Short Answer: Rice wine is bad for pregnancy because it has alcohol and lead, which can harm the baby’s development and cause lead poisoning.
Pregnancy is a condition that affects your reproductive system.
In pregnancy, your body undergoes many changes to support the growth and development of your baby.
This can lead to various health problems, such as gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, anemia, and infections.
One of the key factors in managing pregnancy is diet.
What you consume can affect your blood sugar, blood pressure, weight, and nutrient levels, which can impact your pregnancy symptoms and overall health.
To effectively manage pregnancy, you should consume protein-rich foods like lean meat, eggs, and beans; iron-rich foods like spinach, lentils, and fortified cereals; and calcium-rich foods like milk, yogurt, and cheese.
You should avoid alcohol-rich foods like wine, beer, and liquor; mercury-rich foods like swordfish, shark, and king mackerel; and bacteria-rich foods like raw meat, unpasteurized cheese, and deli meats.
Now, rice wine is an alcoholic beverage fermented and possibly distilled from rice, traditionally consumed in East Asia, Southeast Asia and South Asia.
People usually drink rice wine as a social or cultural drink, or use it as an ingredient in cooking.
Rice wine is bad for pregnancy because it contains alcohol and lead.
Alcohol can disrupt fetal development and increase the risk of miscarriage or stillbirth.
Lead can cause further harm to the mother or baby by affecting the nervous system, brain, kidneys, and blood cells.
One cup (240 ml) of rice wine can give you about 15 grams of alcohol (10% of your daily limit) and 0.5 micrograms of lead (2% of your daily limit).
Alcohol can negatively affect pregnancy by crossing the placenta and reaching the baby’s bloodstream.
This can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), which are a group of conditions that can affect the baby’s growth, appearance, behavior, and learning abilities.
Lead can negatively affect pregnancy by accumulating in the bones and tissues of the mother and the baby.
This can cause low birth weight, premature birth, developmental delays, learning difficulties, and hearing loss.
Furthermore, rice wine is a type of wine and wine is bad for pregnancy.
Because wine contains high levels of alcohol that can harm the baby’s brain development and increase the risk of birth defects.
That’s why I suggest you limit your rice wine intake to avoid the possible complications.
Stick to one cup of alcohol per week during pregnancy to minimize the risk of FASDs and lead poisoning.
Also, you shouldn’t drink rice wine if you have high blood pressure or anemia to prevent worsening your condition.
Because alcohol can raise your blood pressure and interfere with your iron absorption.
You can buy rice wine in some Asian markets or online stores.
Always choose rice wine that is certified as safe and free of lead.
Because some rice wine may be contaminated with lead from the soil or the production process.
You can store rice wine in a cool and dark place for up to a year.
Finally, remember that maintaining a healthy lifestyle including a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management and essential medical care is key to managing pregnancy effectively.
I always recommend my pregnant patients to follow a pregnancy-friendly diet to improve their overall well-being and enjoy a longer and healthier life.