Pregnancy cravings can be beyond crazy. You have probably heard of women who wanted to eat nothing but applesauce or chicken nuggets throughout their pregnancy, or who woke up in the middle of the night feeling as though they’d go out of their minds if they didn’t get a bag of Cheetos within the next five minutes. Then there are the really, really crazy cravings – there have been instances of women chowing down on coal, paper and dish soap, to name a few unusual (non-food) items.
Generally speaking, pregnancy cravings should be indulged, unless they pose a danger to the developing fetus. This is where people often come into conflict – there are so many “old wives’ tales” that might lead you to believe that certain foods should be off limits during pregnancy. One common myth is that spicy food is bad during pregnancy because it will lead to an ill-tempered baby.
It’s not true. So is spicy food bad during pregnancy? Keep reading to learn the truth.
Your Stomach is Stronger Than You Might Think
Unless it isn’t, of course. If you are plagued by severe morning sickness, then spicy food is bad during your pregnancy only in that it can aggravate morning sickness. If morning sickness is not an issue, and you are craving spicy food, then there is no reason why you shouldn’t have it.
In fact, most spicy foods are so rich in nutrients that they will do nothing but help you throughout your pregnancy. Picture a delicious Szechuan stir-fry or a fiery serving of chili ladled over brown rice, or a vegetable-rich meal of eggplant parmigiana with robust Italian herbs and spices, and you pretty much have all your food groups covered.
But is it Safe?
Women in countries known for spicy cuisine have been having perfectly healthy babies for generations. So, is spicy food bad during pregnancy? It would seem that it’s very unlikely, otherwise the human race would have died out eons ago.
Spicy foods will not harm your baby. Not in utero, and not post-partum. Yes, some of the foods you eat will affect your breast milk, but this will not cause any harm. In fact, it might make your child more receptive to different foods later in life.
What About Premature Birth?
This is another myth – that spicy food is bad during pregnancy because they can cause a woman to go into labor prematurely, or even induce a miscarriage. You can file this away under “urban legend,” along with the New York sewer alligators and Bloody Mary.
Conclusion
Some foods can be bad for expectant mothers – they include unpasteurized dairy products, raw meat, raw eggs, raw seafood, fish that is high in mercury, and of course, alcohol. But is spicy food bad during pregnancy? No. If you want a fiery dish and your stomach can handle it, then go for it. This is not a time when you should be denying yourself the foods you want, and spicy foods are just fine.