12 September, 2018

Food Myths and Facts for Pregnant Women

During pregnancy, you may receive a lot of advice about what you should and should not eat when you’re expecting. This well-meaning advice from friends and family is often a result of old wives’ tales that they hear. It may be confusing and you may wonder what’s okay to eat. Here are some common food myths and facts that all pregnant women must know:

  1. Myth: Don’t eat fish during Pregnancy

Fact: Not all kinds of fish are bad for you during pregnancy. Fish provides high-quality protein, is low in fat and contains omega-3 fatty acids and other essential nutrients. Omega-3 fatty acids aid in your baby’s brain and eye development. However, certain fish that contain high levels of mercury may be harmful to your baby. You could eat sardines, salmon, canned tuna etc. during pregnancy as these are low in mercury.

  1. Myth: Saffron will make baby’s complexion fair

Fact: This is a common belief in many parts of our country. A lot of families think that if a pregnant woman has saffron with milk, her baby will have a fair complexion. However, the truth is that no food can influence the baby’s complexion, as skin color is entirely dependent on the genes of the parents.

  1. Myth: Papaya or Pineapple will cause miscarriage

Fact: A lot of people believe that these two fruits can cause abortions and miscarriages. This is commonly assumed because both these fruits in their raw form contain certain enzymes which can cause uterine contractions when consumed in large quantities. However, consuming well-ripened papaya or pineapple does not cause any problem. It is important to take these in moderation.

  1. Myth: Cold and Sour foods cause Flu

Fact: There is an old belief that eating citrus fruits, juices, limes, lemons, curd, and buttermilk could lead to cold and cough, and affect the baby too. This is completely untrue. The fact is that these foods are loaded with nutritional benefits for both mother and the baby. Hence, these myths are completely wrong and pregnant women should consume these in moderation. If there is any doubt, it is better to ask your gynecologist before eating.

  1. Myth: Full-cream milk is more nutritious than low-fat milk

Fact: Both low-fat and skim milk contain approximately the same amount of important nutrients, i.e. calcium, phosphorous and protein, as full cream milk. However, full cream milk is high on calories and fat, especially saturated fat, which isn’t particularly healthy during pregnancy. Hence, it is better to take low-fat milk during pregnancy to avoid excessive weight gain.

These are some of the most common myths around food that pregnant women often get to hear. If you have any other doubts regarding food and nutrition, our doctors at KIMS Cuddles will be happy to clear them for you. Visit us today.

*Information shared here is for general purpose Please take doctors’ advice before taking any decision.

SIMILAR ARTICLES

blog featured image

29 July, 2026

Irregular Periods: When to Investigate

Period irregularity is something many women experience at some point, and most learn to live with it, at least for a while. A late period during a stressful month, a lighter cycle after illness, a missed period after a long flight. These variations are common and usually self-correcting. The problem is that irregular periods are also how the body signals conditions that genuinely need attention, and because the irregularity can feel familiar, it is easy to keep waiting for things to normalise when they never will without proper evaluation.Knowing where the line sits between normal variation and something worth investigating is genuinely useful.What counts as irregularA normal menstrual cycle runs anywhere from 24 to 38 days, measured from the first day of one period to the first day of the next. Variation of up to eight days between the shortest and longest cycle is considered normal. Lengths ranging between 8 and 20 days of variation are considered moderately irregular, and variation of 21 days or more is considered very irregular.Changes outside the cycle length are also irregular. Periods that are either much heavier or lighter than normal, periods that are much longer or shorter than normal, periods between periods, and periods that are absent altogether, in a woman not pregnant, breastfeeding, or in menopause,
blog featured image

29 July, 2026

Fertility Decline: What Women Should Know

Conversations about fertility tend to happen too late. Women often begin thinking seriously about their reproductive timeline only when they are ready to conceive. At this point, some of the most important biological facts have already been playing out for years without their awareness. The decline in female fertility with age is one of the most consistently misunderstood aspects of reproductive health, and the gap between what women know and what the biology actually shows is significant.This is not about creating anxiety. It is about giving women accurate information early enough to make genuinely informed decisions.The Fundamental BiologyA woman is born with all the eggs she is going to have in her lifetime. Her eggs age with her, decreasing in quality and quantity. Age is the single most important factor affecting a woman's fertility.Females are born with a finite number of oocytes. The number of oocytes peaks in the womb at around 20 weeks of gestation and subsequently declines steadily until approximately age 32, after which the number decreases at a greater rate until age 37, beyond which oocyte numbers drop even more rapidly.This is not something that can be slowed by fitness, diet, or general good health. Even though women today are healthier and taking better care of themselves than ever before, improved
blog featured image

29 July, 2026

PMOS: Causes Beyond Hormones

Most patients understand Polycystic Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome, or PMOS, as a hormonal condition. Irregular periods, elevated androgens, and ovarian cysts on an ultrasound. The hormonal picture is real, but it is only part of the story. Decades of research have made it increasingly clear that PMOS is far more complex than a hormonal imbalance in isolation. It involves the metabolic system, the immune system, the gut, and genetics, all interacting in ways that produce a condition that looks different in every woman who has it.Understanding the fuller picture of what causes PMOS matters because it changes how the condition is managed and why lifestyle interventions work as well as they do.What PMOS Actually InvolvesPolycystic Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome is a complex endocrine and metabolic disorder, typically characterised by hirsutism, hyperandrogenism, ovulatory dysfunction, menstrual disorders, and infertility. The name itself reflects what the condition truly is. The metabolic component is not secondary to the ovarian and hormonal picture. It is central to it. Treating the hormonal symptoms without addressing the underlying metabolic drivers is one reason PMOS management often produces only partial results.Insulin Resistance Sits at the CentrePMOS insulin resistance, where cells throughout the body fail to respond normally to insulin, is considered the primary pathological basis for the reproductive dysfunction seen in PMOS.
Loading booking..