Nutmeg: nutrition for pregnancy & family
Also known as Jaiphal, Jayphal, Fragrant nutmeg, True nutmeg, Jayaphad, Jayikayi mara, Zaaphal, Jathikai, Jayaphala, Jatiphala, Jajikaya, Jaifal. Food group: Condiments and Spices. Vegetarian.
What 100 g gives you in pregnancy
| Folate | 75 mcg — 12% of the daily need in pregnancy |
- Folate lowers the risk of neural tube defects, which form in the first weeks of pregnancy.
Daily requirements are NIH / US Dietary Reference Intakes recommended intakes for pregnancy. Requirements differ by country — folate is 600 mcg in US guidance against 570 mcg in India's — so percentages are only meaningful against the authority named here. They are for 100 g of this food and are a guide, not a meal plan; your doctor may advise different amounts for you.
Explore further
Nutmeg is a notable source of folate, iron and calcium — see what each does in pregnancy.
More condiments and spices: Asafoetida, Cardamom, black, Cardamom, green, Chillies, green - all varieties, Chillies, green-1, Chillies, green-2.
Nutmeg in Indian languages
| Assamese | Jaiphal |
| Bengali | Jayphal |
| English | Fragrant nutmeg, True nutmeg |
| Gujarati | Jayaphad |
| Hindi | Jaiphal |
| Kannada | Jayikayi mara |
| Kashmiri | Zaaphal |
| Malayalam | Jathikai |
| Marathi | Jayaphala |
| Odia | Jaiphal |
| Punjabi | Jaiphal |
| Sanskrit | Jatiphala |
| Tamil | Jathikai |
| Telugu | Jajikaya |
| Urdu | Jaifal |
Regional names as recorded by ICMR-NIN in the Indian Food Composition Tables.
Nutrition per 100 g
| Energy | 464 kcal |
| Protein | 6.3 g |
| Fat | 36.5 g |
| Carbohydrate | 27.6 g |
| Fibre | 12.0 g |
| Iron | 2.3 mg |
| Calcium | 148 mg |
| Folate | 75 mcg |
Why it can help during pregnancy
- Iron: Iron supports the extra blood your body makes during pregnancy.
- Folate: Folate supports your baby's early neural development.
- Calcium: Calcium helps build your baby's bones and teeth.
Consensus public-health guidance (WHO / ICMR-NIN). A balanced, varied diet matters more than any single food.
Nutrition source: ICMR-NIN — Indian Food Composition Tables (IFCT). Values are typical per 100 g and vary by variety and preparation.
Educational information, not medical or dietary advice. Most everyday foods are fine in normal amounts — ask your doctor or dietitian about anything specific to your pregnancy.