Being pregnant is a big deal for a woman, and the whole family pays great attention to it. There is no room for carelessness, especially when it comes to eating. So what should you eat during the early stages of pregnancy? Let's take a look at what traditional Chinese medicine says.
During the early stages of pregnancy, women may experience mild dizziness, nausea, and food cravings. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that this is due to the closure of menstruation, which causes the Qi (energy) of the Chong Mai (Sea of Blood) to move upward instead of downward, affecting the stomach Qi and descending function. This is generally considered a normal reaction to pregnancy. Pregnancy nausea refers to the symptoms of nausea, vomiting, dizziness, chest tightness, and even aversion to certain smells or vomiting immediately after eating, which occur during the first three months of pregnancy.
The main reasons for these symptoms are weak stomach Qi or liver heat rising. The upward movement of the Qi of the Chong Mai after conception leads to the loss of harmony and descending function of the stomach, or it can stimulate the rising of liver heat. As nausea and vomiting are the main symptoms of pregnancy nausea, the diet should be light, soft, and easily digestible. Avoid smelling strong odors, fishy, rotten, and strong-flavored foods, and reduce or avoid oily and heavy foods.
If the stomach Qi is weak, it is recommended to consume milk, soy milk, egg custard, rice porridge, soft rice, and noodles. If there is liver heat rising, it is advisable to eat more vegetables and fruits. In terms of eating habits, it is best to eat small meals multiple times a day.
