Is It Safe To Consume Tamarind During Pregnancy?

Tamarind — a tangy and tasty treat to settle the pregnancy queasiness.

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Written by , B.Tech Ria Saha B.Tech Follow MomJunction on LinkedinMomJunction on FacebookFollow MomJunction on Instagram Specialty: Pregnancy and Baby FoodExperience: 9 years
Edited by , M.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA Swati Patwal M.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA Follow MomJunction on Linkedin Specialty: Food, Nutrition and HealthExperience: 10 years
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A Pregnant Woman Tasting Tamarind

Image: Shutterstock

Pregnant women love the tangy taste of tamarind and believe that it effectively reduces morning sickness. However, some of them are concerned about the safety of tamarind during pregnancy. Tamarind is believed to be safe for consumption during pregnancy and can serve as a good source of nutrition during pregnancy. It not only helps to reduce the symptoms of morning sickness but also provides many essential nutrients required for the growth of the fetus. However, it is important to consult a doctor before consuming tamarind to be on the safe side. Read the post for more details on the benefits of tamarind during pregnancy and the precautions you should take while consuming it.

In This Article

What Is Tamarind?

Tamarind is a fruit that grows in a pod and its pulp is very sour. The sour taste of tamarind tantalizes your taste buds while you are pregnant.

What Are The Uses Of Eating Tamarind During Pregnancy?

Tamarind helps treat common cold during pregnancy

Image: Shutterstock

Tamarind is known to have some medicinal properties and has been used as a traditional medicine for various ailments. It is a cure for nausea that is the most common sign of pregnancy. It also helps treat a common cold and constipation.

protip_icon Research finds
Studies show that tamarind pulp is a good source of folate, which is essential during pregnancy (2).

Nutritional Value Of Tamarind

A cup of tamarind pulp contains many essential nutrients that your body requires when you are pregnant. It has 3.36 milligrams of iron. During your pregnancy, you need about 27 milligrams of iron as part of your daily diet. It also contains 2.3 milligrams of niacin. While expecting you need about 18 milligrams of niacin as part of your daily diet. A cup of tamarind pulp also contains 6.1 gram of dietary fiber. You need at least 28 gram of dietary fiber in your daily diet when you are pregnant (1).

Is It Safe To Eat Tamarind During Pregnancy?

Check with your Ob-GYN before consuming tamarind

Image: Shutterstock

Popularly tamarind is a safe food for you while you are pregnant. Many pregnant women can eat it in moderation to satisfy their cravings for something tangy yet sweet. To be safe and certain, you still need to check with your doctor first whether you can go ahead and slurp on it during your pregnancy.

Benefits Of Eating Tamarind

Tamarind is a very good source of various minerals and vitamins that are essential for both you and your unborn baby. Here is a list of its benefits:

  1. Tamarind contains a good amount of iron. During your pregnancy, the volume of your blood increases. Iron helps to support the increase in the volume of your blood. According to the American Pregnancy Association, having an adequate amount of iron when you are pregnant will also bring down your chances of having a premature birth. It will also reduce the chances of low birth weight in your baby.
  1. The niacin content in tamarind helps in the development of the digestive system, skin, and nerves in your unborn baby. It also contains vitamins A, C, and K in small amounts.
  1. The high amount of dietary fiber found in tamarind promotes digestion and helps prevent constipation, which is a common problem during pregnancy. Eating enough fiber-rich foods during pregnancy will keep you feeling full and prevent you from munching on unhealthy snacks, thus preventing excessive weight gain. Eating fiber . A healthy diet is a must-have while expecting.
Eating fiber will prevent you from munching on unhealthy snacks.

Image: Shutterstock

  1. According to the March of Dimes, seven out of every ten pregnant women experience morning sickness during the first three months of their pregnancy.
    During this period, tamarind can be a helpful natural remedy to alleviate nausea and morning sickness. Tamarind contains certain compounds that can help your stomach settle down. It can be used as a natural remedy to ease the vomiting sensation you may have during your pregnancy, especially during the first trimester.
  1. Tamarind is rich in micronutrients such as calcium, iron, magnesium, protein, and zinc. These minerals help strengthen bones and teeth, regulate blood pressure, and improve immune system function.
protip_icon Health fact
Tamarind is rich in antioxidants and other nutrients and has antimicrobial, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties (3).

