Sour Cream in Pregnancy – Benefits, Side Effects and Recipes

What Is Sour Cream? 

A creamy white substance made from milk and cream used in the production of ice cream is known as sour cream. It’s a refreshing treat with a tangy, tart flavor and a thick consistency. The sauce can be used for anything from topping pizza to dipping onions when it comes to applications. Due to its sensitivity to high temperatures, a common application is a topping on baked goods.

It is important to understand that there are many different types of sour cream and that we should be familiar with each one before we begin to consume it. Ordinary sour cream contains between twelve and sixteen percent butterfat, whereas reduced and non-fat varieties contain less than half the amount of milkfat found in regular varieties.

It is necessary to add stabilizers to sour creams to make them thicker. The tangier they are, the lower the pH level of the water is going to be. Although they are unhealthy, both regular and low-fat harmful products are delicious and deserve your consideration.

Nutritional Value of Sour Cream  

Using sour cream to dress your salads is a healthy choice to make. However, you must ensure that the amount of sour cream you consume corresponds to your daily calorie requirements. For calorie reduction, light and fat-free sour cream are also preferable options. If you are trying to lose weight, on the other hand, you should stay away from sour cream completely.

To achieve this, it only occasionally provides significant amounts of any nutrient. The result of a simple sour cream application is —

Types of Sour Creams

Sour cream is a dairy product that combines cream with a specific type of bacteria, resulting in a thick, white product with a distinct flavor. Several parts of the world, most notably Europe and the United States, are familiar with “cocaine.” It has a smooth and creamy texture similar to that of Greek yogurt. There are a variety of flavors available for this delicacy, including

• Standard 
• Light 
• Fat-Free

There are additional sour cream variations from different regions of the globe, such as 

• Mexican Sour Cream (mild flavor)
• Sour Cream (Classic American)

Is It Safe to Consume Sour Cream During Pregnancy?

Sour cream and other pasteurized dairy products are perfectly safe to consume in small quantities during pregnancy. You can consume sour cream made from pasteurized milk with no problems when you’re pregnant. However, if you made your own sour cream, this would not be the case. This is due to the fact that homemade sour cream, even if made with pasteurized milk, is not pasteurized, as explained above.

It is more dangerous to make your fermented foods than purchase them in a store. Because it is more challenging to regulate the home’s temperature, cleanliness, and bacterial levels, there is a greater risk of harmful bacteria growing alongside beneficial bacteria in the home environment.

When it comes to sour cream and crème Fraiche, pregnant women should avoid them, regardless of whether they make or purchase them. For the best results, store your food in the refrigerator at a temperature below 40 degrees Fahrenheit in a product that has been pasteurized to avoid spoiling it.

Health Benefits of Sour Cream While Pregnant 

It is the only way to get the benefits of sour cream while pregnant, and natural sour cream is the best option. When looking for a safe product, it’s good to start with the label’s list of ingredients. Calcium sulfate, sodium phosphate, maize starch, and salt are all possible ingredients in some brands. The unborn child is especially vulnerable to the toxic effects of these chemicals and stabilizers because it is still developing. In the event that you decide to indulge in sour cream while pregnant, be sure to purchase the appropriate variety. 

Consider the advantages to your health. –

• Along with its high calcium and low-calorie content, light sour cream is excellent for expectant mothers. Your calcium levels may drop when your body uses your resources to feed your growing baby.
• Increasing your diet of calcium-rich foods, such as dairy, may be beneficial.
• Microorganisms found in certain sour cream products may aid digestion, ease heartburn and acid reflux, and help with other pregnancy-related stomach problems.

Risks of Eating Sour Cream During Pregnancy

Sour cream is safe to eat in moderation as long as it is part of a well-balanced diet. To avoid the following health risks, you should monitor your sour cream consumption, especially when your diet is high in fat, or you eat a lot of it.

• Weight gain that you do not want to occur – You should maintain within a set weight range for your health and the wellbeing of your unborn child. If you gain too much weight during pregnancy, you and your baby’s health might be in jeopardy.
• High blood pressure and triglyceride level
• Pregnancy-related diabetes
• Neonatology and obstetrics (macrosomia)
• Deliveries are complicated by complications that need a c-section
• Unpasteurized milk products, such as sour cream and cream cheese, may cause food poisoning because of harmful bacteria. 
• According to medical experts, even stillbirths may be caused by the use of toxic foods during pregnancy. Before its expiration date, pasteurized sour cream should only be bought and eaten.

Things to Consider While Buying Sour Cream 

If you’re expecting a kid and want to consume sour cream, follow these precautions to ensure your child’s health.

• Purchase sour cream that has been pasteurized in a prepared form. The pack should be discarded if it leaks or seems puffy, indicating that it has been infected.
• Consider purchasing a package of sour cream dip when pregnant that has the most recent production and packaging date on it. It’s an effective method of ensuring that the product is safe and fresh.
• Refrigerate the product at 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius) or below until it is time to consume it. 
• As you may know, refrigeration is an excellent means of killing bacteria potentially harmful to human health. 
• If sour cream is left out for a long time, it may contaminate bacteria, leaving it unsafe for consumption.
• Keep your distance from the odoriferous and runny sour cream.
• Given the difficulties associated with producing properly pasteurized homemade sour cream, it presents a danger of infection by germs.
• Restaurant sour cream should be avoided because it may not have been pasteurized or may include milk additives that have not been pasteurized, which is harmful to your health.

Sour Cream Recipes to Try When Pregnant

Sour cream is a popular food during pregnancy, and there are many sour cream recipes you can try. Sour-cream recipes are best made using organic and pasteurized milk. Check out some of them –

1. Cucumber Snacks With Croutons & Smoked Bacon

Total Cooking Time – 20 mins.
 
Servings – 8-9 servings
 
Method

1. Whisk the buttermilk, sour cream, herbs, lemon juice, and garlic until smooth in a small mixing bowl. 
2. Season the buttermilk dressing with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Set a cast-iron pan on the grill grate over medium heat to begin heating. 
4. Cook the bacon in batches for 8–10 minutes, turning once or twice until it is browned and crisp. 
5. Place the bacon on the grill grate and cook with tongs, flipping once for approximately one minute or until browned all over. 
6. When the bacon has done frying, cover it with a paper towel.
7. Tossing the bread in the bacon drippings in the same pan until thoroughly covered. 
8. Place the bread on a grate and cook for about 2 minutes, rotating often.
9. Serve with the buttermilk dressing and crumbled bacon on top of the iceberg lettuce.
10. Lastly, grilled croutons are sprinkled on top.

2. A Pound Cake

Total Cooking Time – 45 mins

Servings – 5-6 servings

Method 

1. Cream the ingredients together to make a light and fluffy butter and sugar combination.
2. The eggs should be added first, followed by dry ingredients such as flours and baking powders.
3. Pour the ingredients into a greased brioche pan or baking pan and bake for approximately an hour at 350°F.

The fact that it is a dairy product makes it appealing to many pregnant women, which is understandable given its nutritional value. Even though savory foods and the products made from them are not harmful to one’s health, excessive consumption is not necessarily recommended in all circumstances. Staying on a well-balanced diet that includes a small amount of pasteurized sour cream consumed in moderation is essential if you want to protect the health of yourself and your child.

Also Read:

Sunflower Seeds while Pregnant
Sugarcane Juice in Pregnancy
Is It Safe to Eat Rhubarb when Pregnant