Congratulations! Now that the big news has popped up, you are ready to start experiencing a new phase in your life. If we could describe the phase, Pregnancy, in a word, that would be the ‘Rollercoaster .’A ride filled with physical and emotional ups and downs but the most beautiful phase of any woman’s life!
As much as you’re happy for the baby, your mind might be full of these pestering questions like what to eat, what not to eat, what’s good for the baby’s health and what not!
So congratulations again, You’ve reached the ultimate destination for the Ayurveda diet in Pregnancy.
Everything from now on you will eat and do (your lifestyle) is going to affect your baby’s health too. But, not to worry, we got your back! So you have to be careful when choosing your daily diet.
Knowing what to expect during Pregnancy is vital for monitoring both mother’s and the baby’s health.
This blog will give suggestions on a healthy diet you should follow during Pregnancy for your health and baby’s development.
Ayurveda Perspective
The different branches of Ancient Ayurveda science have a separate department called Strirog-Prasuti Tantra (Gynaecology and Obstetrics) dedicated to women and children’s health, including Pregnancy.
Balance your Doshas
The vata dosha needs more consideration during Pregnancy, as it influences the nervous system’s energy. Focusing on vata is best with an eating routine of fresh, plant-based, whole grains and non-processed food sources. Warm, freshly cooked food varieties with healthy olive, Ghee and coconut oils are great. The three taste preferences that balance vata are sweet, sour and salty.
During Pregnancy, the sweet taste should be focused on, as it is considered most sattvic or healthy for the child. Drink warm, vat-pressurized (warmed under 135 degrees F), non-homogenized cow milk with Ghee. One cup of warm milk with a teaspoon of Ghee twice daily is said to help immunity and the child’s complexion vitality (ojas).
Manage your Cravings
When you’re giving up on your cravings, remember one thing, you are now eating for two bodies. Limit your cravings, especially after four months of development of a baby in the womb when you start craving certain foods.
Ayushakti Ayurved Home Remedies to Stop Vomiting and Manage Nausea
1 TSP – Fennel Seed Powder
1 TSP – Coriander Powder
1 TSP – Cumin Powder
1 TSP – Amalaki Powder
¼ TSP – Licorice Powder (Please take the quantity as mentioned)
Boil it with two glasses of water, cool down, drink throughout the day, and don’t filter.
Take this home remedy only once you consult with an Ayushakti doctor.
Pregnancy Diet: What to Eat?
We dug some Ancient Ayurveda texts and devised a plan for the first month of Pregnancy. Charak’s, Sushruta’s, and Vagbhata’s opinions suggest a first-month diet plan for pregnant women.
Charak’s Opinion-
- Anupasamskruta dugdha –
After confirmation of Pregnancy, a pregnant woman should take Anupasamskruta dugdha, i.e., non-sedated or unprocessed milk. This should be taken in the desired amount. Milk should be taken according to a woman’s digestive capacity and strength.
- Satya Bhojana –
A suitable diet should be taken in the morning and night.
Sushtra’s Opinion-
- Madhura sheeta Drava praya ahara-
A pregnant woman should devour food sources that are in liquid form in the initial three months.
Vagbhata’s Opinion –
- Upasamskruta ksheera
Sedated milk should be consumed once in the morning and at night. The amount should be such that it gets easily digested and does not cause indigestion.
- Ksheerodbhava Sarpi
During the initial 12 days of Pregnancy, Ghee extracted from milk, i. e., made from clarified butter extracted from milk, should be consumed.
- Abhyanga(massage with medicated oil)
- Udwarthana(rubbing medicated powder all over the body)
Read our other blog related to Pregnancy – PLEASE CLICK HERE!
Food You Should Include In Your Daily Diet Throughout Your Pregnancy
FOODS TO ENJOY-
- Fully Cooked vegetables
- Pulses: like mung and split mung beans, tur dal and red lentils.
- Grains: including rice, oat, rye, maize, millet, amaranth, quinoa, Kamut, spelled, polenta; everything other than wheat.
- All sweet Fruits are good to take: Bananas, Kiwi, Pomegranate, and Blueberries. (They should be avoided while coughing, cold, flu or mucus accumulation in the respiratory tract.)
- Soaked seeds and nuts: Apricots, almonds, apricot, walnuts, pistachios. Figs and dates.
- Of all dairy products, Ghee (clarified butter) is the best; regular butter is also good and better than margarine and other such processed spreads!
- Milk should only be taken warm and spiced with ginger, cardamom, cinnamon or turmeric. Good alternatives to cow’s milk are soya milk, rice milk, almond milk, oats milk or coconut milk.
- Fresh Cheeses: quark, mozzarella, feta and ricotta are more accessible to digest than hard, old ones and are also less mucus producing.
- Sweeteners: Jaggery (solidified sugar cane juice), raw sugarcane date sugar, molasses, rice syrup or honey.
- Drinks: Black tea, Ginger Tea
- Most important is the use of various Spices and Herbs: the best for all Doshas are cumin, coriander, fennel and saffron, mint, clove, thyme, rosemary, ashwagandha, and cinnamon can be taken as a tea to help build muscle and blood.
- If eating meat – Egg, White meat, and fish are fine in appropriate quantities.
FOODS TO AVOID-
- Wheat, meat (esp. red meat) and refined sugar.
- Sour foods such as tomatoes, all sour fruits, vinegar and hot spices like chilies.
- Fermented or fermentation-increasing foods such as yogurt, alcohol, cheese (esp. old and complex ones) and yeast-containing foods such as marmite, vegetarian pâtes, soya sauce and beer.
- Raw vegetables, sprouted beans and salads.
- Ice cold foods and– drinks.
- Pineapple and Papaya should be avoided during Pregnancy.
- Ready-made, tinned and microwaved foods.
- Avoid Curd and Red Meat.
Takeaway
Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet during Pregnancy is vital for the developing baby inside you. There are a lot of nutritious food sources that you can eat to guarantee your baby is safe and sound. Follow this eating routine outline above and inform your doctor about your eating decisions so they can direct you with extra supplements if necessary. Enjoy a healthy pregnancy!
Ayushakti has treated 110 women for healthy Pregnancies.
We can plan a customized diet for you in case of food allergies or complications in the diet. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
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Author of the Blog: Dr.Ronak Naik
Expert Review By: Dr Smita Pankaj Naram
Co-Founder, Ayushakti Ayurved Pvt Ltd.