Ajwain, also known as carom seeds, is one of the staple ingredients in all Indian households, and it belongs to the same family of cumin and fennel seeds. Very often, these three are confused interchangeably. Ajwain has a spicy and bitter taste and is called “ugragantha” in Ayurveda. When you are pregnant, you would want to be very careful about what you eat, both safety-wise and nutrition-wise. So, is ajwain during pregnancy safe? Can you have it when you are pregnant?
Traditionally, ajwain has been a very prized ingredient due to its ability to aid in easier digestion. You can consume Ajwain during pregnancy in moderate quantities. This article discusses whether it is safe to consume Ajwain during pregnancy, the benefits, side effects, and why you should prefer taking them. We will also guide you about how to include Ajwain in your diet.
In This Article
- Video of Ajwain During Pregnancy
- Is it Safe to Have Ajwain During Pregnancy?
- Nutritional Value of Ajwain
- 10 Amazing Benefits of Eating Ajwain During Pregnancy.
- Side Effects of Eating Ajwain When Pregnant
- How to Include Ajwain in Your Pregnancy Diet?
- FAQ’s
Video of Ajwain During Pregnancy
Is it Safe to Have Ajwain During Pregnancy?
Yes. It is safe to have Ajwain when you are pregnant. But, make sure you take them in moderation. You can consult a nutritionist or your gynaecologist to determine the optimum amount of Ajwain you can safely consume during pregnancy. Many pregnant women find it challenging to consume Ajwain due to its intense flavor. You can consume them either raw or powdered based on your taste preferences, and Ajwain water is the most common and easily consumable form of Ajwain.
Ajwain water gives the same benefits that you might get from raw or powdered Ajwain. It also helps better digestion, enhances metabolism, and helps get rid of bloating.
Nutritional Value of Ajwain
Ajwain seeds are rich in fibre, iron, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. One hundred grams of Ajwain seeds contain 66.36 per cent iron, meeting 369% of your daily requirement. Let us look at the nutritional value of 100 grams of Ajwain Seeds.
| Nutrients | Qty (In grams) | % of daily consumption |
| Calories | 375 | |
| Fat | 22 | |
| Carbohydrates | 44 | |
| Fiber | 11 | 39 |
| Proteins | 18 | 36 |
| Thiamine | 52 | |
| Riboflavin | 22 | |
| Niacin | 25 | |
| Vitamin B6 | 39 | |
| Vitamin E | 15 | |
| Manganese | 145 | |
| Copper | 96 | |
| Magnesium | 92 | |
| Phosphorous | 71 | |
| Zinc | 44 | |
| Potassium | 38 |
It also contains adequate Selenium, Sodium, Folate, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Vitamin K.
10 Amazing Benefits of Eating Ajwain During Pregnancy
You may wonder why you should choose such unpleasant food, especially during pregnancy. Ajwain gives a bundle of benefits to pregnant women. There are several reasons to eat Ajwain during pregnancy, and let us look at what they are.
1. Helps in Digestion
Ajwain contains Thymol that helps in easy digestion and enhances gut health, and it also helps prevent stomach disorders. With the expansion of the uterus during pregnancy, women often face bloating, acidity, and constipation. They all lead to slow digestion, and Ajwain comes as a saviour and provides us relief.
2. Strong Uterus Wall
Surprisingly, Ajwain can help us build up a strong uterus needed during pregnancy.
3. Relief From Constipation
Improper bowel movements are prevalent during pregnancy. Consuming Ajwain helps in reducing stomach disorders and getting relief from constipation.
4. Relief From Chest Congestion
Ajwain has the best quality of Broncho-dilating, which helps in reducing chest congestion, especially for pregnant women who have asthma. You can use the Ajwain in the following ways to relieve chest congestion.
- Inhale the Ajwain Smoke to open the airway and make breathing easier.
- Eating one spoon of Ajwain and Jaggery paste twice a day relieves us from chest congestion.
