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Food In Pregnancy
An Ayurvedic Overview

Ramesh Nanal is a practicing Ayurveda physician for the last 35 years and known for his
puritan stand on Ayurveda. He is an honorary advisor to planning commission, Govt.of
VAIDYA R. M. NANAL India (AYUSH), King Edward Memorial Hospital (Ayurvedic Research Centre) Mumbai
102 Anand Bhuwan, Gore Wadi, and several other organizations. He guides Ph.Ds in Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth and
Pt. Satavalekar Marg, Mahim, lectures extensively in Ayurveda Universities across Maharashtra. He is a prolific writer
Mumbai - 400 016 (Marathi, Hindi and English) and has numerous books and hundreds of articles to his
Email: rmnanal@indiainfo.com credit. He brings out an Ayurvedic bimonthly, MADHUJEEVAN. He is actively involved
as an Ayurvedic advisor with several governmental and non governmental organizations.

ABSTRACT physically and mentally for the easy birth of her healthy baby.
This paper will provide guidelines for the aforesaid purpose.
This paper outlines the various kinds of diet to be followed
during pregnancy month by month based on the teachings of MONTHLY FOOD REGIMEN
Ayurveda.
The first trimester: Sweet, cold, (cooling to the body) and
liquid forms are helpful in this period – says Sushrut. (Because
“The life of all living things is food; the entire world the foetus is unstable in the uterus in the early months) Some
seeks food, examples of the dietary substances are: -
Complexion, clarity, good voice, long life, understanding, Singhoda (Trapa natans) (Water chestnut) - This is a
happiness, 'Garbhasthapan food (stabilizes fetus). It helps to fix the
Satisfaction, growth, intelligence etc. are all because of placenta. Singhoda powder 1 table spoon with luke warm milk
food.”(CS) and ghee is very useful. If possible, she should take 3 to 4 cups
of whole milk every day. Daily use of Cow's ghee with milk is
Pregnancy period is a very special time in a woman's life. This useful at this time of the pregnancy.
is the condition of having a child developing inside the body. In the third month rice with milk is advised to be taken
The first trimester is the most critical period. If the mother has frequently and in more quantity in the first course of the meals
harmful substances present in her blood, the baby may have like early breakfast and lunch.
birth defects. It is the best rule to use no medicine during this Fourth Month: Heart of the foetus starts working in this
period (first trimester) unless prescribed by a physician / month. More pure kahpa and rakta is essential for the fetus
Vaidya. here. Curds with rice and ghee are to be consumed more in this
month. More quantity of food is to be taken in a day time like
The fetus's movements can be felt by the mother at the end of breakfast and lunch.
Fourth month. The fetus begins to crowd the mother's internal Fifth Month: Mana or mind becomes promptly active. All
organs and may cause various kinds of discomfort, such as 'Hridya' (wholesome to Mana and heart) are to be provided to
back pain, shortness of breath, piles, muscle cramps, develop mental faculties in proper manner. Rice with cow's
constipation etc. Prenatal care under skilled Vaidya's milk is advocated by Ayurveda. This milk is boon to the
supervision can make it possible to prevent or treat most of the making of mind.

