Anjeer (Figs) in Pregnancy: Is It Safe? Benefits, How Much to Eat, and Side Effects

Quick Answer

Yes, anjeer (figs) is safe to eat during pregnancy in moderate amounts. About 2 to 3 dried figs a day suits most healthy pregnancies. Anjeer is a good source of fibre and calcium and contributes some iron and potassium, which is why it is a popular pregnancy snack in India. The main things to watch are its high natural sugar content, especially if you have gestational diabetes, and eating too much, which can cause loose stools.

Key Takeaways

• Anjeer is safe and nutritious in moderation. Around 2 to 3 dried figs a day is a sensible amount for most pregnancies.

• Its biggest genuine benefit is fibre. With about 9 g of fibre per 100 g, anjeer helps with the constipation that is so common in pregnancy.

• Dried anjeer is high in sugar. At roughly 73 g of carbohydrate per 100 g, it is a concentrated dried fruit, so women with gestational diabetes should limit it and count it, not treat it as a health food.

• It is a useful source of calcium and adds some iron, working best as part of a balanced diet rather than as a treatment for anything.

• Soaking dried figs overnight makes them easier to digest and is the most popular way to eat anjeer in pregnancy.

Is It Safe to Eat Anjeer During Pregnancy?

Yes. Anjeer, whether fresh figs or dried, is safe to eat during pregnancy when eaten in normal food amounts. It has been part of Indian diets for generations, including during pregnancy, and there is no reason a healthy pregnant woman needs to avoid it.

As with any nutritious food, the sensible rule is moderation. Anjeer is calorie- and sugar-dense in its dried form, so it is a snack to enjoy in small amounts rather than by the handful. If you have gestational diabetes, or any medical condition, check with your doctor about how it fits your specific diet.

What Is the Nutritional Value of Anjeer in Pregnancy?

Anjeer packs a lot of nutrition into a small dried fruit. The figures below are for dried fig per 100 g, from the Indian Food Composition Tables 2017 (ICMR National Institute of Nutrition).

What these numbers tell you:

• Anjeer is fibre-rich, which is its standout benefit in pregnancy.

• It is a good plant source of calcium, useful for your baby's bones and your own.

• It is calorie- and sugar-dense. A few figs are nutritious; a large quantity adds up quickly in both calories and sugar. This is the single most important thing to keep in mind.

Remember these are values for dried anjeer, which is concentrated. Fresh figs are mostly water, so they are lower in calories and sugar per fruit, but they are also less commonly available in India and spoil faster.

What Are the Benefits of Anjeer During Pregnancy?

Anjeer is a genuinely useful addition to a pregnancy diet. It is not a treatment for any condition, and no food is, but it earns its place.

1. It helps with pregnancy constipation

This is anjeer's strongest, best-supported benefit. Constipation is extremely common in pregnancy because hormonal changes slow the gut, and iron supplements make it worse. With about 9 g of fibre per 100 g, anjeer adds bulk and helps things move, especially when soaked. Pair it with plenty of water. See Mylo's guide to constipation in early pregnancy, and note that easing constipation also helps with piles and rectal discomfort.

2. It contributes calcium for your baby's bones

Anjeer is a useful plant source of calcium, which your baby needs to build bones and teeth and which protects your own bone health. For vegetarian mothers, especially those who do not take much dairy, foods like anjeer, sesame and greens help top up calcium intake alongside your prescribed supplements.

3. It adds some iron to a balanced diet

Anjeer provides a modest amount of iron. It will not treat anaemia on its own, but as part of an iron-rich diet it contributes, and pairing it with a vitamin C source (like a citrus fruit) improves absorption. If you are anaemic, your iron-folic acid tablets and diet do the real work. See anaemia during pregnancy.

4. It supplies potassium and antioxidants

The potassium in anjeer supports normal fluid balance, and figs contain antioxidants. These are general nutritional positives, not specific pregnancy cures, so they are a reason to enjoy anjeer, not to medicalise it.

5. It is a satisfying, natural sweet snack

A couple of soaked figs make a naturally sweet, filling snack, which can be a better choice than processed sweets for a between-meal craving, as long as you keep the quantity small.

How Many Anjeer Can I Eat Per Day During Pregnancy?

About 2 to 3 dried figs a day is a sensible amount for most healthy pregnancies. This gives you the fibre and calcium benefits without overdoing the sugar and calories.

More is not better with anjeer. Because dried figs are concentrated in sugar and calories, eating a large number can:

• Add significant sugar and calories to your day

• Cause loose stools or stomach upset because of the high fibre

• Be a problem if your blood sugar is being monitored

If you are eating fresh figs, you can have a little more, as they are lower in sugar per fruit, but 2 to 3 dried figs remains a good daily guide.

Is Anjeer Safe in the First, Second and Third Trimester?

Yes, anjeer is safe in all three trimesters in moderate amounts. What changes is what you pay attention to.

There is no trimester in which anjeer becomes unsafe in normal amounts, and none in which it becomes a health tonic. It is a nutritious snack throughout, best in moderation.

Anjeer and Gestational Diabetes: An Important Caution

This is the one area to be careful. Dried anjeer is high in natural sugar, at roughly 73 g of carbohydrate per 100 g. That means it can raise blood sugar, and it is not a "diabetes-friendly" food in its dried form, whatever general wellness articles may claim.

