Can You Drink Saffron Milk During Pregnancy?

Saffron or Kesar is known as the king of spices. It is also well known as ‘Zafran’ and it’s what adds flavour to everything from kheer to biryani. That’s not all, saffron is also used in beauty products apart from aiding digestion.

Saffron is often recommended to expecting mums owing to its therapeutic properties like aiding digestion, and improving the appetite. However, like any other herb, there needs to be moderation in the consumption of saffron too. 

If taken in large amounts, it can trigger contractions and cause premature delivery. Here’s everything you need to know about consuming saffron milk during pregnancy.

Is It Safe To Consume Saffron Milk During Pregnancy?

Saffron is essential and highly recommended during pregnancy because of its medicinal nature, but in moderate amounts.

It is advisable to consume saffron milk only at the onset of the fifth month of gestation when the pregnancy is stable and the risk of endangering the baby due to premature contractions is reduced.

You can use only two to three strands, at most, in any preparation, as excessive saffron might adversely affect the foetus. Saffron for pregnant women should be sourced only from a high-quality vendor to eradicate any risk of artificial colouring or impurities.

Dr. Pooja Marathe, Community Expert – Lactation & Nutrition says, “Taking up to 1.5 grams of saffron during pregnancy each day is generally safe, but eating too much can be toxic. 5 grams of saffron is considered to be a toxic dose. Saffron during the 9th month of pregnancy has a muscle relaxant effect, like the hormone oxytocin, which prepares the mum’s body for delivery and helps in easy childbirth.”

7 Benefits of Saffron Milk During Pregnancy

The primary advantage of saffron is that it helps in digestion by forming a protective coating in the digestive tract. Hence, drinking saffron milk can be highly beneficial. Some of its benefits are:

1. Reduces mood swings: Saffron reduces mood swings during pregnancy. It produces serotonin that modulates your mood by amplifying the blood flow in your body.

Thus, drinking saffron milk helps you cope up with your emotional ups and downs, and lets you remain in high spirits.

2. Relieves cramps: Cramps occur more frequently while you are expecting because of the hormonal changes.

Saffron acts as a painkiller to relieve the pain and soothes all the muscles in your body and provides relief.

3. Reduces high blood pressure: Pregnancy affects blood pressure levels as the blood circulation usually increases during this crucial time. When taken in small amounts, saffron reduces your blood pressure and is a saviour for sure.

High blood pressure leads to hypertension, a common concern during pregnancy and saffron rescues you from it.

4. Boosts heart function: All those junk food cravings during pregnancy increase your calorie intake that increases your cholesterol levels and affects cardiovascular health.

The substances found in saffron prevent the clogging of arteries and increase the oxygen levels in your body. Thus, saffron helps in reducing cholesterol levels and protects your and your baby’s heart health.

5. Aids in better sleep: As the pregnancy progresses, sleeping becomes a challenge with the mum tossing and turning all night to comfortably accommodate the growing belly.

During such times, you can have saffron-infused milk that contains mild sedative properties and help promote sleep.

6. Calms morning sickness and cures respiratory illness: Morning sickness during pregnancy often leaves you feeling dull and lethargic.

Anecdotal evidence proves that saffron milk often helps combat nausea and dizziness.

Saffron milk also possesses anti-inflammatory properties that help dilate the nasal airways. It reduces the swelling and inflammation in the lungs so that you can breathe clearly.

It can also aid pregnant mums suffering from asthma by removing any blockage that is present in their lungs and trachea.

7. Prevents allergies: Allergies are common during pregnancy. Drinking saffron milk helps you in fighting seasonal allergies.

It is beneficial for overall health and has no side effects as long as you do not go overboard.

Things to Remember

Before preparing saffron milk, there are certain steps to keep in mind. Saffron is often sold in adulterated forms and can be harmful to the expecting mum and the baby.

Here are some precautions or things to remember for consuming saffron safely during pregnancy:

1. Opt for packaged saffron: Local shops might sell saffron strands in loose form.

But for precautionary measures during this crucial phase, it is advisable best to buy only the packaged ones.

2. Saffron grades: Grading of saffron is done based on their colour and the highest graded saffron has the deepest tone and the best aroma. You might inquire about the grade of saffron to select the best available one.

3. Choose saffron strands over powder form: You can opt for fresh saffron strands rather than the powdered form as they might lose their antioxidant properties to a certain extent on being powdered.

Key Takeaways

Packed with a host of benefits, saffron milk is a beneficial addition to your pregnancy diet. You can also consult your doctor before consuming saffron milk. He/ she will guide you in determining the optimum quantity of consumption. So are you ready to give in to your love for saffron and reap the benefits it has to offer!