Any Indian will know the importance of Ghee in preparing delicious Indian food. That being said, you might be wondering if you can have Ghee during pregnancy. After all, pregnancy is a time when you really have to watch your diet, and for long, ghee has been deemed has a great health food.
What you eat can really affect your health, as well as your baby’s, especially since your food is your baby’s primary source of nutrition. It is important to have a well-balanced diet that provides you with all the
nutrients you need and does not have any bad side effects.
Can Ghee be included in this? Is Ghee safe during pregnancy? Let’s find out.
Is It Safe To Eat Ghee During Pregnancy?
Ghee is usually rather easy to digest, and it also enhances your metabolism. It is a rich source of fats. When you are pregnant, it is recommended that you get 5-8 teaspoons of fat each day. Out of this, 10-12% should be saturated fats. Ghee can provide this for you.
So, while consuming excess amounts of Ghee can have ill effects such as unhealthy weight gain, it can also be quite beneficial for pregnant women and can become a part of your healthy pregnancy routine. About 1-3 tablespoons of Ghee during pregnancy helps to reap all its benefits.
However, it may be a good idea to consult a dietician or doctor before incorporating Ghee into your diet.
Related Reading: 11 Simple Ways To Boost Immunity During Pregnancy
When Is Ghee Not Recommended During Pregnancy?
Even though Ghee can be safe and beneficial in moderate amounts, there are some limitations you should impose on your intake of it. There are some situations that urge you to avoid Ghee during pregnancy.
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The main reason that would make you limit your Ghee consumption is excess weight gain. Pregnancy is a time when you are more prone to rapid weight gain and obesity. As such, it is important to pay attention to your diet, especially if you have more of a chance of weight gain or are already overweight.
Being overweight during pregnancy can contribute to many serious complications. The excess weight one puts on during pregnancy is very hard to lose after delivery. That being said, you don’t need to completely avoid Ghee unless your doctor recommends it. You just have to use it more sparingly.
Another main reason to reduce your intake of Ghee during pregnancy is gallstones. If you get gallstones during pregnancy, it would be a good idea to downsize your Ghee consumption.
What Is The Best Time To Eat Ghee?
Starting the day with Ghee can be very good for you! In the morning, before eating anything else, you can have a teaspoon of Ghee. This is a very beneficial way to start the day, according to Ayurveda.
After you fill the spoon with Ghee, make sure to warm it slightly, so that it becomes liquid. Also, after you have the Ghee, you should wait 30 minutes before eating or drinking anything else.
And remember: homemade Ghee is always better than store-bought! Try to use homemade Ghee during pregnancy as much as you can.
Other Uses Of Ghee During Pregnancy
Ghee is a rich source of various nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, Omega-3 fatty acids, Omega-9 fatty acids, and antioxidants. These are all essential for the proper maintenance of the mother’s body, as well as the development of the baby. Thus, it is obvious that Ghee can be very beneficial in providing all the nutrients you need. However, Ghee during pregnancy
has some other uses, too.
1. Relief from constipation
Pregnancy is a time when you are prone to contracting many stomach issues, especially constipation. Having a little bit of Ghee can be very helpful in providing relief from this.
Just have one tablespoon of Ghee each night, and take a few sips of hot water afterward. This will help you maintain regular bowel movements. It also helps with digestion. This makes aid in digestion one of the main benefits of Ghee during pregnancy.
Related Reading: 18 home remedies for constipation during pregnancy
2. Natural stress reliever
It is no secret that pregnancy is a stressful time. With all the raging hormones, exhaustion, altered metabolism, constant changes to your appearance, and anxiety and nervousness, you would probably be having a bit of a hard time, no matter how wanted the pregnancy is.
Ghee is known for being a natural stress reliever, and having it can relax your nerves.
3. Good for lactose intolerant people
Ghee is one of the purest dairy products. It has no impurities. This makes it more suitable than most other dairy products for people with lactose intolerant.
4. Helps baby’s development
Ghee provides many nutrients. It also has many antiviral properties. It helps ensure the healthy functioning of the digestive system. For these reasons, it is no surprise that Ghee helps the baby develop properly.
Related Reading: 12 best foods for baby brain development
5. Regain lost vitality
During pregnancy, a large portion of the nutrients consumed by the mother is often provided for the fetus’ growth and development. This can lead to lost strength and vitality for the mother. With its abundance of vitamins and antioxidants, Ghee can help pregnant women regain this strength.
