Garlic is a common culinary ingredient that adds flavor to food. Besides, it offers nutritional and medicinal benefits to promote health over time. But then garlic causes gastric issues in sensitive people, raising a pertinent question – Is garlic during pregnancy safe? It’s critical to understand this to ensure garlic is not harming either your or your baby’s health. Keep reading as we tell you about the safety of garlic for pregnant women, its possible health benefits, side effects, and a few healthy recipes made with it.
Is Garlic Safe During Pregnancy?
Garlic is considered safe during pregnancy provided it is taken in small amounts. It is safe to include garlic in early pregnancy as foods eaten in this phase will have lesser effect on the fetus compared to the subsequent trimesters (1). In the second and third trimesters garlic could lead to two main side effects – lower blood pressure and thinning of the blood — when taken it excess. Therefore, it is advisable to consult your healthcare provider before including it in your pregnancy diet (2). Your doctor will be able to tell you about the safe quantity of garlic you can consume.
How Many Raw Garlic Cloves Can A Pregnant Woman Eat?
Generally, consuming two to four fresh garlic cloves is safe. This is equivalent to 600 to 1,200 milligrams (mg) garlic extract, 0.03 to 0.12 milliliters (ml) garlic essential oil, 5ml fluid extract, or 20ml tincture every day (3). You can also get garlic supplements in the form of freeze-dried tablets. These can be taken at a dosage of 400mg thrice a day. Remember to seek your doctor’s approval before consuming garlic in raw or in any other form, to reap the benefits.
Benefits Of Eating Garlic During Pregnancy
Garlic has many benefits, some of which are extremely essential during pregnancy. Here are some health benefits of eating garlic during pregnancy:
1. Lowers the risk of preeclampsia
Preeclampsia or high blood pressure is a potentially harmful condition that affects nearly one in ten pregnant women. Garlic cuts down the risk of this condition and decreases the chances of high blood pressure and protein levels in the urine (4).
2. Boosts baby weight
Research studies reveal that garlic helps improve the birth weight of babies who have the risk of being small or having a pre-term birth (5). Standardized garlic tablets lower the chances of birth complications (6). Experiments have shown that adding garlic extracts to placental cells stimulated growth. The enzyme activity that was reduced in abnormal pregnancy enhanced when garlic was included in the diet.
3. Lowers cholesterol and heart issues
The magic content in garlic, allicin helps reduce your cholesterol levels and keeps them in check. The same compound also helps thin your blood, reducing the risk of a heart attack or stroke (7).
4. Prevents cancer
Eating garlic on a regular basis can protect you against certain forms of cancer, especially colon cancer. According to the US National Cancer Institute (NCI), research studies in China revealed that garlic consumption along with onions and chives is related to lowering the risk of esophageal and stomach cancers (8).
5. Fights cold, flu, and infections
Garlic can limit the growth of harmful bacteria in your system and keep the immune system healthy. It helps to fight away infections, including cold and flu (9)
6. Treats yeast infections
Allicin present in garlic has anti-fungal properties, which treat various vaginal yeast infections such as chronic candidiasis and yeast hypersensitivity syndrome (10).
7. Prevents skin and oral infections
The antimicrobial properties of garlic are helpful as topical solutions for skin and mouth (11). However, because of the intensity of garlic it must be used with care as it can irritate or burn the skin.
8. Prevents hair loss
Garlic contains a high amount of allicin that is a sulfur-based compound. It helps prevent hair loss and also promotes the growth of new hair (12). Garlic is beneficial when eaten in moderation. Do remember that overeating garlic could lead to a few side-effects.
Potential Side Effects Of Eating Garlic During Pregnancy
While garlic is otherwise considered a healthy herb, in some cases, it can cause a negative reaction. Here are some instances where you should be careful about your garlic intake:
Garlic has blood thinning properties. This means that you could bleed more than normal, which could be a major issue especially during surgical procedures or cesarean section (13).
Garlic supplements can interact with anti-clotting medications. They interact with insulin, thus lowering blood sugar levels (14). This is another reason why it is so important to consult your physician prior to starting a new supplement.
Too much garlic can upset your digestive system, and lead to stomach issues. In this case, you should see a doctor.
Garlic is safe to consume when taken in small amounts. Below we give you a list of garlic recipes that are good for your health during this delicate time.
Garlic Recipes
Once your doctor has given you the go-ahead to eat garlic in pregnancy, you can try the following recipes that contain a healthy amount of garlic.
1. Cauliflower soup with toasted garlic
You will need:
3 cloves of sliced garlic 2 tbsp. of olive oil 1 small head of cauliflower, chopped 5 cups of low sodium chicken broth 1 tbsp. of freshly chopped thyme leaves Kosher salt and black pepper for taste
How to: Preparation time: 40min Servings: 4
2. Garlic snow peas stir fry
You will need:
3 garlic cloves, minced 2 cups snow peas, trimmed ½ tbsp. cooking oil 1 tsp. sesame oil Toasted sesame seeds (for garnishing) Pinch of salt
How to: Preparation time: 10min Servings: 2
3. Roasted garlic and leek bread casserole
You will need:
1 large head of garlic 3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil 2 cups water plus 2 tbsp. water 8 slices of bread with the crusts removed 4 cups of halved and thinly sliced leeks – use only the white and the light green parts ½ tsp kosher salt or sea salt 1 cup of shredded cheese 1 tbsp. freshly chopped thyme 1/4th tsp fresh ground black pepper Water
How to: Preparation time: 1hr 20min Servings: Makes 3/4th cup Speak to your doctor before you try these delicious and healthy recipes of garlic during pregnancy. In the next section, we cover a few common questions that mothers may have about consuming garlic while pregnant,