- Take a handful of Ajwain and tie them in a cloth as a bundle. Place the bundle over a hot Tawa and heat it. Apply this over the chest. This compression may provide relief from chest congestion.
5. Relief From Food Poisoning
Ajwain has anti-bacterial properties, which help fight against bacteria and other microbes responsible for food poisoning.
6. Reduces Cholesterol
Ajwain has also possibly proven to help lower bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol levels.
7. Improves Oral Health
Pregnancy also affects the oral health of expectant mothers. To get rid of this, take a handful of Ajwain and allow it to boil after adding salt. Once the water boils up, please switch off the flame and allow it to cool and come down to room temperature. To better oral health, gargle the Ajwain and Salt mixture three to four times a day.
[Read : Oral Care Tips During Pregnancy]
8. Reduces Pregnancy Headaches
Headache is one of the most common issues every woman faces, and pain killers are not safe during pregnancy, and that is why Ajwain comes to rescue us and provide relief to headaches. You can use Ajwain in the following ways.
- Burn the Ajwain and inhale the fumes
- Make a paste of Ajwain and apply it to your forehead.
- Wrap a handful of ajwain powder in a cloth and smell them often to reduce headaches.
9. Regulates Blood Pressure
The antihypertensive properties of Ajwain help in maintaining blood pressure at optimum levels. Uncontrolled Blood pressure is one of the significant risk factors of pregnancy.
10. Best When Consumed in The Last Trimester,
The levels of digestion discomfort would aggravate over the last trimester. During this period consuming Ajwain may help in the following ways
- Improves digestion
- Increases appetite
- Reduces flatulence
- Reduces acidity
- Assists in maintaining oral health
Side Effects of Eating Ajwain When Pregnant
To get the optimum benefits of Ajwain during pregnancy, you need to consume them at moderate levels. The significant side effect of consuming excess Ajwain increases the body temperature, affecting pregnancy.
Too much Ajwain can also lead to nausea and dizziness.
How to Include Ajwain in Your Pregnancy Diet?
As said earlier, you need to consume Ajwain in the correct quantity to get optimum benefits. You can consume the Ajwain in the following forms during pregnancy.
- Ajwain water
- Ajwain Seeds
- Powdered Ajwain
- Ajwain Parathas
Ajwain is not only just a staple, but it also has a lot of medicinal values, which is why our ancestors included them in all our food. While it is entirely safe to consume Ajwain during pregnancy, always keep in mind too much of anything is not good. You need to determine the correct quantity that suits your body during pregnancy. For this purpose, you may consult your doctor and check if it is safe for your health to consume and in what quantities.
[Read : Basil Seeds During Pregnancy]
FAQ’s
1. Is it Safe to Drink Ajwain Tea During Pregnancy?
Ajwain tea is safe to drink during pregnancy, provided you don’t make it too strong. You can roast the Ajwain and make a powder of it. Store them in an airtight container so that you can store them for a longer time, retaining the flavour. You can use a teaspoon of Ajwain powder in hot water to make Ajwain Tea.
2. What Are the Medicinal Properties of Ajwain?
Ajwain helps treat stomach disorders, indigestion, acidity, constipation, and flatulence. It also helps reduce joint pain weight loss and stop greying of hair.
3. What Compounds in Ajwain Help in Relieving Stomach Disorders And Constipation?
Ajwain contains Thymol, gamma-terpinene, and p-cymene, which help maintain gut health and prevent constipation, gastric trouble, and bloating.
4. What Are the Benefits And Uses of Ajwain Seeds?
The following are a few benefits and uses of Ajwain Seeds.
- Fight against Bacteria
- Improve Cholesterol Level
- Maintain Blood Pressure
- Help relieve ulcers and indigestion
- Anti-inflammatory effect
- Help in chest congestion
Read Also: Fennel Seeds During Pregnancy – Are They Safe?
