Effects Of Bitter Kola On Pregnancy

Africans have been using bitter kola for pregnant women since ages. Nowadays, bitter kola popularity has spread worldwide.

bitter kola

Bitter kola, also known as bitter cola or Garcinia Kola, is a plant found in Central and Western Africa that has long been valued for its medicinal properties. Although traditional African medicine uses all parts of the Bitter Kola plant, the seeds are mostly commonly eaten.

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Benefits Of Bitter Kola In Pregnancy

Drinking bitter kola is good for pregnancy. Bitter kola contains nutrients and vitamins good for pregnancy. For Africans, bitter kola is the best supplement for pregnant women. Health benefits of bitter kola include treating nausea and vomiting, making the uterus healthier, strengthening pregnant women and normalizing blood circulation in pregnant women.

Untoward Effects Of Bitter Kola In Pregnancy

Using very high doses of bitter kola is not recommended. A very high dose of bitter kola is not good for the uterus of the woman. This is because it contains caffeine. Consuming large amounts of caffeine during pregnancy may increase the risk of miscarriage or low birth weight, so it’s best to limit your intake of caffeine.

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Other effect of bitter kola on pregnancy is the caffeine in bitter kola also affects the baby’s sleeping pattern, weight, metabolism, movement and subsequent serious health problem to the baby and can even lead to miscarriage of the unborn baby.

This high level of caffeine contained in bitter kola can increase the adrenaline, blood pressure and heart rate of the pregnant woman as well as affect the woman’s sleeping pattern which is not a good condition for a pregnant woman. A pregnant woman should get enough sleep and a normal blood circulation and heart rate until she delivers.

Caffeine is a chemical found in many foods and drinks, including coffee, tea and cola. It affects the nervous system and can cause irritability, nervousness and sleeplessness.

Maximum Daily Bitter Kola In Pregnancy

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, consuming up to 200mg a day is safe for your baby.

The approximate amounts of caffeine found in food and drinks are:

1 cup of instant coffee: 60mg

1 shot of espresso coffee: 100mg

1 cup of plunger coffee: 80mg

1 cup of tea: 30mg

375ml can of cola: 49mg

250ml can of energy drink: 80mg

100g bar of milk chocolate: 20mg

Research and sources show that one bitter kola contains as high as 200mg of caffeine in it, this is the same amount of caffeine contained in two cups of coffee. Thus, pregnant women have to drink the recommended dose (one small cup of bitter kola in a day).

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Bitter Kola On Abortion/Miscarriage

Frankly, there is no credible data that says drinking a cup of coffee a day increases the risk of miscarriage. That effect is only seen after more than two cups per day."

How big can that cup be? Think of it this way: An 8-ounce cup of brewed, drip coffee has about 137 milligrams of caffeine (instant coffee and a single shot of espresso both have about half of that). So a 12-ounce cup has 200 mg of caffeine, which should be your upper limit.

So exceeding the limit may expose the pregnancy to spontaneous abortion.