Patient's question:
I have been pregnant for over three months. Recently, I felt fine, just very tired and liked to sleep a lot. But in the past few days, I've noticed that I have a strong feeling of "internal heat," and it's very difficult to go to the bathroom in the morning. I also found many small red bumps on my lips. I want to take some herbs to clear the heat, but my mother-in-law doesn't recommend me taking medicine and suggests eating more fruits instead.What kind of fruits should I eat during pregnancy to clear heat?
Doctor's answer:
Pay attention to folic acid intake in the early stages of pregnancy, as folic acid is related to the development of the fetal nervous system. If folic acid is lacking during pregnancy, it can easily lead to neural tube defects in the fetus, such as anencephaly or spina bifida, and also reduces the chances of conditions like cleft lip and palate. Many natural foods are rich in folic acid, including various green vegetables (such as spinach, lettuce, asparagus, Bok Choy, cauliflower, etc.), animal livers and kidneys, beans, fruits (such as bananas, strawberries, oranges, etc.), and dairy products. To ensure adequate protein intake, pregnant women can moderately consume dairy products, eggs, beans, and nuts. It is recommended that pregnant women with stomach issues can eat figs. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that figs are neutral in nature and sweet in taste, and they have the effect of clearing heat and detoxifying. Therefore, for expectant mothers, eating figs appropriately can help reduce internal heat. At the same time, the rich unsaturated fatty acids in figs also assist in promoting the development of the fetus's brain.