“Will drinking Kesar milk during pregnancy make my baby fair?”, is one of the frequently asked questions in many pregnancy forums. Pregnancy is a very crucial stage in a woman’s life and it is also a period when one comes across several myths regarding the diet to be followed to ensure a healthy beautiful baby. It is always recommended to consult your doctor before you add or make any changes to your diet.
Saffron or Kesar Milk is one of the most commonly recommended dietary intake by elders during pregnancy. Their recommendation is backed by their strong belief that the baby would be born fair as a result of consuming Kesar milk. Do you feel the same? Have you ever raised your brow on this thought? If yes, read on to know more.
In This Article
- What is Kesar/Saffron?
- Why is Saffron So Expensive?
- Is it Good to Consume Kesar Milk During Pregnancy?
- Benefits of Saffron(Kesar)
- Will Drinking Kesar Milk During Pregnancy Make the Baby Fair?
- Benefits of Saffron/ Kesar Milk During Pregnancy
- Side Effects of Kesar Milk During Pregnancy
- How to Make Kesar Milk?
- Which is the Best Time to Consume Kesar Milk During Pregnancy?
- FAQ’s
What is Kesar/Saffron?
Saffron is a spice derived from the flower of Crocus Sativus. Saffron is basically the style of the flower. A Crocus Sativus flower consists of 3 styles which are long tube-like structures attached to the ovary of the flower.
Pollination occurs through these styles. These styles, along with their stigma, are plucked from the flower and dried, and sold as Kesar/Saffron.
Why is Saffron So Expensive?
The entire process of obtaining Kesar is very laborious and requires highly skilled labor to carry out the task. Considering each flower has only 3 strands and approximately 14000 strands are required to form 1 pound is what makes this spice so expensive.
Is it Good to Consume Kesar Milk During Pregnancy?
Saffron has numerous medicinal properties. And, kesar milk also bears the health benefits of kesar as well as milk. Therefore, kesar milk makes a healthy beverage during pregnancy. Saffron, on the other hand, has some negative side effects when consumed in large quantities. As a result, in any preparation, use no more than two to three strands.
Furthermore, in order to reap all of the health benefits and avoid any risk of artificial coloring or impurities, pregnant women should only purchase saffron from a high-quality vendor.
[Read : Drinking Milk During Pregnancy]
Benefits of Saffron(Kesar)
Saffron is used as a popular flavoring ingredient in the famous Hyderabadi Biryanis and is often used as a garnishing element in many Indian sweets. Kheer, aamras, flavored milk, rasmalai , thandai, etc are some of the sweets that contain saffron as an essential flavoring ingredient.
Saffron possesses many medicinal benefits. Some of the common uses and benefits are as below:
- Saffron is a good source of Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Iron, Manganese, Thiamine, and Riboflavin.
- Saffron aids in digestion by reducing gas and acidity.
- It helps women during pregnancy by suppressing cramps.
- Saffron due to its anti-inflammatory properties helps cure respiratory illness.
- Saffron is known to lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
- Daily intake of one or two strands of saffron in milk is suggested to be good for health.
- Saffron is known to cure colds and coughs. It helps to dilate the airways and reduce the inflammation in the lungs.
- Saffron is famously known as a beauty enhancing agent. Saffron helps to regain the glow and radiance of your face.
- It is also used as a skin toner when mixed with milk.
- Saffron is also known for its anti-oxidant properties that help to slow down the aging process.
[Read : Buttermilk During Pregnancy]
Will Drinking Kesar Milk During Pregnancy Make the Baby Fair?
A glass of saffron milk is known to do wonders during pregnancy, however, increasing your child’s fairness or beauty isn’t one among them. There is a myth that saffron milk during pregnancy makes babies fair.
Drinking saffron milk has benefits for your pregnancy but has no role to play in your newborn’s skin color.
The baby’s fairness is absolutely governed by the genes of the parents and the amount of melanin present in the skin and saffron does not have much of a role in it. There are no scientific studies that prove that saffron makes your baby fair.
Benefits of Saffron/ Kesar Milk During Pregnancy
Milk is a rich source of proteins and calcium which is required during pregnancy. Adding a few strands of saffron to your milk during pregnancy has many benefits that can help you have a trouble-free pregnancy. These include:
- Kesar milk gives relief to women who suffer from flatulence and bloating during pregnancy. This is a common problem faced by many pregnant women.
- Kesar is also known to improve appetite.
- Pregnancy triggers mood swings and depression in women. Intake of saffron milk acts as an anti-depressant in such cases.
- Kesar Milk helps to tackle acidity and digestive issues in pregnant women and is hence recommended during pregnancy.
Side Effects of Kesar Milk During Pregnancy
Saffron can be harmful to a healthy pregnancy if not taken moderately. Your chances of exceeding the limit of saffron intake are especially high when you add it to milk.
- Excess saffron is a stimulant that causes uterine contractions.
- Overconsumption of saffron in the first trimester results in miscarriage; and in the second trimester, it may result in premature delivery.
- In some women, saffron can cause vomiting.
- Pregnant women who consume saffron report anxiety, dry mouth, nausea, and headaches.
If you are experiencing any of the above issues, it is best to avoid saffron.
How to Make Kesar Milk?
Saffron can be consumed through consuming sweets that are garnished with it or food like Biryani where they are popularly used. However, for daily take of saffron during pregnancy one can have it along with a glass of milk.
Warm the milk to the desired temperature and add two, three strands of saffron to it. Wait for a few seconds and you will notice the change in color of the liquid. This shows that the saffron is slowly dissolving in the milk.
You may drink the milk after a few seconds along with the saffron strands in it.
Which is the Best Time to Consume Kesar Milk During Pregnancy?
Pregnant women can start drinking saffron milk at any time during their pregnancy. However, it is better to avoid saffron during the first trimester, which is the delicate phase of pregnancy.
Ayurveda recommends consuming saffron only after the fourth month of pregnancy. Precisely, when you begin to feel the baby move in your womb.
Saffron milk is best consumed first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. You can even drink it after dinner.
Please ensure you have no more than 2-3 strands during your pregnancy. Excess consumption can have a drowsy effect on you. Saffron is not to be consumed by anyone suffering from bipolar disorder.
We hope you found the above article of use to you and it answers your queries. Before you include saffron in your diet for daily intake it is best to consult your doctor. Many women are influenced by the elders in their family to adhere to a particular diet during their pregnancy.
But, every individual is different and their bodily functions vary from person to person. What suits your body may not suit someone else. So before you adopt any hearsay elements in your daily diet during pregnancy let your doctors know about it.
If you wish to share your experience with us or add any more to the above content, please feel free to drop your thoughts in the comments box below.
FAQ’s
1. Can Saffron Help With My Constipation During Pregnancy?
Yes, it can. It can help reducing your acidity and gas. This aids in better digestion.
2. Can I Drink Saffron Milk For My Cold During Pregnancy?
Yes you can. It helps to reduce lung inflammations. Apart from helping with your cold, saffron has other medicinal benefits to offer too.
3. Can Saffron Help Me Avoid Stretch Marks During Pregnancy?
Saffron is very good for your skin. It can help your skin glow and slow down the ageing process. Sometimes nothing can prevent those stretch marks.
4. Can I Drink Saffron Milk to Make a Fair Baby?
This myth has no scientific backing but is followed by many. The skin colour of a human is influenced by the genes. No matter what you eat or don’t eat, your baby’s skin colour is determined by its genes.
Read Also: Almond Milk During Pregnancy – Is It Safe ?