When a baby is growing in your belly, you have to give up a lot of things and almost all foods are suddenly scrutinized more closely, so you even ask about the ingredients in ginger ale during pregnancy.
Since you have to change your diet during pregnancy and drink less caffeine, are you looking for alternatives and weren’t familiar with the soft drink ginger ale until now?
Or have you always been a fan of the ginger drink?
Can you drink ginger ale during pregnancy or are there any harmful substances to be aware of?
In this article you will find the answers.
Ginger ale during pregnancy – yes or no?
If you’ve read online or heard from other mothers that you should avoid ginger ale during pregnancy, there may be two main reasons for this. Indeed, there has been much discussion about this drink during pregnancy, even in scientific circles .
Here are the most important questions that were answered:
1. Does ginger ale cause labor?
The refreshing drink is made from ginger, which, like turmeric or cinnamon, can stimulate labor.
However, the small amounts we typically consume are no cause for concern. Even the occasional glass of ginger ale certainly won’t have a serious labor-inducing effect. You’d have to consume enormous amounts to experience negative effects.
2. Does ginger ale contain quinine?
Then there is the widespread belief that ginger ale contains quinine.
Scientists actually refer to quinine as a drug that was originally extracted from the bark of the cinchona tree and has been used in its pure form to treat malaria and fever attacks since 1820.
It has a strong bitter taste and is therefore added as a flavoring to some spirits and non-alcoholic soft drinks such as tonic water and bitter lemon.
What we consider mere soft drinks today played an important role in colonial times.
At that time, the necessary dose of quinine was taken in the form of lemonade through Indian tonic water, which was essential for survival in malaria-ridden areas and was favorably accepted by British colonial officers.
However, quinine not only has a labor-inducing effect, but can also harm the baby in large quantities because it crosses the placental barrier. Therefore, quinine, as a medication or ingredient, is generally on the red list during pregnancy.
But ginger ale doesn’t contain quinine. Perhaps this misconception stems from the fact that a particularly popular manufacturer in Europe, Schweppes, is also known for tonic water and bitter lemon?
In any case, the all-clear has been given in the case of Ginger Ale.
3. Does ginger ale contain alcohol?
The assumption that ginger ale contains alcohol is false and probably stems from the name of the drink, which translates as ginger beer.
Apart from the fact that ginger beer is also non-alcoholic, ginger ale can be compared to Fassbrause or the Austrian Almdudler.
As you can see, you can enjoy ginger ale during pregnancy. Caution is advised, especially in the last trimester, due to the natural ginger flavors.
You’ll want to avoid anything that’s even suspected of triggering premature labor.
In the case of a high-risk pregnancy, you should avoid ginger ale altogether. But what makes ginger ale so special?
Ginger Ale during pregnancy – manufacturers and ingredients
Some people know the drink more as an ingredient in cocktails, others enjoy it neat and chilled in the summer, but in any case, ginger ale is a popular carbonated soft drink.
Contrary to what the name or color might suggest, it is a non-alcoholic drink and not beer.
In Europe, Schweppes Ginger Ale is the most well-known, although there are also other manufacturers such as Canada Dry, Thomas Henry or even private labels from supermarket chains.
Ginger ale should be distinguished from ginger beer. In the past, ginger beer was brewed similarly to conventional beer.
Today, however, like ginger ale, it is mostly fermented and contains no alcohol.
Ginger beer is a bit cloudier and tastes more strongly of ginger, but along with ginger ale it is one of the non-alcoholic lemonades.
Ginger ale consists of water, carbon dioxide, sugar, ginger flavoring, and other flavorings, as well as acidulants and caramel coloring, which give the drink its sweet and spicy flavor. Many pregnant women appreciate it not only for its refreshing taste, but also for the carbonation, which can be very beneficial after a meal.
But is it healthy for daily consumption?
Ginger Ale during pregnancy – No healthier than cola
Although ginger root has always been valued as a natural remedy that can strengthen the immune system and relieve symptoms, ginger ale has very little to do with the spicy root.
The sparkling soft drink was invented in the 18th century by Swiss silversmith and watchmaker Jacob Schweppe (yes, the forefather of Schweppes). He mixed water, sugar, and ginger, let it ferment, and waited until carbon dioxide formed.
Today, as in the past, ginger ale contains no healthy ingredients. Ginger flavors are nothing like the fresh ginger, and 100 milliliters of ginger ale contains about 9 grams of sugar. That’s equivalent to about three sugar cubes.
So if you grab just one glass of ginger ale, you’ve consumed a whopping 7.5 sugar cubes in one fell swoop. Scientists repeatedly emphasize that it’s important to be careful about the amount of sugar you consume, especially during pregnancy.
It goes without saying that this disrupts blood sugar levels and is just as unhealthy as drinking cola during pregnancy.
Expectant mothers should be careful not to consume too much sugar, as this not only affects the weight and, worse, poses the risk of gestational diabetes. Excessive sugar consumption can also affect the unborn child.
For example, after birth, the baby might suffer from hypoglycemia. Or it might become more prone to obesity during childhood.
Ginger Ale for Pregnant Women – Schweppes now also offers a sugar-free version, which you might feel more comfortable with. But if that’s not enough for you, you can whip up your own refreshing drink in just a few minutes.
A healthy alternative
For those warm summer days, you don’t need to be jealous of your friends sipping on the aromatic and guaranteed delicious Moscow Mule, because for you as an expectant mother there is something just as great: the Mommy Mule.
All you need is ginger beer, lime and cucumber slices, and ice cubes.
If you can’t find ginger beer at your local supermarket, you can make it yourself using the following ingredients:
150 grams of fresh ginger root
1 orange and 2 limes
1 pinch of cardamom
1 handful of mint
200 grams of sugar
First, peel the ginger and grate it finely.
Boil the sugar in one liter of water, then add the ginger. Let it simmer for a few minutes.
Squeeze the orange and limes and finely grate the peels, then place them in a bowl with the mint and juice.
Then pour the sweet ginger syrup over it, add the cardamom, and let it stand overnight. Finally, strain the mixture through a fine sieve.
To make the Mommy Mule the next day, all you need to do is crush half a lime in a glass and fill the glass or mug halfway with ginger beer and top up the rest with either ginger ale or mineral water.
Cheers!
Final thoughts
Expectant mothers should avoid many foods, spices, and beverages like malt beer to avoid harming the pregnancy, the baby, and themselves. Knowing that nicotine and alcohol are taboo is unfortunately not enough.
Also on the red list are raw meat such as tea sausage and raw fish such as herring , and generally all raw foods of animal origin ( so please fry scrambled and fried eggs well!), but also spices such as ginger and drinks such as tonic water and bitter lemon.
With so many questionable foods, it might not be a bad idea to first inform yourself about anything that is even remotely questionable.
In this article, I gave the all-clear on consuming ginger ale during pregnancy, explained what ingredients are in it (and what aren’t), and gave you a recipe for a non-alcoholic ginger-based cocktail.
I wish you a pleasant and carefree pregnancy and a hearty toast, even if it can’t be alcohol.
