Is It Safe To Eat Radish During Pregnancy?

Are you expecting? Are you craving for some healthy soups and salads? Are you aware that most raw vegetables including radish can pose danger for the little one in your womb? Pregnancy is considered of the many magical moments in a woman’s life. But then, there is a small fear almost every pregnant woman has; about the safety of food that she consumes. Radish is normally counted among the most nutritious vegetables. Not just the root, the flowers, leaves and young pods are edible as well. But, when you are pregnant, you must be extremely cautious about what you eat because your body is undergoing tremendous transformation from the inside. So what may suit you normally may not go too well with you during pregnancy. So, watch out!

• Diet During Pregnancy
• Health Benefits Of Radish During Pregnancy
• Risks Of Eating Radish During Pregnancy
• Safety Measures To Follow While Consuming Radish During Pregnancy
• How To Include Radish In Your Pregnancy Diet

Diet During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a phase in every woman’s life that demands careful decisions. Your body certainly requires more calories than before as it needs to supply food to your baby too. Once you become pregnant, you become very cautious of what you eat. Your mind is constantly busy looking for answers related to your diet. And one such question is if it is safe to consume radish during this period? Well, the answer is yes. And if you want to know how, then read on to know more.

Health Benefits Of Radish During Pregnancy

One serving of radish is a source of several vitamins and minerals that is very essential for a mother-to-be and her baby. It is also a source of calcium that aids the development of your baby’s bones, teeth and muscles. Besides, it contains folic acid that prevents birth defects. Radish is also known to provide Vitamin C, potassium and Iron which can be extremely beneficial for the pregnant woman. Other benefits that can be accrued from this vegetable are:

• It detoxifies and purifies blood
• It soothes the digestive system
• It is good for the kidney, liver and stomach
• It treats colds and general allergies
• It is a good appetizer
• It improves blood circulation and increases immunity
• It regularizes metabolism

With so many health benefits that this crunchy vegetable brings in, isn’t it natural that pregnant women can safely consume it? The answer is Yes and No.

Risks Of Eating Radish During Pregnancy

When you are pregnant you are more careful to include those foods that induce your baby’s growth and development. The biggest risk that comes from radish despite its benefits is the place where it comes from. Foods that are grown underground, especially in contaminated soil may contain taxoplasmosis. This is a parasitic infection that is passed through cat feces. Under normal circumstances, this is not harmful for humans. But during pregnancy, our immune system is low and therefore doesn’t protect us from certain infections. If the radish is not washed properly and consumed, the infection may pass on to the baby through the mother. Because your immune system is not protecting you, you may be prone to Salmonella and E.Coli infections. This can cause fever and symptoms of dehydration which can have harmful effects on your baby too. In extreme yet rare cases, this could even lead to pre-term delivery, miscarriage/death of the fetus.

Safety Measures To Follow While Consuming Radish During Pregnancy

If you are a pregnant woman reading this, this information is not meant to scare you, but to caution you against any possible danger. Radish in itself is healthy and is not at all harmful when consumed by a pregnant woman. The only thing to make a note of is to observe some safety measures when you decide to include radish in your diet. Let’s look at these:

• Whether it is radish or any other vegetable that grows underground, make sure you never consume it without washing thoroughly. Any traces of visible dirt must be scrubbed off
• It is always advisable to steam or cook radish to ensure that all those pathogens that cause infections are totally eliminated in the process
• You can sauté them before adding them to your soups
• After cutting radish, rinse the cutting board thoroughly with water and soap. This is to avoid contaminating the food that you cut next, Make sure to wash your hands too
• If you are using radish leaves, wash them and cook them well because they could be home to germs causing infections too

How To Include Radish In Your Pregnancy Diet

If you can ensure that the radish you are going to consume is clean, then you can go ahead and include it in your salads. Alternately, you can add some slices to garnish your soups. It can also be paired with low-fat salad dressing to make a healthy snack. Sauté it and add it to your pasta or stew to add a different taste and pack it with nutrients.
Remember taking a few precautions can go a long way in averting infections. So, why wait? Go ahead and try some healthy radish recipes.
Pregnancy is a phase to be alert and stay healthy; always consult your doctor if you have any question. Almost all foods can be consumed, barring a select few, provided you exercise caution and eat in moderation. Enjoy the phase while it lasts. This is the only time when you can eat without feeling guilty and be pampered by all those around you.
If you loved munching on a juicy and crunchy radish during your pregnancy, don’t forget to share your experience in the comment section below.