Written By: Debjani Arora | Published : October 21, 2017 4:22 PM IST
In most India families having haldi-dhooh or turmeric milk is a norm. Most of them have it after dinner or just before bedtime. The popular belief is that it aids digestion, induces sleep, makes joints healthy by alleviating symptoms of arthritis, develops immunity, etc. Some think that it would benefit pregnant women also the same way. But one needs to be watchful, as pregnancy is a time when you should be very cautious with your diet and everything that you eat needs to be weighted for its pros and cons. Here are seven reasons why you should drink turmeric milk daily.
In general, pregnant women are asked to stay off herbal medications and supplementation during pregnancy as their efficacy during pregnancy has not been proven yet. There have been enough incidences where intake of herbal and natural supplements has caused harm to the baby. Now, when it comes to turmeric a lot of factors needs to be taken into consideration. Turmeric is one of the prime spices used in Indian cooking and has a host of curative and therapeutic benefits. When used in small amounts with food it does your body a lot of good than any harm. But taking turmeric supplements to reap its benefits is what experts advise against. Here are 10 reasons why adding a pinch of turmeric in your food is a great idea.
If you are an expectant mom and wish to have haldi-dhood we suggest have a chat with your doctor or a certified dietician before making it a routine during your pregnancy. We spoke to Dr Kavitha Lakshmi Easwaran, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Motherhood Hospitals, Bengaluru to know its effects on pregnant women. She says, It is usually safe to have turmeric milk during pregnancy as there have not been any known side-effects of the same. There are not enough data to refute or support the use of turmeric during pregnancy. However, she also suggests that while choosing the spice, be very careful and read the label correctly. Avoid picking up products that say, herbal or natural in their packaging. These are the products which might have traces of lead or other metals which could be detrimental for the fetus.
A study published in 2010 in the American Journal of Obstetrician and Gynaecology showed that mothers who used herbal or natural supplements during pregnancy had risks of developing birth defects in the babies. While the probability was less, one cannot rule out the risk as well [1].
So, we suggest that if you want to have a glass of haldi-dhood during pregnancy, use only a pinch of the spice. Stick to organic turmeric powder rather than the ones which claim to be herbal. However, if possible, just have a plain glass of milk to get the required calcium and protein from it and give turmeric a miss during your pregnancy.
Reference:
Louik, C., Gardiner, P., Kelley, K., & Mitchell, A. A. (2010). Use of herbal treatments in pregnancy. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, 202(5), 439-e1.
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