Strawberries during pregnancy. Benefits, possible contraindications

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The end of spring and the beginning of summer are associated by many with a beautiful and tasty strawberry. Its fragrant and juicy fruits are a real symbol of your favorite season. But are strawberries good for pregnancy?

Pregnant women are quite capricious in their choice of food, and sometimes they want some fruits or vegetables that are not yet in season.

Do not rush and buy them in supermarkets, because the quality and freshness of foreign delicacies are questionable. Shining with gloss, but rather tasteless fruits look especially unnatural.

Benefits of strawberries during pregnancy

For the he alth and safety of yourself and your child, it is better to eat natural products, which include fragrant red berries in the summer months.

She won love for herself not only with taste, but also with a large number of various vitamins andelements included in its composition.

Can I eat strawberries during pregnancy? This question arises in almost all women who are preparing to become mothers, because those who do not like these fruits are very, very few.

Gynecologists confidently answer that it is possible, but in moderation. The beneficial properties of strawberries have a positive effect on maintaining the immunity of the expectant mother and her developing baby. What exactly is strawberry good for during pregnancy?

Valuable properties of the berry

The berry has numerous valuable properties, among which the most important are:

• High iron content to reduce the risk of anemia (anemia), reduce fatigue and protect against dizziness. There is even more iron in strawberries than in the well-known storehouse of this element - apples.
• Plenty of the powerful antioxidant and "good mood vitamin" - vitamin C. After blackcurrant, strawberries are second in content. Vitamin C strengthens the immune system, promotes the absorption of iron by the body, and has an anti-mutagenic effect.
• The presence of calcium and phosphorus are important elements, without which the normal development of the skeletal system of the unborn child and its maintenance in a pregnant woman is impossible.
• The content of various B vitamins responsible for certain functions of the body. So, B1 - thiamine, has a positive effect on the nervous and cardiovascular systems, increases the absorption of carbohydrates, activates peripheral circulation, preventstoxicosis; B2 - riboflavin, is responsible for the normal functioning of the heart muscle and organs of vision, B6 and B9 support metabolic processes.
• Provitamin A (beta-carotene) is involved in the formation of rhodopsin - a visual element in the retina of the child's eyes, and also promotes bone growth.
• Strong antioxidant anthocyanins help prevent blood clots and varicose veins.
• Pectin and fiber, contained in large quantities in strawberries, normalize intestinal motility and prevent constipation.

Given all the positive characteristics of summer berries, we come to the conclusion that strawberries during pregnancy (no more than 150 grams per day) will be useful for the expectant mother. It is worth remembering that it is better to eat it in the morning, because the berry has a diuretic effect, thanks to which the pregnant woman will be able to avoid swelling. And what is important: you can not eat strawberries on an empty stomach.

Strawberries during pregnancy: contraindications

What is the reason for this recommendation? The fact is that strawberries are one of the few berries that, in addition to citric and malic, also contain oxalic acid.

Its components in the human body form esters and s alts, the so-called oxalates. If there is too much of them, calcium oxalate crystals precipitate in the body fluids, forming stones and clogging the ducts of the urinary system and kidneys.

To avoid this, strawberries should be consumed inas a dessert after the main meal. At the same time, you must definitely combine it with any fermented milk product that you like (it can be yogurt, kefir, sour cream, cottage cheese, cream).

Strawberry allergy

A contraindication to eating strawberries can be an allergic reaction not only to this berry (which is a hyperallergen), but also to any other product.

Even if you are confident in your body and have never noticed food allergies before, changes occur during pregnancy that in one way or another change the usual course of life and diet. In this regard, pregnant women often have to give up their favorite treats so as not to harm the unborn child. In order to avoid complications and diathesis in a baby, a pregnant woman is sometimes better off giving up strawberries, replacing them with something safer.

It was previously noted that some of the components of the berry normalize intestinal motility. However, the berry also contains potassium, an excess of which enhances this function of the body, which can lead to contraction of the muscles of the uterus and bronchi. For a woman in position, this is very dangerous, so it is better to refrain from eating berries. If you really want to eat, then first you need to consult with an observing doctor who will tell you how much strawberries are safe for mom and baby.

Late pregnancy

Strawberries during late pregnancy are quite dangerous for both a woman preparing to become a mother andfor her child. From the 22nd week of pregnancy, the baby becomes especially receptive to everything that the mother eats.

His condition directly depends on how the woman feels. Therefore, such an allergenic berry as strawberries can be present in the diet only after agreement with the doctor and in small quantities.

Strawberries: to eat or not to eat?

So what to do if you really want a tasty berry, but there are doubts about the safe effect of its components on the condition of mother and baby? First of all, consult with your doctor: he knows the characteristics of your body and will determine by its reactions whether it is worth succumbing to temptation. In general, let's say that strawberries during pregnancy in moderate portions will cheer you up and vitality, and its beneficial qualities will affect not only your well-being, but also the condition of your child.