Basil or tulsi is a herb known for its minty flavor and is frequently used in Italian recipes. Considering its wide usage in Italian cuisines, you may wonder if it is safe to consume tulsi in pregnancy. This herb has an intense flavor that enhances the taste of Italian food. It is also a part of many seasoning pre-mixes and is served freshly on pizza and pasta. Hence, it is difficult to avoid it completely. However, knowing this herb’s health benefits and risks could calm your concern. Read on to know more.
What Is Basil?
Basil is a popular herb with many medicinal properties. Green aromatic leaves of the herb add a punch of great flavor to soups, salads, and many other cuisines. Also, basil is highly nutritious and contains many proteins, vitamins, fiber, minerals, and other essential nutrients. (1).
Health Benefits Of Consuming Basil During Pregnancy
1. Helps regulate blood clotting
Basil provides a good amount of vitamin K, which plays a vital role in ensuring your good health and your unborn baby’s safety during pregnancy. Vitamin K helps clot blood and prevents the risk of blood loss (2).
2. Promotes fetal growth and development
Basil is rich in vitamin A, which ensures appropriate growth and development of the fetus. Vitamin A from the herb promotes heart, eyes, lungs, and central nervous system development (3).
3. Supports Formation Of Fetal Bones
The manganese content in basil helps form your unborn baby’s bones and cartilages. Also, manganese acts as a powerful antioxidant that minimizes oxidative stress and prevents the risk of cellular damage in pregnant moms (4).
4. Ensures healthy blood supply
The folate content of basil helps generate additional blood that you need during pregnancy. Also, folate prevents the risk of certain birth defects in the unborn baby (5).
5. Prevents anemia
Basil is an excellent source of iron. Iron helps promote a good haemoglobin count and boosts your red blood cell count (RBCs) during pregnancy. Thus, the herb prevents the risk of anemia in expectant mothers, provides your necessary energy, and wards off fatigue (6).
6. Boosts immunity ensuring a healthy pregnancy
Basil is a rich source of several vitamins, such as vitamin E, vitamin C, riboflavin, niacin, and many other vitamins. Also, the herb is a good source of minerals namely, zinc, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, manganese, and potassium. All vital vitamins and minerals in basil, increase your immunity against many infections, ensure your good health and optimal development of the unborn baby, and help you enjoy a healthy pregnancy (7).
Side Effects Of Eating Basil During Pregnancy
Even though there are several health benefits of eating basil while pregnant, an excess of consumption of the herb can result in side-effects. Here are two main side effects of the herb.
1. Causes health troubles
Eugenol, the oil present in the basil, can prove hazardous to health if you eat an excess of basil. The oil in the herb can lead to speeding heartbeats, throat and mouth burns, shallow breathing, seizures, dizziness, blood in the urine, and coma in extreme cases (8).
2. Results in severe hypoglycemic effects
Excess consumption of basil in pregnancy can result in serious hypoglycemic effects minimizing your blood sugar levels. As a result, you may suffer from dizziness, irritability, and shaking (9).
A Word Of Caution
Basil is safe to consume during pregnancy, however, make sure you consume it in appropriate amounts and not in excess. Also, pregnant women should wash the herb before consuming it since unwashed basil may contain harmful parasites and bacteria that can lead to food-borne infections and ailments, such as listeriosis and toxoplasmosis. Consult your doctor once before you start eating basil while pregnant (10).
