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Is It Safe To Use Vinegar During Pregnancy?

Do you enjoy certain dishes with a sprinkling or touch of vinegar? Are you pregnant now and worried whether you can safely continue to include vinegar in your diet? Have you also tried out different uses of vinegar, in home remedies or cleaning methods, and want to know whether or not you can safely carry on doing the same?

If you want to know more about the use of vinegar during pregnancy and whether or not it has any associated risks, scroll down and read all about it here.

Is Vinegar Safe During Pregnancy?

According to the American Pregnancy Association’s list of foods to avoid during pregnancy, vinegar does not count as an unsafe food option when you are pregnant. It is not listed under their foods to avoid a section, which means that you can safely consume some amount of vinegar while you are pregnant. However, as there is no known limit or dosage to follow while you are pregnant, it is important first to speak to your doctor and get a confirmation on the same.

In most cases, you can easily eat salads, sautés and other foods with a dash of vinegar in pregnancy.

Benefits Of Eating Vinegar During Pregnancy:

1. Eases Nausea:

Some women also add a drop of vinegar to some morning foods to ease nausea.

  • To get additional calcium, you can soak a few cooked organic bone pieces in apple cider vinegar. It helps release calcium from the bones into the liquid.
  • Taking a small amount of the solution every morning will help you get rid of nausea. It will also provide your unborn baby with additional amount of calcium which will help in the formation and strengthening of bones and teeth in your baby.

2. Rich Source Of Antioxidants:

  • Vinegar contains a high amount of antioxidants that are especially good for you when you are pregnant.
  • The antioxidants present in vinegar will protect your cells against any damage that might occur from free radicals.
  • Having more antioxidants while you are pregnant will help to protect both you and your baby from any oxidative stress. It will help the overall health of your pregnancy.

3. A Good Flavoring Agent With No Added Sodium Health Risks:

While you are pregnant and even otherwise, it is important to keep your sodium intake within the recommended levels, which is 2,300 mg per day.

  • During pregnancy, you may crave extra sodium through various dips or other snacks that you may want to have. It can pose a health risk to both you and your baby, as high levels of sodium can cause health complications.
  • Using vinegar is a great way to flavor your food without adding extra sodium. Also, vinegar is available in different flavors, so you can always mix and match to create interesting flavors.

When Should You Limit Vinegar Consumption?

While you are pregnant, it is common to experience heartburn, which occurs during the second and third trimester.

  • Even though all pregnancies are unique, and you may have not experienced it in your earlier pregnancy, eating certain foods can increase heartburn.
  • Vinegar is high in its acidic content, and it can cause heartburn while you are pregnant or increase your heartburn.
  • If you experience an increase in heartburn after having vinegar, or if you feel it triggers heartburn, try and stop or limit your intake for some time.
  • While Apple cider vinegar does have its uses while you are pregnant (see point 1), there are instances when having it in excess can cause negative effects too. Apple cider vinegar has a high amount of acid content. When consumed daily, it can cause several dental issues, including erosion of your tooth enamel. Suffering from poor oral health while you are pregnant can adversely affect your unborn baby’s health and may also cause early labor.

Side Effects Of Having Vinegar During Pregnancy:

Is vinegar harmful during pregnancy? Well, while vinegar in limited amounts will not harm your pregnancy, there are certain food items that contain vinegar that could cause potential harm. Check the recommendations shared below to know what form of eating vinegar you should avoid while you are pregnant:

  • According to the American Pregnancy Association (APA), do not eat fresh green vegetables that have been sprinkled with vinegar, especially if you are eating out.
  • Also, avoid eating raw or undercooked seafood or shellfish like oysters that are often served with vinegar sauce. While the vinegar will not cause you any problems, the undercooked or raw seafood can pose serious health concerns.

How To Have Vinegar While Pregnant?

The market is full of a number of flavors of vinegar today. Due to its vast palate, it makes for a great pregnancy addition that will help to flavor your foods and side dishes.

Here are a few types of vinegar that you can try out while you are pregnant. Check out the taste of each and see which one you like the most:

1. Balsamic Vinegar:

Balsamic vinegar has a strong taste that is flavored with a hint of sweetness too. It is a great addition to your homemade salads, sautéed vegetables, sautéed meats, noodles, rice or even fruit salads. It does contain a high amount of sugar as compared to other types of vinegar, so limit your intake.

2. Rice Vinegar:

Rice vinegar has a very sweet but also a very strong sour taste, even though the entire effect is mild. You can add it to your soups of stir fried foods.

3. Apple Cider Vinegar:

Apple cider vinegar works best as a marinade or dressing and has a unique taste.

The golden rule of pregnancy is to eat and drink anything after it has been approved by your doctor. Check with your medical practitioner about how much vinegar you can safely consume now.

Did you have vinegar while you were pregnant? What is your favorite type of vinegar? Tell us about it here. Leave a comment below.

Garima Singh

Garima is following her dream and now writes on various topics about health, fitness, food, lifestyle, technology, latest trend full-time. Her favorite quote:
"A beautiful face will age and a perfect body will change ,but a beautiful soul will always be beautiful.."

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