As we waddle about trying to get a glass of water — and laugh at how pregnancy has finally given you the curvaceous body you always wanted — we need to address the beneficial facts of consuming garlic during pregnancy.
Do you know that garlic doesn’t only add flavor to foods, but also has beneficial properties? Garlic also contains natural sugars, traces of mineral copper, zinc iron, tin calcium, aluminum, manganese, germanium, and selenium.[1]
It has the highest concentration of selenium than any other plant.
Is garlic safe during pregnancy?
Consumption of garlic during pregnancy is considered safe when taken in small portions.
Consuming garlic in the first trimester is safe because the food taken in this period have minimal chances of affecting the fetus compared to the subsequent trimesters.
During the second and third trimesters, excess garlic can cause low blood pressure and thinning of the blood. Therefore, consult your doctor on the amounts of garlic to consume.
Can you eat raw garlic cloves during pregnancy?
A pregnant woman may consume 2 – 4 cloves every day. Alternatively, you could get the same benefits from garlic supplements in form of tablets.
Despite this go-ahead- it’s always good to seek the doctor’s approval before consuming raw garlic.
Function of garlic
Garlic contains allicin and allinase. Allicin is a sulfur-rich amino acid while allinase is a protein enzyme.
Though allicin is a powerful antibiotic, the allicin is a volatile compound with a short life. It survives for just a few hours.
Powerful as one-fiftieth of penicillin, allicin has antifungal and antiviral effects also. The downside to this is that allicin only exists in raw garlic. When cooked, allicin degenerates into a less effective compound.
Interestingly, particular compounds in allicin actively inhibit the growth of cancerous cells.
In this respect, S-Allyl cysteine compound found in garlic prevents binding of cancer-causing agents to human breast cells.
Benefits of garlic during pregnancy
All we do is speak the truth. Here are some garlic benefits you can’t live without. Garlic has antibiotic, cholesterol lowering, blood thinning and antioxidant effects.
Garlic also relaxes the smooth muscles, dilates blood vessels, stimulates selenium absorptions, reduces oxidative stress and also boosts immunity while reducing antibody reactions
Fetal development
For babies destined to be small, garlic helps boost their birth weight. Babies that have a risk of being underweight at birth, garlic helps increase their overall weight.
This is because the garlic stimulates placenta cells while reducing the chances of birth complications. Garlic also reduces complications at birth.
Cancer prevention
When you eat an assortment of garlic, onions, and chives, stomach and esophageal cancer are minimized.
This is because Increased intake of garlic reduces nitrate levels thus reduces the occurrence of stomach cancer.[2]
Skin Remedy
Garlic contains antimicrobial properties rejuvenates the skin. Thus, garlic-based medicine is useful for treating diverse skin infections.
Prevents pre-eclampsia
Taking garlic during pregnancy cuts the risk of pre-eclampsia [3]. This is a dangerous condition that causes raised blood pressure and protein in the urine.
Prevents the common cold
Garlic has the ability to ward off harmful bacteria in your body. This mechanism combats common cold, flu, and infections keeping the baby safe.
Combats yeast infections
The allicin property found in garlic has antifungal properties that treat or control yeast infection in the vagina. This is used to counter chronic candidiasis and hypersensitivity.
There we recommend garlic be used in postnatal care to treat the yeast infections. Babies may suffer from candidiasis along the skin area, especially toward the buttocks.
Controls Cholesterol
Coronary artery disease is caused by a buildup of plague. Garlic controls cholesterol by inhibiting the new growth of plague.
Therefore, this medicinal plant helps women suffering from cardiovascular diseases, circularity problems, and atherosclerosis.
Garlic helps blood circulation, lowers blood pressure and reduces cholesterol. Garlic is a known remedy for the heart problems.
The allicin content keeps the cholesterol levels balanced. It also thins out blood preventing stroke or heart attacks.
Garlic as an antibiotic
Garlic is the only natural occurring antibiotic with the ability to kill bacteria. In fact, the vapor from a freshly cut garlic can kill bacteria from a distance of 20 cm.[4]
Stomach ulcers
Gastric ulcers are triggered by infectious processes caused by bacteria. For example, Stomach ulcers are caused by H Pylori bacteria.
Garlic is instrumental in preventing the occurrence of stomach ulcers. Garlic relieves ulcers as it combats the H Pylori bacteria.
It also inhibits the development of numerous diseases such as ulcerative colitis, Kaposi’s sarcoma and cervical cancer to name but a few.
Blood clotting
As an anticoagulant, garlic causes thinning of the blood. This helps in preventing blood clots that associated with strokes.
Garlic is a pleasant and natural alternative to aspirin that is used to prevent blood clotting. However, never mix blood-thinning remedies with garlic.
In addition to the benefits listed above, enzyme activities that not at the normal levels in women with abnormal pregnancies increases when garlic is added to a diet.
Lastly, garlic reduces fatigue during pregnancy and boosts immunity by destroying harmful viruses, fungi, bacteria.
Image: Pixabay
References
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-proven-health-benefits-of-garlic
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4366009/
- B. Ene, Chidiebere. (2017). The effect of Allium Sativum (Garlic) on Pregnancy, Fetal Weights, and Some Hematological Parameters in Albino Rats. Journal of Medical science and clinical research. 5. 10.18535/jmscr/v5i7.97.
- https://naturabezlimitow.com/2018/11/03/powerful-garlic-stronger-than-medicines/
