Lingonberry during pregnancy - benefits and harms

Lingonberry is an amazing berry that grows in swamps, in pine forests and pine forests. The shrub blooms with white flowers, from which red, burgundy, and sometimes even brown fruits of lingonberry grow. From ancient times in Russia they used lingonberries in the preparation of various dishes. The sour, bitter and astringent taste of the berry gives the food a special aroma. Lingonberries are used to make jams, preserves, mousses, fruit drinks and other sweets. Pie with lingonberry filling has a unique taste. On the basis of berries, liqueurs, cognac and other alcoholic beverages are prepared, lingonberry aroma gives the alcohol a subtle tart note. Sweet and sour sauces are also prepared from lingonberries, which are perfect for meat dishes. And, of course, everyone knows about the famous Russian soaked lingonberry.

People have always tried to cook something tasty from a berry, because lingonberries are incredibly healthy and nutritious. Such a product is simply necessary in the diet of a pregnant woman, because her body is weakened and depleted. In this article, we will try to understand the benefits of lingonberries for a pregnant woman, learn about contraindications to berries and understand how to eat lingonberry fruits in order to get the most benefit from them.

Useful properties of lingonberries for pregnant women

Lingonberry does not have a pronounced sweet taste, however, the berry is very much appreciated for its rich vitamin composition. Lingonberry includes various organic acids, fiber, mineral salts, a variety of vitamins. Lingonberries have always been appreciated for its medicinal properties, in addition, the calorie content of the product is incredibly low. But how does lingonberry affect the body of a pregnant woman?

1. Stretch marks. A large amount of vitamin E in the composition of lingonberries makes the product very useful at different stages of pregnancy. Tocopherol makes the tissues more elastic, this allows the uterus to grow and stretch, protects the skin from stretch marks. Lingonberries are effective both for internal and external use.
2. Swelling. Lingonberry is effective against edema, a large amount of vitamin P has a mild diuretic effect. This is very important for pregnant women, especially in the later stages, when the load on the kidneys increases and swelling manifests itself more and more. In addition, lingonberries have an anti-inflammatory effect on the organs of the genitourinary system, eliminating cystitis.
3. Hypoallergenicity. The safety of lingonberries also lies in the fact that the berry absolutely does not cause a reaction. It can be eaten without fear even during pregnancy, without worrying that the baby will develop an allergy in the womb.
4. ARVI. Lingonberry contains a lot of vitamin C, this allows you to use the berry as a medicine against colds and flu. The immunity of a pregnant woman is very weak, she is constantly exposed to viruses and bacteria, during this period it is very important to constantly observe preventive measures. Drinks with lingonberries have an anti-inflammatory effect, quickly relieve sore throats, relieve swelling in the nose, lower the temperature and have a powerful expectorant effect. Every day, add 5-7 lingonberries to warm tea, this is a powerful protection against colds in the winter.
5. Hypertension. As a rule, during pregnancy, a woman exacerbates all chronic diseases, including cardiovascular pathologies. Lingonberry contains potassium, copper, manganese and chromium, which are very useful for the heart. Lingonberry juice is able to lower blood pressure in a short time, and with regular use, you can stabilize the pressure completely.If you have tachycardia (which is extremely undesirable during pregnancy), just drink a couple of tablespoons of pure cranberry juice, after half an hour it will become much easier for you.
6. Intestines. Many women during pregnancy and lactation experience constipation - this is the action of the hormone progesterone. Lingonberry allows you to soften the muscles of the intestine and strengthen its perilstatic. Fiber as part of the berry instead of a brush cleans stagnant stool, relieving even severe constipation.
7. Vision. Lingonberry contains a lot of carotene, even more than in carrots. It is necessary for vision, especially if a woman wears glasses or corrective lenses. Regular consumption of lingonberries during pregnancy preserves visual acuity, protects against increased diopters. Moreover, lingonberry also affects the vision of the fetus, participating in the laying of vital organs.
8. Nervous system. Lingonberry contains many B vitamins, which affect the state of the nervous system and psychological mood of a woman. A handful of eaten lingonberries allows you to calm down, get rid of anxious thoughts, improve mood. Moreover, lingonberry gives the body energy, it is so important for working mothers who are forced to work until the decree.
9. Nausea. The sour taste of lingonberries allows some pregnant women to cope with excruciating nausea and toxicosis. Just eat a couple of berries in the morning without getting out of bed, your health will be much better.

