You might have heard that horseradish should be deleted from your pregnancy diet, but is this idea true? Let us tell you the truth! If you are expecting, you should avoid consuming excess amounts of horseradish while pregnant; however, consuming it as a condiment is safe for you and the developing fetus.
This article on Hipregnancy explores the relationship between horseradish and pregnancy, including how it can impact you and the developing baby. Let’s walk through the vital points you need to know about eating horseradish while pregnant.
Is horseradish ok for pregnant?
Overall, available studies stated that consuming large amounts of horseradish when pregnant can negatively impact you and cause health issues and pregnancy complications. This idea is evidenced by several studies on the safety of horseradish for pregnant and their unborn babies.
The good news is that there is no need to stay away from horseradish in pregnancy. Referring to the views of studies, consuming a small amount of horseradish is considered safe while pregnant. To put it more simply, using horseradish as a condiment to add flavor to your foods will not impact you negatively. The same goes for turmeric during pregnancy.
Here are some health benefits of including horseradish in your pregnancy diet as condiments. Let’s take a look at them.
- Since horseradish contains fiber, it can prevent constipation, especially during the third trimester of pregnancy. As a result, if you take limited amounts of horseradish in third trimester, as a condiment in foods, it can help you prevent pregnancy-related constipation.
- It is generally claimed that consuming horseradish while pregnant is beneficial for boosting your immune system and developing the unborn baby’s immune system.
- Horseradish contains potassium, which can improve the function of muscles and nerves.
In the final analysis, if you want to be safe, only have horseradish in small quantities during pregnancy. Please keep reading to see why avoiding consuming a significant amount of horseradish while pregnant is highly recommended.
Also Read: marshmallow root pregnancy
Why is horseradish bad during pregnancy?
Some drinks and foods should not be consumed during pregnancy, like alcohol, unpasteurized dairy products, raw meat, and many other foods. To know more about them, you can check things not to eat when pregnant. Horseradish is not mentioned in the list of foods to avoid during pregnancy, but having it in excess can cause the following problems, including;
- Irritation in the throat, mouth, nose, urinary tract lining, and digestive system
- Stomach distress
- Diarrhea
- Bloody vomiting
- miscarriage
- Underactive thyroid gland or hypothyroidism
To conclude, consuming excess amounts of horseradish pregnant is a big no-no for pregnant ladies. This idea suggests that if you crave horseradish while pregnant, have it as a condiment.
Can horseradish cause miscarriage?
Research on the safety of horseradish for pregnant women stated that eating this vegetable in small amounts is not harmful to both mom and the baby. On the contrary, if you use horseradish as a tea or supplement, there will be a risk of miscarriage.
No doubt taking large amounts of horseradish while pregnant can cause miscarriage, but how? Horseradish contains mustard oil, which can mess with your hormone, start your period, and lead to miscarriage. Furthermore, it includes an active component called AITC, which can stimulate uterine contraction and result in miscarriage.
If you are worried about miscarriage and don’t know consuming which foods result in it, check the article titled foods that can cause miscarriage in pregnancy.
Moreover, to learn about harmful beverages to pregnant ladies, check what drinks can cause miscarriage.
Is horseradish and wasabi the same?
Generally speaking, horseradish and wasabi belong to the family of Brassicaceae, a family of broccoli, and cabbage, two iron-rich foods for pregnancy. Wasabi and horseradish are not the same, and the differences between them include the followings;
- Horseradish is lower in calories than wasabi.
- Wasabi is two times higher in carbs than horseradish.
- The level of protein in horseradish is lower than in wasabi.
- While both are high in fat, wasabi has a lower amount of saturated fats.
- Horseradish is much higher in sodium and folate.
In sum, horseradish and wasabi are safe during pregnancy as long as be taken in small quantities.
Can you take tablets of garlic and horseradish while pregnant?
Horseradish and garlic tablet support overall health by boosting the immune system, relieving nasal congestion, reducing the duration and symptoms of the common colds, and relieving symptoms of mild upper respiratory tract infections.
Since large amounts of horseradish while pregnant are unsafe and dangerous, taking horseradish garlic tablets is not recommended during pregnancy. Another key fact to remember is you should not take horseradish and garlic tablets during breastfeeding.
Can I eat horseradish sauce while pregnant?
Here, Hipregnancy wants to highlight all the vital points you need to know regarding the consumption of prepared horseradish while pregnant, in the form of sauce and homemade ones. If you are ready, let’s start.
A common opinion is that it is safe to eat commercially made or homemade horseradish sauce in pregnancy, but only in small amounts. Horseradish sauce is made from grated horseradish mixed with salt, vinegar, and creamy elements, including cream cheese, sour cream, heavy cream, and mayonnaise.
You can enjoy sauce made with horseradish during pregnancy, but you should limit your intake to avoid possible dangers.
Remember, you should only opt for pasteurized varieties when eating mayo and dairy products like sour cream and cream cheese during pregnancy. If you are a sour cream lover and want more data on its consumption in pregnancy, Hipregnancy recommends you read “Can pregnant women eat sour cream?”.
Eating horseradish while breastfeeding; safe or not?
Considering what you eat during breastfeeding directly impacts newborn’s health, you should continue making healthy food choices even after pregnancy and while breastfeeding. In other words, what you eat during breastfeeding can pass into breast milk and affect the baby.
The number of studies on the safety of eating horseradish while breastfeeding is limited; however, the available studies prove that having a small amount of it is safe. Hipregnancy recommends you consult your healthcare professional before including it in your diet, even in small amounts. Your doctor can determine whether you can have it or not.
What spices should be avoided during pregnancy?
When it comes to eating spices in pregnancy, it is thought that consuming ginger, cardamom, turmeric, cumin, black pepper, and cinnamon during pregnancy in moderate quantities is safe. Conversely, some spices are best to avoid while pregnant. Top 4 spices not to eat when pregnant include;
- Fenugreek
- Coriander
- Asafetida
- Angelica
Consider that eating forbidden spices in large quantities can cause heartburn and bleeding, stimulate the uterus, and induce premature contractions. To be on the safe side, remove them from your pregnancy diet.
Conclusion
Too much of anything negatively impacts pregnant ladies, and horseradish isn’t an exception. Consuming horseradish while pregnant in small amounts is considered safe; however, having large amounts of it can cause health issues and even miscarriage.
In this article on Hi pregnancy, we covered the essential points you need to know about consuming horseradish in pregnancy. If there is any unanswered question or missed points, share them with us via comment. Hope you follow our guidelines and enjoy your pregnancy time without any problems!
FAQ
Can babies have horseradish?
Horseradish is forbidden for children younger than 4 years old as it can irritate the stomach, mouth, and intestine. Even small amounts of horseradish can harm the baby and children younger than 4. However, having it as acondiment during pregnancy is not dangerous for the unborn baby.
