Can eating tamarind during pregnancy be beneficial or detrimental?

Tamarind is widely grown in Asia and Africa. Sometimes many pregnant women crave the sweet and sour taste, so they often eat tamarind during pregnancy. This fruit is considered safe if eaten in moderate amounts. However, if you use too much, the benefits will turn into harm.

With a special sour taste, tamarind is often used by many women to deal with nausea and morning sickness during pregnancy. In addition, tamarind is also used to treat colds and constipation.

The nutritional value of tamarind

Tamarind contains many nutrients that the body needs during pregnancy. Tamarind juice contains about 3.36mg of iron per cup while you need about 27mg iron per day. Not only that, tamarind also contains 2.3mg of vitamin B3 while every day, you need to supplement about 18mg of vitamin B3 through your diet. In addition, each cup of tamarind contains 6.1g of fiber while pregnant women need at least 28g of fiber in the daily diet.

Is it safe to eat tamarind during pregnancy?

Tamarind is a safe food for you during pregnancy in moderate amounts. However, to be sure, you should still consult your doctor. Here are a few benefits of eating tamarind during pregnancy that you should know:

1. Reduce the risk of preterm birth

Tamarind is rich in iron. During pregnancy, iron helps to increase blood volume. In addition, iron also helps reduce the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight .

2. Eating tamarind during pregnancy helps prevent constipation

Tamarind is rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation , a common problem during pregnancy. Adding fiber in your diet will help limit excess weight gain during pregnancy. In addition, eating plenty of fiber will help you feel full for a long time and prevent you from eating unhealthy snacks.

3. Limit nausea and morning sickness

Tamarind helps prevent nausea and morning sickness during pregnancy. Tamarind contains a number of compounds that may help calm the stomach. More importantly, tamarind helps reduce the feeling of vomiting during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester.

4. Boost immunity and help prevent cancer

In 100g tamarind contains about 11.43mg vitamin C. Therefore, eating tamarind during pregnancy will help increase resistance . In addition, it also helps improve breathing and gives you a healthy skin. Vitamin C has antioxidant properties and helps fight free radicals that can cause cancer in both mother and baby.

5. Reduce the risk of gestational diabetes

In many women, pregnancy can increase insulin and affect the cells' ability to use glucose. This makes pregnant women more susceptible to gestational diabetes , leading to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and metabolic abnormalities for both mother and baby in the future. Tamarind during pregnancy can help control sugar levels in the body and prevent this disease.

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6. Good for the development of the fetus

Tamarind is a rich source of vitamin B3, which helps meet approximately 10% of the daily requirement of pregnant women. In addition, this is a very good nutrient for the development of the fetal nerves, brain, digestive system and mucous membranes.

Side effects of me

Due to its sweet and sour taste, tamarind can make many enthusiasts eat fruit after fruit. However, if you are pregnant, you should not overeat for the following reasons:

1. Add too much vitamin C

Tamarind is rich in vitamin C. This is a healthy nutrient that you should include in your daily diet. However, if taken too much can cause serious harm to pregnant women.

Consuming too much vitamin C can lead to miscarriage . During the first month of pregnancy, taking too much vitamin C can reduce the production of the hormone progesterone, causing miscarriage.

Some studies also show that overdose of vitamin C can increase the risk of preterm birth.

According to some doctors, consuming too much vitamin C can damage the fetal cells.

2. Eating tamarind during pregnancy causes diarrhea

Tamarind works just like a natural laxative if you take it in moderation. However, eating tamarind during pregnancy too much can cause the following problems:

Uncontrolled diarrhea , harmful to pregnancy

Dehydrating the body

Stimulates contractions of the uterus, especially in the late stages of pregnancy and leads to preterm delivery .

3. Interaction with aspirin and ibuprofen

Tamarind can react with aspirin and ibuprofen. So, if you are taking aspirin or ibuprofen , it is best not to eat tamarind during pregnancy for the following reasons:

Tamarind causes the body to absorb more aspirin and ibuprofen, causing side effects.

Too much aspirin or ibuprofen in early pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, which can slow down labor in the late stages .

In addition, too much aspirin or ibuprofen increases the risk of the infant having heart and lung problems.

4. Add too much vitamin B3

Tamarind is a very rich source of vitamin B3. Eating too much can cause itching, burning, discomfort in the face and chest, or damage to the liver and stomach ulcers . Doctors recommend taking too much vitamin B3 can also cause serious side effects in the newborn.

5. Reduce blood sugar

Eating too much tamarind can lower blood sugar, leading to hypoglycemia . This is especially dangerous for diabetic patients who are taking sugar-lowering drugs.

6. Acid reflux

Tamarind is an acidic fruit. Therefore, it can increase the acidity of the stomach. If you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), you should not eat tamarind during pregnancy as it can make symptoms worse.

7. Damage to tooth enamel

Because tamarind is acidic, eating too much of these fruits will damage your enamel. If you notice that your teeth become unusually sensitive , it could be a sign that you've eaten too much tamarind.

If you are someone who likes to eat tamarind, you should only eat a moderate amount during pregnancy. Tamarind brings many health benefits, but if abused, it will be harmful.