You know nettle? Yes, that stingy, annoying plant that grows everywhere. Well, apparently it’s one of the best things for your pregnancy diet. Surprised?
Nature is truly amazing. Here you have something like nettle. One of the most annoying plants ever created: it grows everywhere, it stings, it itches… yet, somehow this plant is a major nutritional bomb! It has plenty of iron, calcium, beta carotene, vitamins C, K, E… almost everything a pregnant woman needs for her diet!
Nettle tea is the easiest way for a pregnant woman to enjoy the plant’s benefits. In fact, having nettle tea 3-4 times a week is quite similar to having a good, natural multivitamin supplement.
Here are just some the benefits of nettle tea for pregnant women:
- Helps with digestion
- Eases and prevents leg cramps
- Eases swellings
- Helps with breast milk production
- Lowers blood sugar levels
- Helps with postpartum bleedings
and of course…
- Gives your baby plenty of important nutritional ingredients!
Care for Some Nettle Tea?
Enjoying the benefits of nettle tea in your pregnancy diet is easier than you might think. You can find it in every nature or health store, and even online. Just make sure the tea you buy is made out of the nettle’s leaves and NOT its roots, since it’s not advised for pregnant women to have nettle roots or any of its products.
On the other hand, you can make some fresh nettle tea on your own. Nettle grows almost everywhere, especially in the autumn. This is how you make it:
- Go outside and carefully, with a pair of gloves, pick 3-5 nettle leaves. It is best to pick the smaller ones – since they are not fully grown there isn’t much poison in them.
- Don’t pick or use the plant’s root!
- After picking the leaves, pour boiling water on them.
- Allow the leaves to rest in the hot water for 2-4 minutes.
- If the tea is too bitter, simply add some sugar, or even better, honey (another great food for pregnant women).
By the way, you don’t have to worry about the nettle’s poison. The hot water dissolves it.
Note that the tea might cause an urge to urinate, so don’t drink it before going to sleep, and have a glass of water for every cup of nettle tea.
Controversy: Could Nettle Tea be Unsafe for Pregnant Women?
Before making or buying nettle tea, it is important to know that some experts consider nettle tea as unsafe for pregnant women. This consideration is a result of a possible allergic reaction to the nettle, and the risk of not using its safe parts (as mentioned above, it is advised to make the tea out of the nettles leafs and avoid the roots). On the other hand, some expert recommend avoiding it in the first trimester, while approving it in the second and third.
However, it should be stresses that there are no known pregnancy and labor risks connected with nettle tea. Also, allergic reaction to nettle is quite rare.
To stay on the safe side, simply consult with your doctor or nutrition expert before you include nettle tea in your pregnancy diet.
