Horseradish in pregnancy

To give a comprehensive answer to the question "Can I eat horseradish during pregnancy?", you need to look at its composition and how individual ingredients affect the female body. Although, judging by the sources, this issue has not been studied in detail; perhaps due to the fact that horseradish is not a product of prime necessity during pregnancy.

The main quality of the plant is its special taste. It is caused by mustard oils, which have dual properties. The benefits of oils are antimicrobial and antiviral properties; pungency, on the contrary, has an adverse effect and causes:

• liver overload;
• increased gastric secretion;
• severe thirst;
• increased pressure;
• decreased blood clotting.

Such phenomena can pose a serious danger to a pregnant woman. Therefore, before adding horseradish to the diet during pregnancy, the expectant mother should consult a gynecologist.

But during the period of preparation for pregnancy, horseradish is very useful for both women and men.

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Horseradish during early pregnancy

Horseradish can be used both as a product and as a medicine during early pregnancy. It is better to refuse the product or use it very rarely, as a seasoning, if it is unbearable for a woman to refuse horseradish completely during pregnancy.

During pregnancy, it is better not to get sick at all. Since during pregnancy, a woman's immunity decreases, therefore, the expectant mother is more susceptible to illnesses, in particular, colds (ARI, ARVI, flu). Most often, colds occur in the early stages and threaten not only the mother, but also the fetus, which at this time is already forming its organs and systems.

It is not advisable to treat yourself with pharmaceutical drugs during pregnancy; it is better to turn to folk remedies. Horseradish during early pregnancy is a good alternative to pharmacy drugs, especially for colds.

Horseradish during pregnancy for colds

The high antiviral activity of the substances contained in the spicy roots allows the use of horseradish during pregnancy for colds. The composition of the fresh product is sufficient components useful for viral diseases:

• allyl mustard essential oil is a natural antiseptic;
• ascorbic acid (third place after rose hips and currants);
• carotene (in leaves) and other vitamins (in particular, thiamine and riboflavin);
• phytoncides;
• fiber;
• macro- and microelements (potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, phosphorus and sulfur).

Colds should be treated immediately, but self-medication, even with a natural remedy (horseradish plus honey), is prohibited during pregnancy. Cough can signal an acute respiratory disease, viral infection, bronchitis, pneumonia, and also be one of the symptoms of an allergy. First, a specialist should determine the nature of the cough, and if he does not object, then you can use folk remedies from horseradish for treatment.

Horseradish during pregnancy and colds is useful with honey or sugar - as an effective cough remedy.

Horseradish recipes during pregnancy

Horseradish is used during pregnancy as a remedy against viral infections and other colds. It actively stimulates the immune system and does not cause any undesirable consequences.

• Recipe 1.

Peel the root from small roots and skin, grate very finely, mix with the same amount of granulated sugar, leave in a warm place for about 12 hours. Strain and use a tablespoon every hour for the first two days.

• Recipe 2.

The prepared root is crushed and mixed with bee honey in equal proportions. Take 0.5 - 1.0 teaspoon, 3 - 4 times a day. The treatment period should not exceed three days.

• Recipe 3.

A cough remedy (grated horseradish plus sugar) is prepared similarly to recipe 2. It is used in the same way.

• Recipe 4.

Mix 3 teaspoons of honey with 1 teaspoon of horseradish juice, drink little by little, washing it down with plenty of clover tea (3-4 glasses per day).

There are other recipes from horseradish, but they are not suitable during pregnancy. Horseradish is also used in cosmetology, for example, in the composition of bleaching agents.

Horseradish with honey during pregnancy

Horseradish with honey is used during pregnancy to treat colds, flu and other viral infections. This mixture is effective due to the medicinal and immunostimulating properties of the spicy plant. But first, it is important to make sure that there are no adverse reactions to the components.

To prepare a cough remedy, grated horseradish is mixed in equal parts with natural bee honey, infused, filtered, and taken from the onset of the disease (for more details on recipes, see above).

Canned or pre-grated horseradish is not suitable for preparing horseradish with honey during pregnancy, since the beneficial substances disappear during canning or storage.

Horseradish with sugar during pregnancy

Horseradish with sugar is used during pregnancy if a woman is allergic to honey. The simplest recipe:

• Fresh horseradish root is washed, peeled and freed from skin and small roots, finely grated by hand or in a food processor and mixed with sugar. The proportions of the cough suppressant are the same as horseradish with honey: 1:1. It is recommended to take horseradish with sugar during pregnancy three to four times a day, for no longer than three days; the dose is half or a full teaspoon.

Benefits of Horseradish

Horseradish contains various useful substances and also promotes their synthesis (for example, vitamin B1) in the body. With the help of grated rhizome or juice, even scurvy can be cured. It is important that these substances are preserved during storage until spring.

Nutritionists point out the following benefits of horseradish:

• surpasses some vegetables in the amount of vitamins;
• how the seasoning improves appetite and digestion;
• has a general strengthening effect;
• has a bactericidal effect due to the presence of lysozyme;
• used for diseases of the respiratory system, anemia, physical and mental exhaustion;
• as an external use - for stomatitis, toothache, rheumatic and radiculitis pain, suppurating wounds;
• the leaves are also edible and contain vitamins;
• Bactericidal properties are used for canning and pickling.

However, not all of these properties are useful during pregnancy, so unlimited consumption during this period will do more harm than good.

The special benefit of horseradish during pregnancy is that it has medicinal properties against flu and colds.

Contraindications to the use of horseradish during pregnancy

Contraindications to the use of horseradish during pregnancy:

• acute and chronic diseases of the digestive organs (ulcers, gastritis, esophagitis, cholecystitis, biliary dyskinesia);
• hypertension;
• tendency to bleeding;
• kidney diseases (glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis, renal edema);
• Large doses can cause burns to the mucous membranes of the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract.

In the second half of pregnancy, horseradish consumption in any form is prohibited.

Horseradish is a very useful plant, but in principle, you can do without it. Especially if there are risks, as in the case of using horseradish during pregnancy. For medicinal purposes, the use of a folk remedy based on horseradish is justified, but only with the approval of an experienced doctor.

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Harmful effects of horseradish during pregnancy

All hot spices, including horseradish, are not recommended during pregnancy. Harm can be caused by the ingredients included in the popular plant.

Essential oils contain erucic acid, which is not absorbed and overloads the liver. High concentrations of this substance are dangerous even for a healthy organ, and during pregnancy, as is known, the liver bears a double load.

Horseradish makes you thirsty, and the accumulation of fluid can lead to swelling (especially in the second half of the gestation period) and increases the secretion of gastric juice, which is also associated with risks.

The spicy product affects the cardiovascular system and the blood system: it increases blood pressure and reduces the ability to clot, which is undesirable during pregnancy.

The harm of horseradish during pregnancy is aggravated by the presence of contraindications to its use.