Eating honey during pregnancy may seem like a contradiction – after all, pregnant women are often warned to avoid sugary foods.
Mothers around the world are curious about different foods they can try to make their pregnancy easier.
We all know that some foods are healthy, while others can cause harm. One such food is honey — a sticky substance produced by bees using nectar from flowers.
Many people believe that consuming honey during your pregnancy has many benefits. It has had medical uses and a sweetener for thousands of years.
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Is Honey safe during pregnancy?
We all know that honey is delicious. It’s also super nutritious and has some amazing health benefits—plus it’s a great source of energy. But does that mean you can eat as much as you want while you’re pregnant?
The answer is: it depends.
If you have a mild allergy to bees or pollen, then it’s best to avoid eating honey during your pregnancy. This is because the proteins in these foods could cross your placenta and cause an allergic reaction in your baby. So if you’re unsure, it’s best to err on the side of caution and avoid eating any honey during your pregnancy.
If you don’t have any allergies, though, eating a little bit of honey here and there won’t hurt— but try not to go overboard!
Honey | Image source: iStock
How much Honey is safe during pregnancy?
The short answer: honey is safe during pregnancy.
The long answer: it depends on your tolerance for sweets and how high your blood sugar levels are.
Honey is a good food to eat while you are pregnant to help support your baby’s development. Because it contains antioxidants and other nutrients. It also has proteins that help reduce morning sickness in pregnant women.
But you should always be careful about how much honey you eat. Especially if you have a history of gestational diabetes or other health issues.
If you are feeling worried about eating honey, talk to your doctor! Also if you want to know more about how much honey is safe during pregnancy.
Raw Honey vs. Cooked Honey: Which one is better during pregnancy?
There’s a lot of buzz around raw honey and cooked honey, but what are the differences? Which one is better during pregnancy?
Raw honey
It’s OK to eat raw honey when you’re pregnant, but there are some things to pay attention to.
First of all, it’s important to make sure that the honey is from a reputable source. And has been properly pasteurized.
Pregnant women should avoid eating large amounts of honey. It may contain certain bacteria that can be harmful to the developing baby.
Those with bee allergies should avoid eating raw honey, as they may be allergic to the pollen in the honey. If you are allergic to bees, you should avoid eating raw honey because you could become sick from the pollen in it. But for most women, eating a small amount of raw honey during pregnancy is safe and healthy.
READ MORE:
Eating pork while pregnant: Benefits of pork during pregnancy
Cooked honey
Consumption of cooked honey has no known risks associated with it during pregnancy. But, we recommend that you speak to your doctor before consuming any type of honey while pregnant.
The heated honey is clear and easy to spread on toast or drizzle over yogurt. But, this also means that the cooking process destroyed some of its nutrients. It does still contain some nutrition like protein. But, it will not have all the benefits found in raw honey.
Honey | Image from Pexel
What are the benefits of eating Honey during pregnancy?
There are many benefits to eating honey while pregnant.
The most obvious benefit is that honey is a great source of sugar. Eating it will help you have more energy. It can also help prevent morning sickness and constipation.
Honey is full of antioxidants. It can help improve your immune system and reduce inflammation. It’s also rich in vitamins and minerals like calcium, iron, zinc, potassium, magnesium, selenium and manganese. These are all things you need more of during pregnancy!
Eating honey can help with digestion. Honey contains natural enzymes. They help break down foods so they are easier to digest and absorb into the body.
And did we mention how delicious honey is? It’s sweet without being overwhelming. Even if you don’t feel like eating anything else but honey right now, there are plenty of ways that honey can still make an appearance at meals. Try drizzling some on top of toast or adding a little bit into your tea or coffee!
Other healthy sugar substitutes
Aside from honey, there are a variety of sugar substitutes available on the market. Many pregnant women are looking for healthy options. While some artificial sweeteners show to cause diabetes, there are a few that are safe for you to consume.
- Acesulfame potassium
- Aspartame
- Neotame
- Polydextrose
- Molasses
- Saccharin
- Stevia
- Sucralose
Some studies show that people who consume artificial sweeteners are less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who don’t. So if you’re looking for a healthy way to sweeten your food while you’re pregnant, artificial sweeteners are a good option. But be sure to check with your doctor first.
Republished with permission from theAsianparent Singapore
Here at theAsianparent Philippines, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advice or medical treatment. theAsianparent Philippines is not responsible for those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend consulting your doctor for clearer information.