The Ayush Ministry of India, in a failed attempt to share the secrets to a healthy pregnancy, have advised the would-be mothers to abstain from meat, stay away from sex and bad company, and dwell upon spiritual thoughts to have a healthy baby.
The advice was published in a booklet called Mother and Childcare published by the Ayush or the homeopathic Ministry, just a few days ahead of the International Yoga day on 21 June.
The rationalists and the general public are subjecting this renewed attempt, made by the ministry to promote unscientific theories and prescription to immense criticism.
The Ministry’s head, Shripad Naik, has mentioned the list of do’s and don’ts including asking women to hang beautiful pictures in the room since according to this theory it will affect the health of the babies.
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However, just like in the recent past, the rationalists and the general public are subjecting this renewed attempt, made by the ministry to promote unscientific theories and prescription to immense criticism.
In a response to the criticism from the general public, Ayush Minister said that “The booklet does not contain any advice on abstaining from sex.”
With such regressive mindset, the right-wing BJP section was denounced earlier as well for making an absurd recommendation in the healthcare, where a Yogu Guru Ramdev, known to be a close associate of the party, claimed to come up with the medicine which could help the couples to have male babies who can’t conceive.
According to Hindustan Times report, the senior gynecologist and obstetrician with the Apollo Healthcare Group, Dr. Malavika Sabharwal, giving her remarks, has denied such suggestion and said that:
“The advice is unscientific. Protein-deficiency, malnutrition, and anemia are health concerns for pregnant women and meat is a great source of both protein and iron, which is better absorbed from animal sources than plant sources.”
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In addition to the above statement, she further added that mothers need to stay happy asking their families to be supportive of them. She also emphasized that women should do what makes them happy.