Saffron, with its bright color and strong flavor, has been utilized for centuries in food and medicine. While pregnant, most women seek natural means of maintaining their health, but care must be taken with some foods and herbs such as saffron. Though saffron has benefits that include digestion assistance, mood enhancement, and acting as antioxidants, its intake in high quantities during pregnancy poses risks. One should be aware of such risks and discuss them with a medical professional before incorporating saffron into your diet.
While a balanced diet is essential, protecting your baby’s health involves more than just nutrition. Taking extra steps today can pave the way for a happy, healthy, and active future. One such step is stem cell banking. Consider opting for LifeCell’s stem cell banking service, where parents can bank their baby’s umbilical cord blood right after birth, which contains stem cells. These stem cells can be used to treat 80+ medical conditions in the future via stem cell transplant if the need ever arises. While you make choices regarding your health as well as the future of your baby, always take advice from a healthcare provider so that you can make the best decisions for both of them.
What Is Saffron?
Saffron is an expensive spice that is derived from the stigmas of the Crocus sativus flower. Known as “red gold,” it has been cultivated for over 3,500 years, primarily in Iran and Kashmir. There are three delicate stigmas per saffron flower, which are hand-harvested and dried to become one of the world’s most expensive and time-consuming spices. Its rich red color is a result of the existence of compounds like crocetin and crocin, which are responsible for its strong color and characteristic scent.
Saffron has been used throughout history not just in food, medicine, and cosmetics but also in Roman perfumes, deodorants, and Cleopatra’s beauty rituals. When purchasing saffron, the highest quality can be ascertained by its rich red color, honey scent, and delicate but musky taste.
Is It Safe To Consume Saffron During Pregnancy?
Consuming saffron in limited quantities ( around 1.5 grams a day) is considered safe during pregnancy. However, warnings are recommended with excessive doses because of possible harms.
- Large Quantities: Taking large doses of saffron, especially doses higher than 5 grams a day, can stimulate the uterus and cause miscarriage. These high doses are much higher than those found in food.
- Risk of Toxicity: Consuming over 10 grams a day may result in negative consequences such as nausea, vomiting, and in extreme circumstances, miscarriage. Be aware that all these values exceed usual culinary usage.
Although saffron can be used as a palatable ingredient for food, pregnant women must use caution when using it. In moderation, during cooking, it is usually safe, but at higher doses, it can become dangerous. Always seek advice from your healthcare provider on food decisions during pregnancy.
Benefits Of Consuming Saffron During Pregnancy
Saffron, if consumed in moderation, can offer several health benefits during pregnancy. These include:
1. Mood Improvement: Certain research indicates that saffron can have antidepressant effects, which might help in reducing symptoms of depression. These studies are not specifically conducted on pregnant women, and further research is required to establish these effects in pregnancy.
2. Antioxidant Activity: Saffron has antioxidants such as crocin, crocetin, and safranal, which can potentially fight oxidative stress. Although antioxidants are usually healthy, their particular effect during pregnancy is not well understood.
3. Improve Bishop Score: Saffron can help prepare the cervix for childbirth, making vaginal delivery easier. This is because it improves the Bishop score, which measures how ready the cervix is for labor.
Important Considerations
Here are some important considerations that need to be taken care of, while consuming saffron during pregnancy.
- Quality of Saffron: Buy high-quality, pure saffron from trusted vendors to prevent adulteration, which can be dangerous for your health.
- Allergies and Sensitivities: Some individuals may have an allergic reaction to saffron, for example, nausea, dizziness, or headaches. Stop using and see your healthcare professional if you find any adverse effects.
In Conclusion
Adding saffron to your diet during pregnancy can have some advantages when taken in limited quantities. Yet, it is important to use caution because there are risks from excessive consumption. Thus, saffron use should be limited to small amounts that are generally added to recipes and always in consultation with your healthcare provider before making any change in diet during pregnancy.
Taking preventive steps for your baby’s future is of utmost importance. Since you’re here, researching about saffron, we can tell that you’re not willing to take a chance. Hence, as you plan for your child’s future, you may want to look at stem cell banking opportunities. LifeCell, India’s largest stem cell bank, provides facilities to bank your baby’s umbilical cord stem cells, which can be useful in the future for various medical interventions.
Always take care of your health and wellbeing while pregnant by taking the right decisions and consulting professional medical advice.