Pregnancy is a crucial period for women and their entire family. From the choice of doctor to the lifestyle, daily supplements, and pregnancy diet, every decision is a sincere one. Especially when it comes to diet, expecting mothers need to be very cautious. Anything wrong, or that has side effects, can affect their health adversely.
Here, many pregnant women are skeptical about the consumption of Ragi during pregnancy.
What is Ragi?
Ragi or finger millet is one of the most effective and nutritional grains, which is mainly grown in Asian and African regions. It is a gluten-free grain used in many Indian households to make healthy recipes like ragi upma, chilla, chapati, parantha, dosa, etc.
Many women doubt if Ragi should be consumed during pregnancy. Well, to clear your doubts, Ragi is absolutely safe for pregnancy. It is highly recommended by nutritionists and doctors, owing to its affluence in nutrients.
- Antioxidants,
- Calcium,
- Protein,
- Vitamins,
- Minerals,
- Iron,
- Carbohydrates,
- Potassium,
- Phosphorus
- Folate, and
- Amino acids.
However, the consumption of Ragi is not advisable in a few cases. In other words, some expecting mothers may face side effects of Ragi during pregnancy. What are the reasons? Let’s find out.
Side Effects of Ragi During Pregnancy – Major Causes
Before we look at the major causes of side effects of Ragi during pregnancy, let us first learn about its nutritional composition.
Nutritional Composition of Ragi
The following nutritional composition is given per 100 grams of Ragi.
- Dietary Fiber (in grams) – 11.5
- Fat (in grams) – 1.3
- Iron (in milligrams) – 3.9
- Carbohydrates (in grams) – 72
- Protein (in grams) – 7.3
- Energy (in kcal) – 328
- Calcium (in milligrams) – 344
- Phosphorus (in milligrams) – 283
- Potassium (in milligrams) – 408
- Sodium (in milligrams) – 11
Major Causes of Side Effects of Ragi During Pregnancy
Now that we have read the nutritional composition of Ragi, it will be easy for us to understand what causes side effects of Ragi during pregnancy.
- Allergic to Ragi
If an expecting mother is allergic to Ragi grain, then she must avoid its consumption or reduce it. This is because, excess consumption of this millet may lead to digestive issues such as diarrhea, bloating, etc.
- Pre-existing Kidney Stones/Diseases
Although Ragi keeps the digestive system strong, women who have kidney diseases/stones must immediately stop the consumption of Ragi. This is because high consumption of Ragi has high levels of phosphorus. Hence, pregnant women with kidney disease suffer from phosphorus accumulation in the blood. This happens because the kidney can’t discharge it properly in the urine, leading to excess phosphorus levels in the blood.
Moreover, Ragi is also high in potassium. This is a severe issue for expecting mothers with kidney diseases, as high levels of potassium may lead to cardiac arrests and reduce the chances of survival.
- Pre-existing Thyroid Imbalance
If the pregnant woman suffers from thyroid imbalance, then she may have side effects of Ragi during pregnancy. This is because Ragi has high levels of protein and goitrogenic compounds, which can adversely affect the condition.
If a pregnant woman has any of the above conditions, then she must avoid consuming Ragi in any form. She must also consult her doctor before adopting or avoiding any dietary habits during pregnancy.
Wrapping up
The above article mentioned the possible cases when Ragi consumption is not advisable for pregnant women. We hope you have read them carefully. Apart from these allergic and medical conditions, Ragi is safe for consumption during pregnancy. Hence, expecting mothers can, without fear, opt for them as their nutritional snack.
Maa Mitahara is an emerging kitchen that offers 100% homemade ragi ladoo online. We work intending to bring back the tradition of homemade nutritious foods and want to be a one-stop solution to serve pregnant women. Visit the official website of Maa Mitahara today. Explore the widest range of antenatal and postnatal ladoos and get them delivered to your doorsteps.