Pregnancy is a time when you receive advice from every mother about your diet, with one general suggestion being to take saffron in your food. The world’s costliest spice is the most sought after product by pregnant women who want to give all the best things on earth to the baby in their womb.
Saffron During Pregnancy – Benefits:
Before you begin taking saffron during pregnancy, consult your doctor. Saffron cannot be safe just because it is a herb. Even herbs can wreak havoc and have adverse effects on you and your baby.
Once your OB/GYN gives you the go-ahead, saffron can prove to be a fantastic remedy for you during your pregnancy. Just like everything else in life, moderation is the key to enjoying the following benefits:
- Forget Those Mood Swings : During your pregnancy, you will experience hormonal surges. This will have a profound effect on your mood, making you cranky one moment, and impulsive, depressed and teary-eyed at other times.Saffron acts as an anti-depressant and helps elevate your mood. When you are happy, you will glow and look beautiful. So the next time you look in the mirror and get upset about your ballooning belly, just have some saffron-based snack to feel happy and good about yourself.
- Kiss High Blood Pressure Goodbye : Saffron helps reduce blood pressure. So if you are pregnant, this unique property of saffron is something that you want to use to your advantage. Potassium and crocetin present in saffron help lower your blood pressure and don’t worry because this is scientifically proven.
- Enjoy Your Pregnancy Without Morning Sickness : While the thought of expanding your family is a beautiful feeling, morning sickness can take away this joy. You can combat nausea and dizziness with saffron. Anecdotal evidence shows saffron-infused tea can work wonders with morning sickness.
- Better Digestion : Bloating, gas and constipation go hand-in-hand with pregnancy. The growing fetus exerting pressure on your digestive tract and the hormonal surges are responsible for this. Saffron could be your best friend during pregnancy if you want to take pleasure from optimal digestion. It boosts blood flow to your digestive system and enhances your metabolism. This, in turn, aids in better digestion.
- Get Rid Of Those Pesky Cramps : As your baby grows, your muscles and bones will shift and stretch to accommodate the growing baby. This causes cramps and pain in the joints and stomach. Saffron is a natural anti-spasmodic and painkiller that soothes these cramps, allowing you to enjoy your pregnancy.
- Protect Yourself Against Heart Disease : Your food cravings can affect with your cardiovascular system. As you consume an increased number of calories and fat during pregnancy, it shouldn’t come as a shock that your heart health goes for a toss. Thankfully, the crocetin, potassium and antioxidants present in saffron can protect you and your baby from heart diseases by reducing triglyceride and cholesterol levels.
- Get Your Iron Levels Up : Pregnant women are usually anemic. That is why when you get pregnant, your OB/GYN tells you to consume food rich in iron. Saffron is replete with iron and can help boost your hemoglobin levels. It is best to consume saffron in food to ensure optimal results.
- Reduce Pregnancy-Related Hair Fall : Hormonal fluctuations adversely affect your hair, causing them to fall off in clumps. As a result, your confidence takes a beating. Many pregnant women profess they aid hair growth and reduce hair fall by using a paste of milk, licorice and saffron. Apply the paste on the bald spots and then sit back and revel in your lustrous hair growth.
- Feel Relaxed After A Good Night’s Sleep : The growing belly, hormonal surges, and stretching bones can make your nights very uncomfortable. If you are spending your nights tossing and turning during pregnancy, saffron-infused tea or milk can be the perfect panacea. It has mild sedative properties that relax you and promote sleep.
- Beat Those Nasty Zits During Pregnancy : You may have skin problems due to hormonal fluctuations. Pimple breakouts and melasma or mask of pregnancy are common skin-related problems that pregnant women have to face. Women, who consumed saffron during their pregnancy, claim it helped them combat these common pregnancy-caused skin problems.
- Stop Sniffles And Congestion Due To Allergens : Pregnancy makes you more susceptible to allergies and infections. This is because of compromised immune system. Your obstetrician will tell you how to protect yourself against infections, but allergies are a different ballgame. The last thing you will want is an allergy that requires anti-histamine, as it could be dangerous for your baby.The good news is you no longer have to worry about allergies. Drink milk with saffron to ease your allergies and nasal congestion. And, if you have a fever, mix a few strands of saffron in sandalwood and make a paste. Apply this paste on your forehead to bring down your temperature.
- Feel thrilled When Your Baby Moves : Ayurveda states saffron can increase the core body heat. This causes the temperature inside your body to elevate, resulting in your baby moving around. It is always exciting for an expectant mother to feel her baby’s movements, and saffron can make it possible.
- Make Sore Gums A Distant Memory : Hormones are responsible for making your gums sore during pregnancy. The soreness can make brushing teeth an ordeal. If you don’t mind the expense involved, grind some saffron and use the powder to massage your gums gently. It can alleviate the soreness and sensitivity, allowing you to maintain optimal oral hygiene.
Other Benefits Of Saffron During Pregnancy:
Saffron contains potassium, a macro-nutrient that your body needs. Potassium keeps your kidneys healthy by maintaining optimal electrolyte balance.
Studies have also found that people who consume foods rich in potassium have leaner muscle mass and increased bone density. Pregnant women risk leaching of calcium from their bones, as the body takes it for the baby. This can diminish your bone density, causing your bones to get brittle and weak. Calcium loss can also occur from teeth, causing you to suffer from extensive tooth decay. You can ensure the health of your bones and teeth during pregnancy by consuming saffron.
Saffron is also rich in folic acid, thiamine, niacin, riboflavin and vitamins A and C, making it the ideal herb for pregnant women.
When To Take Saffron During Pregnancy?
trimester, preferably from the fifth month onwards. Ayurvedic practitioners claim that you can start taking this spice for its health and nutritional benefits from the time your baby starts moving in the womb.
However, do not take more than 5g of saffron a day. Anything more than this can be dangerous for your child. It can affect the growth and development of your little one.
Tips To Taking Saffron Safely During Pregnancy:
If you intend to take saffron for the first time while you are pregnant, you will have many doubts and questions. So here are some tips to ensure you have no second thoughts about consuming this spice and enjoying its benefits.
- Enjoy Saffron With Milk : You need calcium during pregnancy for optimal growth and development of your baby. Once you enter the fifth month of gestation, add 3-4 strands of saffron to your milk. You can also grind up saffron strands with almonds and pistachios to make a creamy paste that you can mix in your milk and make it more nutritious.
- Add Saffron To Rice Preparations And Soups : Saffron is an excellent flavoring agent and can elevate any dish. Add saffron to soups and rice preparations to enhance their taste and also enjoy the health benefits. However, make sure you stick to two to three strands. This should be sufficient to impart the characteristic color and flavor to your dish.