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Sixth month: Smriti (recollecting power) buddhi (power of Ginger powder, Black pepper, Rock salt, Arrowroot, Sugar,
perception) starts functioning hence cow's ghee is Jaggery, (Mushrooms, Tea, Coffee, Soft drink, Wines and
recommended in this month. One should consume a judicious Alcohols should be avoided)
amount of ghee with rice.
Seventh Month: The genesis of all the body organs is c body
SOME HEALTH PROMOTERS
components like rakta (Blood), asthi(Bones) medhya
•
Garden cress seeds (Chandrashura / Ahaliva / Halim) is
(intellect) etc. This requires a specific prescription for each
used every where in India during last months of the
individual body constitution. pregnancy and to lactating mother. Seeds roasted in cow's
ghee and mixed with milk and sugar is given as tonic for
AVERAGE DIET FOR PREGNANCY expectant mother. This helps in general debility and
pregnancy anemia.
Cereals (Anna Varga): Rice, Jowar, Barley, Wheat, Ragi, •
Crab, Corn and Egg soup is very helpful after second
Maize, Bajra. trimester. This helps to build strong bones of foetus.
Pulses (Shimbi Varga): Green gram, green pea, black gram, •
Soya milk and Egg yolk is good for bone development.
bengal gram, soya bean, red gram, cluster beans, kidney •
Spinach soup with Onions and Carrots help in pregnancy
beans (red), french beans, double beans. anemia and provides good nutrition to bones of both,
Fruit Vegetables: (Phala–Shaka Varga): Bottle gourd, snake expectant mother and foetus.
gourd, cucumber, tinda, lady’s finger, parwal, ridge gourd, red •
Apricots with honey are a very effective nerve-tonic. It
pumpkin, drum stick, ash gourd, tomato. increases blood and cures constipation. It prevents
Root and Tubers (Mool - Kanda Varga): Potato, sweet potato, infections and lowers the chances of degeneration of cells. It
carrots, radish, onion, garlic, ginger, yam, turmeric, beet root, is a fruit rich in vitamin A according to modern nutrition.
tapioca (sago) Hence it is a very valuable fruit in the prevention of all the
Green Leafy vegetables: Spinach, Lettuce, Cauliflower diseases caused by its deficiency.
leaves, Curry leaves, Coriander leaves, Mint, Cabbage, •
Banana with dates, figs and ghee every day in pregnancy is
Fenugreek, Drum stick leaves, Amaranth leaves. one of the best natural tonic foods. It also improves and
Milk and milk products (Dugdha Varga): Whole milk, Ghee, increases the blood during pregnancy and hence prevents
Butter, Paneer, Buttermilk, Curds, Cheese, Shrikhanda, Ice pregnancy anemia to a great extent. (Milk and banana is not
creams can be consumed. Cow's milk and ghee is the boon to a healthy combination and it is best to avoid in pregnancy)
expecting mother. •
Black currents are also rich nutrition for pregnant women.
Milk and milk products mixed with any fresh fruit is a bad Black current Juice (prepared by soaking and grinding them
combination hence to be avoided with water) is an ideal soothing in all types of urine
Flesh foods (Mamsa Varga): Goat meat, Titer (Partridge, Bird disorders in pregnancy. Scanty urination with hyper acidity
can be very well prevented by this. It tones up the large
variety), Chicken, Sardine fish, Crabs, Goat liver, Chicken
intestine which helps in curing constipation. Addition of
liver, Eggs, Cod-liver oil and Salmon. fresh dates to the mixture gives good results.
•
Dates- Soak 4 to 6 dates in fresh cow's milk overnight and
(Dry salted fish causes digestion problems hence better to
grind the mixture next morning. This preparation with a
avoid. Pork in excess should be avoided.)
pinch of cardamom powder and one tea spoon honey is used
Fruits: (Phala Varga) (Fresh and Dry) Banana, Apple, regularly to generate blood and bones of foetus.
Dates, Grapes, Pomegranate, figs, Jackfruit, lime, oranges, •
Mangoes are very nutritious and preventive for frequent
Mango, Pear, Phalsa, Dried figs, Resins, Apricot, Almond, attacks of the common infections like sinusitis, colds etc.
Dried dates, Fresh Amla is a boon for expecting mothers. One Drinking Mango juice (Amra ras) with ghee and milk two
Amla every day is very useful in every aspect of nutrition in times a day during pregnancy prevents one from fetal
pregnancy. Dried amla powder can be used in off seasons. abnormalities. It increases the resistance of the foetus
(Guava, Berries, Custard apple are not good for digestion against infections, helps in proper development, eases the
hence it is better to avoid) delivery and prevents post-partum complications.
•
Fresh salads can also be part of the diet of expecting
Other healthy foods: Garden cress seeds, Cardamom, mothers - Cabbage, Cucumber, Onions, Fresh Asparagus,
Corriender leaves, Clove, Nutmeg, Onion, Tamarind, Dry Lettuce and Spinach are good to have in salad.

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• Spinach: Regular use of spinach prevents threaten abortion with good nourishing diet and at the same time eat foods that
and hemorrhage. Fresh juice of spinach leaves one ounce (6 will build her baby's body tissues.
tea spoons) with a bowl of liver soup, thrice a day is a perfect
treatment in lack of breast milk, anemia's and general debility Ayurveda understands food and nutrition in a different way
after delivery. Fresh juice and tender coconut water is a best than what is advocated by the modern science of nutrition.
diuretic. It can be safely given in pregnancy to remove all Only when Ayurvedic understanding becomes part of the
toxins. common man/woman's psyche, that it will also become part of
their every day living. Dietary measures for special situations
The average regular diet (with some modifications with a like pregnancy or postpartum are only extensions of this grand
view as to what is good for her and what is not) is adequate for science of nutrition. Till that time it is wise for the pregnant
the average expecting mother. She should be more concerned woman to attention to her diet under the supervision of a
with the quality of what she eats. She should supply her body Vaidya.

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