Eating Spicy Food During Pregnancy: Is it Safe or Not?

With altered taste buds, surging hormones and weird food cravings, you might want to eat spicy food during pregnancy and there is nothing wrong with it. Yes, indeed it is perfectly alright to eat various spices during pregnancy because spices are also rich in various micronutrients and phytochemicals which are essential during pregnancy. But pregnant women should be aware of the risks and harm of eating spicy food during pregnancy.

Is it safe to eat spicy food during pregnancy?

Generally, it is considered that hot and spicy food in pregnancy should be avoided because the body is already producing enough heat during pregnancy. And it is believed that consuming spicy foods may disrupt the temperature balance and cause miscarriage, and premature labour. But there is no scientific evidence to prove this information correct.

Eating spicy food during pregnancy can however cause some unpleasant side effects such as heartburn and indigestion. Pregnant women who are not used to eating spicy foods but start craving it during pregnancy should start slowly. You should avoid eating excessively spicy foods, eating spicy foods in large quantities and/or in each meal. Besides, you must ensure drinking plenty of water to alleviate its side effects.

What does the desire for spicy food mean?

Pregnancy comes with its fair share of weird food cravings and aversions. Some women crave ice cream and pickles while others may crave spicy food. There is a common myth that women who crave spicy food during pregnancy might be expecting a boy but there’s little truth in it. Food cravings occur because of the many hormonal changes taking place in your body and should not be paid much attention to.

It’s recommended that you don’t give in to all your food cravings and practice mindful eating. This is because everything you eat affects the growing baby inside your womb. Good nutrition during pregnancy can also help improve maternal and fetal outcomes.

Can spicy food harm a developing fetus?

Consuming spicy food during pregnancy is not harmful to the baby. However, according to some studies, certain spicy foods may alter your amniotic fluid levels. Too much or too less amniotic fluid can prove to be risky for the baby and the delivery procedure. It’s best to consume spicy food in pregnancy moderately.

Side effects of spicy food

Eating spicy foods during the first trimester of pregnancy is not likely to cause many problems. However, it may worsen your morning sickness. It’s better to avoid spicy foods if you’re suffering with nausea and vomiting all day.

Eating spicy foods during the second and third trimesters can cause heartburn, indigestion, nausea, diarrhea, flatulence and bloating. This may also increase your symptoms of GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).

Can spicy meals cause labour?

If you are approaching the end of your pregnancy and awaiting labour, many people will probably advise you to eat spicy foods. This advice is so popular that researchers have even studied the effect of spicy foods on labour along with other common methods such as sex, using laxatives and walking.

According to a study, 50% of women used natural methods to induce labour and 20% of these consumed spicy foods to start labour. However, this does not prove the efficacy of spicy foods in inducing labour. It’s recommended that you consult your doctor with regard to this.

Closing Thoughts

Normally, only chilies come to our mind when we mention spicy food, but spices consist of many more eatables like peppercorns, cinnamon, cloves, mustard seeds, fennel, fenugreek seeds, turmeric, garam masala etc. When consumed in moderation, spicy food during pregnancy can be more palatable and nutritious.