Watch Out

Eating tamarind can sometimes lower your blood sugar levels. In case you are diabetic or have a family history of diabetes, you should closely monitor your blood sugar levels regularly.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Will tamarind cause miscarriage in early pregnancy?

There are not enough studies to confirm whether tamarind causes miscarriage or not. Therefore, it is important to seek your doctor’s advice on this. However, a study reveals that in some parts of the world, consuming sour foods such as unripe tamarind may be restricted because of its heat-causing effects (2).

2. Are there any side effects of eating tamarind?

Excessive consumption of tamarind may increase tooth permeability, making it hypersensitive (3). Moreover, it may also lead to food allergies in people with asthma and rhinitis (4).

Many pregnant women love the tangy taste of tamarind. Fortunately, this great taste is complemented by high amounts of dietary fiber and several nutrients such as iron and vitamins. Therefore, the consumption of tamarind during pregnancy may help fetal development, reduce the risk of premature birth, and prevent constipation. In addition, many compounds present in tamarind help the stomach settle and reduce morning sickness. However, since every pregnancy is different, you should consult a doctor before consuming tamarind. Also, exercise caution while consuming tamarind if you have gestational diabetes.

Infographic: Benefits Of Including Tamarind In Pregnancy Diet

Do you crave the sweet and tangy flavor of tamarind and want to have it even during pregnancy? While curries, sauces, and pickles contain tamarind, you may wonder about its advantages. The following infographic sheds light on the advantages of having tamarind during pregnancy.

what makes tamarind safe for pregnancy (infographic)

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Key Pointers

  • Tamarind is safe for pregnant women and can help with fetal development.
  • It reduces morning sickness, treats the common cold, and prevents constipation.
  • Tamarind is packed with essential nutrients such as folate, iron, and vitamins.
  • It can lower blood sugar levels, and may not be suitable for diabetics.

Illustration: Is It Safe To Consume Tamarind During Pregnancy?

Tamarind During Pregnancy_illustration

Image: Dalle E/MomJunction Design Team

References

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.
  1. Tamarinds raw.
    https://www.nutritionvalue.org/Tamarinds%2C_raw_nutritional_value.html#:~:text=Tamarinds%2C%20raw%20contains%200.3%20g
  2. Caitlyn Placek; (2017); A test of four evolutionary hypotheses of pregnancy food cravings: evidence for the social bargaining model.
    https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.170243
  3. Kanittha Kijsamanmith et al.; (2016); Effect of tropical fruit juices on dentine permeability and erosive ability in removing the smear layer: An in vitro study.
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30894960/
  4. Sharma P and Gupta P; Association of bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis with IgE mediated allergy to common food allergens.
    https://ijmrr.medresearch.in/index.php/ijmrr/article/view/533/1034
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Reda Elmardi
Reda ElmardiRD
Reda Elmardi is a registered dietician, certified nutritionist, and certified strength and conditioning specialist trainer. The 32-year-old is a certified nutritionist from the UNC's Online MPH with Nutrition concentration, and has around ten years of experience.

Read full bio of Reda Elmardi
Ria Saha
Ria SahaB.Tech
Ria is a techie-turned-writer and writes articles on health, with special emphasis on nutrition. She did her B.Tech from West Bengal University of Technology and was previously associated with IBM as SAP ABAP technical consultant.

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Swati Patwal
Swati PatwalM.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA
Swati Patwal is a clinical nutritionist, a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and a toddler mom with more than a decade of experience in diverse fields of nutrition. She started her career as a CSR project coordinator for a healthy eating and active lifestyle project catering to school children.

Read full bio of Swati Patwal
Dr. Joyani Das
Dr. Joyani DasM.Pharm, PhD
Dr. Joyani Das did her post-graduation from Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra and PhD in Pharmacology. Previously, she worked as an associate professor, faculty of Pharmacology, for two years. With her research background in preclinical studies and a zeal for scientific writing, she joined MomJunction as a health writer.

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