6. Deals with stretch marks
One of the main issues main people complain about during pregnancy is stretch marks. As your body grows rapidly to accommodate the fetus, it is only natural that you get a few stretch marks. It usually appears at the end of pregnancy, on the arms, legs, and buttocks. Applying a little bit of Ghee to the marks is a great way to remove them, and is a common home remedy.
7. Natural tonic
According to Ayurveda, Ghee can be a very powerful tonic and can be beneficial in several ways.
Having a teaspoon of Ghee that is mixed with raw turmeric and boiled every day in the morning can be incredibly beneficial to the immune system. It can also help cure dry cough. Turmeric during pregnancy should only be taken in natural form and medicinal quantities of turmeric should be avoided.
You can also mix pure cow Ghee with boiled milk, add a few drops of saffron and honey, and mix in a bit of turmeric. This concoction is very helpful for the fetus’ growth. It improves its brain health and aids in the fetus’ brain development. It can also increase the chances of easy and less painful labor. So having this mixture every day can be very beneficial.
Benefits Of Putting Ghee In Belly Button During Pregnancy
Putting Ghee in your belly button can be very beneficial, whether or not you are pregnant. The navel is an acupressure point and is inter-connected with several regions in your body.
In order to put Ghee on your belly button, you just have to take a spoonful of Ghee, melt it into Ghee oil, and then pour it in your navel after it cools down. Remember to do this while in a horizontal position. Do it every night before bed.
Make sure you don’t press down on your belly button too hard, as it is a sensitive area with a lot of nerves.
Here are some benefits to putting Ghee on the belly button during pregnancy.
- Helps prevent hair damage and hair fall. Use coconut oil in your hair, and also rub some Ghee on your belly button. It will prevent hair fall and strengthen your hair. There are also many benefits of drinking coconut water during pregnancy
- Helps you have a clear face and skin. It can prevent blemishes on your skin as well as acne. It also softens your skin. This is because the navel is connected with various other parts of your body
- It helps moisturize your skin
- It helps alleviate pain in several different parts of your body. Joint pains in particular, which is a common problem in pregnancy, can be solved by putting Ghee on the belly button
Cow Ghee Vs Buffalo Ghee During Pregnancy
Usually, and especially in Ayurveda, cow Ghee is seen as being better than buffalo Ghee. Cow Ghee has a richer nutritional composition and therefore, can be more beneficial.
However, as cow Ghee is nearly twice as expensive as buffalo Ghee, people often opt for the latter.
How To Introduce Ghee In Your Everyday Diet During Pregnancy?
If you are someone who has not had a lot of Ghee in your past, it can be a bit confusing deciding to incorporate it into your pregnancy diet. If so, here are a few ways to introduce yourself to Ghee during pregnancy.
- You can apply it to rotis, bread, and vegetables
- You can mix it with rice
- You can use it to prepare sweets such as laddos, halwas, etc.
- You can mix it with milk to make a refreshing and healthy drink. Milk with Ghee during pregnancy has a great many benefits
Related Reading: 7 Benefits Of Drinking Milk During Pregnancy
Conclusion
Pregnant women are often told by the elders of the family, as well as older family friends, to consume Ghee during pregnancy. Although the reasoning behind it (of it easing labor pain) is not supported by science, there is no denying that there are benefits to consuming Ghee during pregnancy.
You can enjoy these benefits at any time during pregnancy, but there are a few things you should keep in mind. Always make sure you only consume moderate amounts, and ensure there is no risk of rapid weight gain.
As long as you do that, Ghee is one of the best things you can have during pregnancy.
FAQ’s
Yes, you can eat Ghee during early pregnancy. In fact, you can eat it at any time during your pregnancy. It can be very beneficial. However, you have to be careful about it if you are prone to weight gain, or if you are overweight.
It is safe to be eating Ghee during the first-trimester pregnancy, until the very end of pregnancy. However, as mentioned above, if weight is a concern, make sure you contact your doctor before incorporating Ghee into your diet.
It is generally considered safe to have Ghee during the third trimester. However, keep in mind that during the final months of pregnancy, your physical activity reduces greatly. This can be cause for concern as it can cause weight gain, both for you and for the baby.
As with any other food, it is important to practice moderation when having Ghee during pregnancy. The recommended amount for a healthy woman (who does not have conditions like jaundice or fatty liver) of the average BMI is around 2-3 teaspoons.
There are many widely believed assumptions about Ghee. Many think it will lubricate the vagina and ease the pain of labor. Others think it can be used for inducing contractions and starting labor. However, none of these claims are supported by scientific evidence, and therefore, cannot be believed blindly.