Chokeberry during pregnancy - benefits and harms

During pregnancy, in addition to the main nutrition, doctors advise to include in the diet some plants that contain many substances useful to the human body and have a therapeutic effect. Despite the advances in medicine, folk remedies also help people maintain their health.

Chokeberry, or chokeberry is very useful due to vitamins P, E and C, reserpine-like substances. They brought it from North America as an ornamental plant. Then the chokeberry was a small inconspicuous shrub, until the famous scientist I. Michurin drew attention to it. As a result of selection, a tree appeared, and it was resistant to frost, and black small berries with a special sweet and sour tart taste, which ripened in late September, were very useful.

The chokeberry, the name of which comes from the Greek word for “helper,” is very symbolic for pregnant women, as it will be invaluable to them and to the developing small organism.

Assistant for the expectant mother: the benefits of chokeberry

1. During pregnancy, a woman really needs an increased rate of nutrients, and above all, for the proper development of the fetus. And for this you need the participation of B vitamins and ascorbic acid. Chokeberry contains them in the amount necessary for the developing organism, preventing disorders of the nervous system and various congenital malformations. And for a woman, especially if she is experiencing severe toxicosis, chokeberry will significantly reduce this unpleasant process.
2. Examining aronia, scientists found in it natural antioxidants. So, by including these black berries in the diet, you can save the body at the cellular level. Cell growth and function will be protected. Moreover, antioxidant substances have a unique ability to repair any damage in the DNA structure, while enhancing the protective capabilities of cells.
3. The presence of carotenoids, coupled with ascorbic acid, increase the protective properties of the immune system of a woman carrying a child, which means that infection and viruses are most often powerless to penetrate the body.
4. Many useful components contained in chokeberry, namely manganese and fluorine, iron and molybdenum, boron and copper, will replace multivitamin preparations during pregnancy. This is especially important for those women who may experience allergic reactions after using a pharmaceutical product.

Recommendations for use

But an allergy in pregnant women can occur unexpectedly on those products that the body perceived previously without negative consequences. And during this period it is rather difficult to choose hypoallergenic products. Choose a specific diet in some cases is problematic. After consulting with the attending physician, and under his supervision, it is permissible to include fresh chokeberry berries in the menu, about three times a week. Then the body will receive the necessary dose of all important vitamins and necessary elements.

There will be no negative consequences after the berries are eaten and due to the fact that chokeberry does not require treatment with chemicals that are used against various pests that have fallen in love with many plants used by humans for food. The tree is so stable in this regard that pesticide treatment is not required.This fact greatly increases the beneficial properties of chokeberry, and many housewives actively prepare jam and compotes from these berries for the winter period.

The secret of the black healing shell of berries

No wonder this kind of mountain ash was called aronia. The berries are dark in color due to the pigment substance anthocyanin. With its help, the intense black color acquires its juiciness. Anthocyanins cannot be produced independently in the body, but must be present in it, and the daily norm is about 200 mg. And, since these substances are excreted too quickly, they should again be included in the diet.

Why are these substances so needed, especially during pregnancy. It turns out they have:

1. Bactericidal effect. Damaging to many types of bacteria. We found this out, noting that it was red grapes, turned into wine, that help the drink maintain freshness for a long time.
2. Anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, anthocyanins are included in the treatment of colds.
3. Useful qualities that strengthen the walls of capillaries.
4. The ability to remove edema, which creates many problems in pregnant women.
5. A positive effect on the retina, strengthen its vessels, restore eye pressure, with the ability to accumulate in the tissues of the retina.
6. Antioxidant properties that prevent cell membranes from being damaged.

The beneficial properties of chokeberry

Sugar is present in the berries of the plant, which is only about 10 percent. Basically, it is glucose and fructose, that is, those substances that are absorbed most easily by the body. For women who have a tendency to diabetes, this combination is most acceptable. By drinking juice or eating jam from chokeberry, you can at the same time regulate blood sugar due to substances such as malvidin and epicatechin available in the berries. They can activate insulin production.

During pregnancy, a violation of the hemoglobin level is a common pathology. To achieve the required level, doctors are forced to prescribe medications that are unsafe for the fetus. Therefore, it is worth trying first to replace the chemical medicine with a natural one. In his role may be a chokeberry. It contains copper and iron, which do not allow anemia to develop. In this case, it is advisable to make mashed potatoes by rubbing the berries with sugar.

The actual issue during pregnancy is hypertension. The female body is too loaded, and pressure surges can occur at any time. In medical practice, chokeberry berries are used even during the treatment of grade I and II hypertension. The effect of the plant is that if you eat a certain norm, agreed with the doctor, within 10 days half an hour before eating, the walls of the blood vessels begin to expand, and blood pressure decreases.

Berries in large quantities contain tannins and pectins. This means that all the accumulated toxic and carcinogenic substances, heavy metals of the berry are successfully excreted, cleansing the body.

Aronia affects intestinal function, timely repaying the possibility of an inflammatory process.

Contraindications

Black tart berries are most often beneficial. But not all pregnant women can include them in the menu.

Exceptions will be for those who:

• has peptic ulcer or hyperacid gastritis;
• has increased blood coagulability;
• suffers from constipation, as berries have a “fixing” ability;
• has severe hypotension;
• susceptible to frequent urination, berries have diuretic properties.

Before you include the chokeberry on the menu during pregnancy, you must definitely inform your doctor.

Video: we treat black chokeberry