Can pregnant women eat honey? (2024)

Many questions are raised regarding the use of honey such as: "Who should use honey" or "is honey good for pregnant women "... According to recommendations from experts, Do not use honey in children under 1 year old because the digestive system is still weak, so it is easy to be poisoned. For other subjects including children over 1 year old, healthy adults and pregnant women... it is safe to use honey because the immune system is mature and can handle bacteria. bacteria present in honey.
Honey brings many benefits to pregnant women as follows:
Strengthens the immune system: The antibacterial and antioxidant effects of honey help strengthen the body's immune system. For pregnant women, the immune system needs to be strong to prevent harmful agents to health, because even a small impact can affect the development of the fetus. Therefore, honey used for pregnant women helps strengthen the body's immune system, fight the risk of infection and prevent oxidative stress; Reducing insomnia: Many causes of insomnia in pregnant women such as fatigue, irritability, back pain... adversely affect both mother and baby. According to studies, a cup of warm milk mixed with a teaspoon of honey before going to bed helps pregnant women reduce stress, sleep better and sleep more deeply; Reducing cough and cold: During pregnancy, pregnant women are often prescribed by doctors to limit the use of antibiotics. So in case of sore throat, cough or cold, using honey will help reduce the above symptoms. The anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and immune-boosting properties of honey contribute to the relief of colds, sore throats and coughs; Reducing sore throat is the answer to the question "is honey good for pregnant women". Using a tablespoon of honey added to warm lemon water or ginger tea will help relieve sore throat; Better digestion: The last 3 months of pregnancy is considered a difficult time for the mother because the growth of the fetus increases pressure on the stomach and intestines and makes the process of digesting food difficult. more difficult. During this period, the mother should drink a glass of warm milk with about a teaspoon of honey to help reduce discomfort in the stomach and stabilize digestion. Besides, the results of many studies have shown that honey has the effect of helping to reduce the growth of Helicobacter Pylori bacteria - the causative agent of stomach ulcers; Improves scalp health: Boil a small amount of honey with warm water and apply to the scalp to help reduce dandruff and scalp itching; Contains many antioxidants: The high content of antioxidants in honey helps pregnant women protect their health, avoid the bad effects of free radicals, and improve the immune system; Provide energy for the body: An abundant source of energy to keep the body healthy is extremely important for pregnant women, the growing growth of the fetus over time will consume a lot of the mother's energy. elected. Along with that, the hormonal changes during pregnancy make pregnant women easily fatigued. Accordingly, honey is a healthy calorie food. Therefore, using honey during pregnancy helps provide a great source of energy for pregnant women; Heal wounds and burns: The anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties of honey make this food known as a natural medicine to aid in wound healing. In case of injury or burns during pregnancy, pregnant women can use honey applied directly to the wound to help reduce pain and speed up wound recovery;

Besides the question "Can pregnant women eat honey", the use of honey in pregnant women is also a matter of concern to many people. Although it has many health benefits, the use of honey also needs to be in a certain dose. Recommendations from experts indicate that one tablespoon of honey contains about 8.6g of sugar. Therefore, every day pregnant women should only use up to 5 tablespoons of honey, equivalent to 180-200 calories.
Besides, choosing the right form of honey to use also plays a very important role. Some notes when using honey in pregnant women to achieve the maximum effect are as follows:
Use pasteurized honey products; Types of organic honey products should be prioritized because they do not have to go through many processing processes; Do not add honey to hot drinks because high heat will destroy beneficial enzymes; Do not use honey at the same time with vitamin C and vitamin D because the minerals in honey will destroy these vitamins.

Abuse or use of honey in large quantities can experience the following side effects:
Increased sensitivity to insulin: Blood sugar can increase if honey is abused, more serious is the condition insulin resistance. Therefore, pregnant women with gestational diabetes should not use honey; Causes Spasms: Using a lot of honey will lead to stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhea or constipation. Besides, honey also increases stomach acid, affects digestion and can slow down digestion; Affects dental health: High sugar content in honey can lead to tooth decay and tooth wear during pregnancy; Weight gain: The high calorie content in honey makes pregnant women gain a lot of weight during pregnancy. As such, honey is a food with many roles and health benefits for pregnant women. The use of honey for pregnant women is extremely beneficial, but it should be used reasonably in moderate doses, avoiding abuse of this food.

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