Currently, saffron is the talk of many people. The reason is, this spice has extraordinary benefits for health, including pregnant women. So, can pregnant women consume saffron?
Saffron is a spice that comes from flowers Crocus sativus. Just like other spices, saffron is commonly used as a condiment, flavoring, and food coloring. In addition, saffron can also be mixed into beverages, such as tea or milk.
Pregnant women can eat saffron
In fact, pregnant women can how come, consume saffron, either in the form of food or drink. However, just like other herbal ingredients, it's a good idea for pregnant women to consult a doctor first before consuming them.
If you want to eat saffron, make sure you don't eat more than 5 grams per day, okay? At high doses, saffron is a stimulant to the uterus, so it can trigger contractions and cause miscarriage or premature labour.
Pregnant women don't have to worry too much about using saffron. The portion of consumption of this red spice is usually very small. In fact, 2–3 saffron strands (<1 gram) are enough to make saffron tea.
These are the benefits of Saffron for Pregnant Women
Saffron has long been used in herbal medicine and is believed to be able to treat a number of ailments. This is because saffron contains active compounds, such as crocin, crocetin, safranal, and kaempferol, which plays an important role in maintaining a healthy body.
nowFor pregnant women, the following are the health benefits that can be learned from consuming saffron:
1. Increase endurance
The active compounds in saffron have strong antioxidant activity, so they can increase the immune system of pregnant women so they don't get sick easily. Especially in the midst of the current COVID-19 pandemic, pregnant women's immune systems must be strong so that they are not easily infected with the Corona virus.
2. Improve mood
Mood swings can be said to be "friends" of pregnant women, given the frequent presence of this complaint. now, saffron is known to improve mood, you know. By consuming this spice, pregnant women's mood can improve. In fact, a study revealed that saffron can relieve symptoms of depression.
3. Help prepare the cervix before delivery
The content of active compounds in saffron is also thought to be able to help ripen the cervix before delivery or when the gestational age enters 37 weeks. However, this benefit still requires further research.
4. Improve digestive system health
During pregnancy, not a few pregnant women who complain of digestive disorders, such as constipation. This can occur due to the influence of pregnancy hormones and prenatal vitamins that contain iron. However, prenatal vitamins should not be neglected and should be taken according to the dosage prescribed by the doctor.
Now, Saffron can be a solution for pregnant women's digestive problems. The antioxidant activity of saffron is known to protect the walls of the stomach and large intestine from damage and inflammation. That way, the function of the automatic digestive system is also maintained and pregnant women can be free from disturbing digestive complaints.
5. Increase appetite
Frequent nausea during pregnancy can cause some pregnant women to have difficulty eating. In fact, pregnant women are encouraged to eat and drink a lot to meet the nutritional needs of the fetus. To increase appetite, pregnant women can try consuming saffron. This spice is believed to increase the appetite of pregnant women.
Those are the various benefits of saffron for pregnant women that are a pity to miss. However, pregnant women also need to remember, even though saffron contains many benefits, it does not mean that pregnant women have to consume it every day, right?
Saffron belongs to the spice category, so it doesn't contain many nutrients. So, pregnant women still need to prioritize the consumption of a variety of healthy foods to meet the nutritional needs of the fetus and pregnant women themselves.
After all, saffron is known for being very expensive. Instead of banning the consumption of saffron because it is expensive, but the benefits of saffron can also be obtained from a variety of affordable foods, how come.
In addition, saffron can also cause side effects in some people, such as dry mouth, anxiety, sweating, nausea or vomiting, headaches, and allergies. If pregnant women experience these complaints after consuming saffron, immediately consult a doctor, yes.