And lingonberries must be used in combination for the treatment of various endocrine disorders, hormonal disruptions, etc. The sour taste of the berry stimulates the secretion of gastric juice, it increases appetite and restores the body against the background of exhaustion with toxicosis. Lingonberries are also used as an effective treatment for reduced stomach acidity. Lingonberry berries are not just a treat, but a potent medicine that can completely change the body. That is why it is impossible to take cranberries thoughtlessly.

Harmful lingonberries during pregnancy

Lingonberry is a rather acidic berry that can affect the functioning of the stomach. With gastritis with high acidity, gastric and duodenal ulcers, cholecystitis and other gastrointestinal diseases, cranberries should be discarded. It was previously noted that lingonberries effectively reduce pressure, it is useful for hypertensive patients. But if you are hypotensive and have constantly low blood pressure, it is better to refrain from eating berries. Another warning when eating lingonberries is the presence of kidney stones, the berry can provoke their movement. With kidney stone and urolithiasis, lingonberry is contraindicated. If you have low blood coagulability, you can’t eat lingonberries - a berry can aggravate the condition of the body. In addition, with a weak intestine, prone to diarrhea, many berries should be eaten with caution. Even if you do not have direct contraindications for taking lingonberries, you need to know the measure and consume the berries wisely, not more than 100 grams per day. But how to do it right?

How to eat lingonberries during pregnancy?

You can eat the berry in any form, but it is important for us to preserve all the valuable components of the product. Here are the most useful and delicious ways to eat ripe lingonberries.

1. Frozen lingonberries. Save all vitamins for months, and even years, you can use the usual freezing. Lingonberries should be washed, dried and spread on a plate with a flat bottom so that the berries do not touch each other. Freeze in this form, and then just pour them into a container or bag. If necessary, you can take the right amount of berries - lingonberries will not stick together. Before eating, berries should be thawed gradually - first keep in the refrigerator, and then leave at room temperature.This lingonberry retains almost all vitamins and nutrients in its composition.
2. Healthy jam. You can’t cook jam from lingonberries - when heated, it loses most of its beneficial substances. But if you don’t like eating whole sour lingonberries, you can make healthy and wholesome jam. To do this, the berries are crushed with a blender or meat grinder and sprinkled with sugar. When the sugar has dissolved, the sweet pulp is poured into plastic bottles and sent to the freezer. In winter, you can unfreeze the container and enjoy the bright taste and natural aroma of lingonberry. And from this jam you can make jelly or use it as a filling for pie and pancakes. Such a sweet medicine will certainly please even the smallest picks!
3. Beverages. If you don’t like lingonberry itself, you can make drinks from berries. The easiest way is to add juice to boiled water - a saturated fruit drink will be ready. In no case do not add juice to hot tea - lingonberries will lose its value. In addition, you can make delicious lemonade from lingonberries. Take a carafe for water, pour the juice of one lemon and one orange into it, add a couple of sprouts of mint, three tablespoons of honey, a glass of lingonberry juice and fill everything with carbonated mineral water. Serve with ice. This is a wonderful drink that will surely appeal not only to adults, but also to children. Lingonberry lemonade is a great alternative to sweet soda.

In the fight against depletion of the body during pregnancy, not only berries are used, but also lingonberry leaves - a decoction of them turns out to be incredibly useful and concentrated.

There is an ancient legend about lingonberry. She talks about a swallow that flew to people to give them a drop of living water, which gives immortality. But the evil wasp bit the bird, and the swallow dropped a drop of living water on the ground, in this place an evergreen shrub grew. The fruits of this shrub instilled strength, health and longevity in a person, it was lingonberry. Eat lingonberries during pregnancy to feel light until birth.

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