Pregnancy is a special condition of a woman that requires nutritional adjustments. Many products are banned. One of the prohibited foods during pregnancy is coffee. To understand whether it is possible to replace coffee with a chicory drink, you need to learn about the beneficial properties and contraindications of chicory.
Description of the plant
Chicory is a perennial herb up to 1.5 meters high with a tough stem and wonderful blue flowers that grows in temperate climates and the tropics. It is found in different parts of the world from America to Australia. In the wild, it grows on roadsides, in meadows, near settlements. You can also see it in the fields, where it is specially grown for medical use and the production of a coffee substitute.
Useful properties and contraindications
The first mentions of this plant were in ancient medical books. Even Avicenna mentioned him in his writings. For medicinal purposes, both the herb and the roots are used. The root is used to make a drink that replaces coffee. Chicory has a rich composition and many beneficial properties. It has a choleretic, diuretic effect. It also has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antipyretic, vasodilating and sedative effects. It is able to lower blood cholesterol levels and eliminate toxins.
This plant also has contraindications. It is contraindicated for varicose veins, gastritis, hemorrhoids, bronchial asthma, cardiovascular diseases. Allergic reactions may occur during its use.
The benefits of chicory during pregnancy
Chicory can be used during pregnancy. It contains more than 20 vitamins, macro and microelements, which are so necessary for a woman in a special position. Due to its composition, chicory is able to significantly improve the condition of a pregnant woman throughout the entire period of bearing a child.
It will help reduce the intoxication of the body from toxicosis, which torments a woman in the first trimester. This herb will reduce swelling, improve appetite and regular bowel movements, increase red blood cell production and prevent anemia, which often occurs in later stages. It will also lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels, which are often elevated during pregnancy. Knowing about the benefits of chicory during pregnancy, you can safely replace it with natural coffee. Naturally, only if there are no contraindications to its use.
How to properly consume chicory drink during pregnancy
Despite the fact that the chicory drink is approved for use and is useful during pregnancy, you should follow the rules for its intake and dosage. It is better not to drink a drink prepared from one teaspoon of instant chicory and a cup of boiling water at night. It is recommended to drink no more than two or three cups per day and not in a row.
You need to monitor your health and condition during the first intake, if such a drink has not been taken before. It is better to use a chicory drink without various additives. Sugar, milk, cream, honey can be added to the cup to taste. It is better to check the presence of contraindications and the maximum allowable amount with the attending physician and with the gynecologist who observes the pregnant woman.
