Can Pregnant Women Eat Star Anise? The Key Is to Eat It in Moderation

Star anise is a common seasoning spice in the kitchen, usually referring to the eight-horned fruit of Illicium verum (star anise), named for the fact that its fruit is mostly made up of eight points. It is often used in dishes such as braised meat and soy-braised dishes, where it removes unpleasant odors and adds aroma. It is widely used in traditional cooking and is one of the spices many households keep on hand.

Pregnant women can eat a small amount of star anise, but the amount needs to be controlled. In traditional understanding, star anise is a warming spice, pungent and aromatic in taste; eating it long-term or in large amounts easily adds heat to the body and causes internal heat, leading to discomfort such as dry mouth and constipation. During pregnancy, gastrointestinal movement is relatively slow, and constipation is itself fairly common, so pregnant women are not advised to frequently eat large amounts of food containing star anise.

If you only put a small piece of star anise into everyday stir-fries or soups for seasoning, the effect is generally minor and there is no need to be overly nervous. However, in strongly flavored foods such as braised dishes, hot pot and malatang, the amount of spice used is larger, so pregnant women should eat as little of these as possible; a light diet with balanced nutrition is the more prudent choice.

When buying star anise, pay attention to choosing products from proper channels, and distinguish true star anise from toxic varieties with a similar appearance, such as Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum); accidentally eating fake star anise may cause poisoning. In addition, if a pregnant woman has a constitution that tends toward heat or has conditions such as threatened miscarriage, it is best to consult a doctor before eating it, to avoid unnecessary risks caused by spice stimulation.