Can I eat spicy food while pregnant?
In this article we are going to answer can you eat spicy food while pregnant, what is defined as spicy food, is safe for the baby if the mother eats spicy food, what are the benefits of eating spicy food, what are the risks of eating spicy food when pregnant, does spicy food induce labor, and what are some spicy healthy food to eat when pregnant.
Can you eat spicy food while pregnant?
Yes, you can eat spicy food while pregnant. Spicy food won’t cause any harm to you or the baby. You just need to be careful if you have nausea or heartburn, try to avoid spicy food because it can worsen those pregnancy symptoms.
Especially in the third trimester, spicy food can exacerbate gastritis, acid reflux, and indigestion.
What is defined as spicy food?
According to the dictionary, spicy food is considered as any comestible marinated that contains chili peppers, curry, or any spices that provokes a spicy feeling in your mouth or evokes an autonomic nervous system response that can cause arrhythmias and the feeling of heat in your mouth.
Is it safe for the baby and the mother to eat spicy food?
Yes, spicy food is 100% safe for the baby. There is no evidence that spicy food or the heat caused by spicy food will harm the baby. In fact, eating spicy food is good because you are exposing the baby to new flavors.
Some studies have suggested that what the mother eats affects the taste or flavor of the amniotic fluid but spicy food has not been correlated to this.
What are the benefits of eating spicy food?
Eating spicy food can bring some benefits to your baby. The more variety of food you include, the better taste buds your baby will have when older. Some benefits include
Expose baby to new tastes
Research suggests that the more flavor you add to your diet while pregnant and breastfeeding the more variable diet the baby will have in the future. So the more types of foods you add to your diet the more likely it is that your baby will likely enjoy them when older.
Better heart health of the mother
Research suggests that spicy food reduces bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol reducing the risk of stroke and heart problems in the long run. Normally, cholesterol levels increase during pregnancy and spicy food can help to maintain at least normal levels of bad cholesterol.
What are the risks of eating spicy food when pregnant?
Eating spicy food comes with some risks when pregnant. If you are in your first trimester and experiencing nausea or vomiting, try not to eat spicy food because it can exacerbate these symptoms.
Ending the second trimester and starting the third-trimester spicy food can cause or exacerbate symptoms that already exist in these trimesters such as
- Heartburn
- Acid reflux
- Indigestion
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Gas
- Bloating
Does spicy food induce labor?
There is a correlation that too much spicy food can induce labor but there is not enough science to back up this fact. Scientifically proven, there is no known food that can induce labor.
A lot of women have said that they went into labor the exact moment they ate spicy food but there are a lot of variables that have not been taken into account. But if you know the mechanism that induces labor in our body, it doesn’t sound crazy that spicy food can induce labor.
When you eat spicy food, the nervous system is activated and prostaglandins are secreted. Prostaglandins can make the smooth muscle contract and activate the uterus to induce labor. So to stay on the safe side, try not to eat too much spicy food when pregnant.
What is some spicy healthy food to eat when pregnant?
Some examples of spicy food that can be added to your diet are
- Jalapeños
- Serrano peppers
- Hot sauce
- Dishes prepared with cayenne powder
- Fresh garlic
Conclusion
This article answered can you eat spicy food while pregnant, what is defined as spicy food, is safe for the baby if the mother eats spicy food, what are the benefits of eating spicy food, what are the risks of eating spicy food when pregnant, does spicy food induce labor and what are some spicy healthy food to eat when pregnant.
Citation
https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/spicy-food-pregnancy#precautions
https://www.verywellfamily.com/can-i-eat-spicy-foods-while-pregnant-5195400
https://www.onlymyhealth.com/is-spicy-food-during-pregnancy-safe-1652425814