If you have gestational diabetes:

• Limit dried anjeer, and count it within your meal plan like any other carbohydrate.

• Fresh figs, in a small portion, are a better choice than dried, because they are lower in sugar.

• Do not treat anjeer as a food that lowers blood sugar or protects against diabetes. It does not.

• Check with your dietitian about whether and how much fits your plan.

Read Mylo's guide on gestational diabetes management, and do not change any prescribed diabetes treatment in favour of a food.

What Are the Side Effects of Anjeer During Pregnancy?

Eaten in moderation, anjeer rarely causes problems. Side effects usually come from eating too much.

On potassium: you may read that figs can cause "high potassium". For a healthy pregnant woman eating normal amounts, this is not a realistic concern. It is only relevant if you have kidney problems or a specific medical condition, in which case follow your doctor's dietary advice.

What Is the Best Way to Eat Anjeer During Pregnancy?

The most popular and gentle way is soaked. Here are the practical options.

• Soaked overnight: put 2 to 3 dried figs in water overnight and eat them in the morning. Soaking softens them, makes them easier to digest, and is the most common method in pregnancy.

• With milk: soaked or simmered anjeer in a glass of warm milk is a classic combination that also adds calcium and protein. Mind the added sugar, and keep it to a couple of figs.

• Chopped into curd, oats or porridge: adds natural sweetness and fibre to breakfast.

• As a plain snack: a couple of dried figs on their own, in place of a processed sweet.

• Fresh figs, when in season: eaten washed, as a lower-sugar option.

Practical tips:

• Wash fresh figs well before eating.

• Buy good-quality dried anjeer and store it properly, as dried fruit can spoil or grow mould in humid conditions, which matters more in the monsoon.

• Keep the quantity to 2 to 3 dried figs regardless of how you eat them.

Anjeer in Pregnancy: Frequently Asked Questions

"Can I eat anjeer in the first trimester of pregnancy?"
Yes. Anjeer is safe in the first trimester in small amounts. If you have nausea, soaked figs can be gentler on the stomach. Keep to 2 to 3 dried figs a day.

"How many anjeer should I eat per day during pregnancy?"
About 2 to 3 dried figs a day is a good guide for most healthy pregnancies. This gives you the fibre and calcium benefits without too much sugar. Fresh figs can be eaten in slightly larger amounts as they are lower in sugar.

"Is anjeer good if I have gestational diabetes?"
Be careful. Dried anjeer is high in natural sugar and can raise blood sugar, so limit it and count it in your meal plan. Fresh figs in a small portion are a better choice. Do not treat anjeer as a diabetes-friendly food, and check with your dietitian.

"Should I soak anjeer before eating it in pregnancy?"
Soaking is recommended and popular. Soaking dried figs overnight softens them, makes them easier to digest, and can be gentler if you have a sensitive stomach or nausea. It is not compulsory, but many women find it more comfortable.

"Can I eat anjeer with milk during pregnancy?"
Yes. Anjeer with warm milk is a classic pregnancy snack that also provides calcium and protein. Keep it to a couple of figs and avoid adding extra sugar, especially if your blood sugar is being monitored.

"Does anjeer help with constipation in pregnancy?"
Yes, this is one of its best benefits. The fibre in anjeer, especially soaked, helps relieve the constipation that is common in pregnancy. Drink plenty of water alongside it for it to work well.

"Should I take anjeer instead of my prescribed supplements?"
No. Anjeer is a nutritious food, not a replacement for your prescribed iron, folic acid, calcium or other supplements. Enjoy it as part of a balanced diet, and take your supplements as your doctor advises.

When To Speak To Your Doctor

Check with your doctor or dietitian if you:

• Have gestational diabetes and want to know how much anjeer fits your plan

• Get persistent loose stools after eating figs

• Have a kidney condition or are on a potassium-restricted diet

• Have any known food allergy

Stop and seek help if you get rash, itching, swelling of the lips or face, or difficulty breathing after eating figs, which could signal an allergy.

This article is for information only and does not replace advice from your obstetrician or a registered dietitian who knows your reports and blood sugar readings.

Bottom Line

Anjeer is a safe, nutritious and satisfying snack in pregnancy when eaten in moderation, and about 2 to 3 dried figs a day is a sensible amount. Its real strength is fibre, which helps with pregnancy constipation, and it adds useful calcium and some iron to a balanced diet. The one genuine caution is sugar: dried anjeer is concentrated, so keep the quantity small, and if you have gestational diabetes, limit it, count it, and choose fresh figs where you can. Enjoy anjeer as a wholesome food, not as a cure, and it fits an Indian pregnancy diet beautifully.

References

All links verified live on 16 September 2026.

1. Indian Food Composition Tables 2017 — ICMR National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad. Source for the dried fig (Ficus carica) nutrition values: energy, carbohydrate, fibre, calcium, potassium and iron per 100 g.

2. Have a healthy diet in pregnancy — NHS, UK. Source for the role of fibre, fruit and a balanced diet in pregnancy.

3. Gestational diabetes — NHS, UK. Source for gestational diabetes dietary management principles.