicosis and weakness. They use it in the form of infusion or tea, decoction, tablets. The drink is prepared from the fresh root, as dried ginger powder can increase a woman's nervousness. You can brew ready-made ginger tea (sold in bags), add honey, lemon, orange. The drink is consumed warm, not hot, and does not make it strong, burning.
In the second phase (2nd trimester) in women, toxicosis decreases or disappears, the expectant mother feels well. Therefore, during this period, it is better to limit the use of ginger.It is worth giving up the root also at the stage of the third pregnancy (3rd trimester), as it can:
- cause bleeding during childbirth due to blood thinning;
- provoke premature birth;
- affect the hormonal background and the state of the vessels of the fetus;
- provoke a miscarriage, especially if this has happened before.
When is ginger recommended for pregnant women?
During pregnancy, it is recommended to slightly limit the use of spices in cooking (tips for their use can be found below). Given the possible benefits and harms, the gynecologist is able to prescribe a woman to use ginger to alleviate the condition with severe toxicosis, sleep disorders, and depressed mood.
Weak tea made from fresh ginger root can replace the usual black or green drink in the morning, it can be used for colds or as a preventive measure during the respiratory season.
The plant can be recommended for expectant mothers as a natural remedy for maintaining the immune system, for joint and muscle pain. Pickled root is allowed in case of loss of appetite, but such a product has contraindications.
Contraindications and restrictions
You can not always use ginger root during pregnancy. It is necessary to give up spices for some diseases:
- hypertension (the plant can not be taken simultaneously with medicines that lower blood pressure, stimulating the work of the cardiovascular system);
- inflammation of the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract, hemorrhoids and diarrhea (intensifies intestinal disorders, irritation, causes additional blood flow to problem areas);
- skin diseases and a tendency to allergies (it is better not to risk it, even if there is no allergy to ginger);
- gallstone disease (it is possible to call the movement of stones and block their ducts);
- reduced blood clotting (possibly bleeding);
- severe liver diseases (hepatitis, cirrhosis);
- tumors of various localization (can cause growth of formations).
A limitation, contraindication is a high temperature - ginger as a warming agent contributes to its even greater increase, the occurrence of fever.
To bear a healthy child, a woman can consume ginger in the amount of 1 g of ground root per day - this is enough to make one cup of the drink. Fresh root must be taken at the rate of 3 tbsp. l. in grated form in 1.5 liters of water. You can drink the drink only once a day, you can eat dishes with this plant no more than once a day.
How to properly consume ginger during pregnancy?
Ginger tea during pregnancy is prepared simply: take 1 tsp. peeled and grated root, pour 1 glass of boiling water and leave for 5 minutes (do not hold longer, you get too strong a drink). There are other ways of making tea, which is used for colds or to relieve nausea with toxicosis.
The pharmacy sells ginger tea bags, which helps get rid of the symptoms of toxicosis, and pills. The dosage of tablets should be chosen by the doctor, but no more than 100-200 mg can be taken per day.
In Ayurvedic practice, pregnant women are recommended to take ginger with ghee, which is even added to tea. This product improves the absorption of nutrients from the root, prevents allergic reactions.
Ginger tea for toxicosis and colds
For the treatment of colds, the drink is prepared as follows: 2 tbsp. l. 1 liter of boiling water is poured over fresh grated root and insisted for half an hour. Then the mixture is filtered, 2 tbsp. l. honey and juice of half a lemon. For cough, throat, traditional medicine recommends adding lemon, apple, honey to tea. A drink made from a piece of ginger 2-3 cm long, half an apple, one lemon, 2 tbsp. l. black tea.All components are crushed, poured with boiling water, infused for 10 minutes, filtered and drunk, adding honey to taste. With a cold, drinks are consumed only warm and only in the absence of temperature.
Nausea with toxicosis will disappear if you consume weak ginger tea daily before breakfast - it will prepare the stomach for eating.
Pickled ginger
Fresh ginger for pregnant women is allowed only in the first trimester and only in moderation. This marinated product is used as a seasoning in Japanese cuisine, it is an obligatory side dish for sushi and rolls. It is also possible to use it for women during pregnancy, but only in the early stages. Such a product may contain preservatives and artificial colors; vinegar, being highly spicy, provokes increased fluid intake. Therefore, pickled ginger is consumed little and only in the absence of edema. Better to give it up altogether.
Ginger for cough
In addition to tea made with lemon and honey, cough is treated with ginger inhalation. To do this, take 20 g of crushed plant root and 1 liter of water, boil for a quarter of an hour. Then add a spoonful of lemon juice to the mixture and breathe over the steam for 5-7 minutes. Inhalation can be done using an aroma lamp and the essential oil of this plant.
A remedy is prepared from ginger root that improves the functioning of the immune system and the whole body. To do this, grind 400 g of ginger and 4 lemons with skin on a grater or using a meat grinder. The mixture is placed in a glass jar and poured with liquid honey (200 g), insisted for a week. Lemon ginger honey take 1 tbsp. l. 15 minutes before breakfast, with a glass of water (for pregnant women, reduce the dose of the mixture by half), or add to tea. Store in a cool place.
The use of ginger for medicinal purposes cannot replace a visit to the doctor, especially if the condition does not improve. During pregnancy, a woman's immunity is weakened, so diseases develop faster and often cause complications.
Useful video: recipe for ginger tea
If a woman does not want to buy a ready-made drink in the form of tea bags or granules, then she can prepare it herself. The components must be fresh and undamaged. The process of making tea from ginger root is simple and takes a little time, as you can see by watching the video recipe.
