Figs during pregnancy - benefits and harms

When carrying a child, women need to selectively approach food products. Very many of them are either contraindicated, or they need to be dosed. And the main reason for this approach is high calorie content. This is especially true for sweet treats, which include figs. Is it possible for pregnant women to eat this exotic fruit, how is it beneficial for the woman’s body and in what cases can it harm?

The specifics of figs

Relish, wine berry, fig tree - this is only a small part of the names of figs. In this case, the tree itself and its fruits are so named. The birthplace of a fig tree is ancient Arabia, but its popularity quickly spread to Egypt, Phenicia and Syria. Today, wine berry can be found on the forest slopes of the mountains of Georgia, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and the North Caucasus.

Figs are a classic subtropical tree that prefers a warm climate. In length, it can reach 12 m. The color of its trunk is dark gray, the crown is spreading with large, wide leaves. The color of the fruit depends on the type of tree: it ranges from yellow to deep blue. The most common variety of figs has a yellow-green hue and looks somewhat like a pear.

Calorie Figs

For 100 grams of raw figs, 74 kcal. In stores, canned figs are also sometimes found, the calorie content of which is 53 kcal per the same 100 grams. The most high-calorie dried fruits - they contain 257 kcal. It is better for pregnant women to stop using dried figs, as this can lead to rapid weight gain.

Composition and availability of nutrients

The fruits of the date tree are considered a storehouse of such components as:

1. Natural fructose that provides nutrition for absolutely all body cells.
2. Dietary fiber, the regular use of which can normalize the intestines. This is especially important for pregnant women who have experienced constipation and gastrointestinal discomfort.
3. Apple acid. It stimulates the metabolism, improves blood circulation, activates the enzymes involved in the removal of excess fluid from the body (this property will help women get rid of edema). Thanks to the consumption of figs rich in malic acid, it is possible to increase the body's resistance to bacterial infections.
4. Potassium needed to normalize the water-salt balance. Potassium deficiency in the mother’s body carries great risks for the full development of the child. In particular, this electrolyte supplies the brain with oxygen.
5. Vitamin B1 and B3. Thiamine is responsible for the production of energy in the cells of the mother's body. Therefore, in case of insufficient amount, the fetus may lag behind in development. Nicotinic acid prevents the formation of blood clots and blockage of the vessels of the placenta. Its reduced content in the woman’s body also leads to impaired liver function.

Contraindications

With caution, the use of figs should be approached in cases:

• diabetes mellitus;
• pancreatitis
• gout
• inflammation in the digestive tract.

The composition of figs includes oxalic acid, which is contraindicated in people with kidney and urinary tract diseases.

The healing properties of figs

On the basis of wine berries, you can cook many unique products that have a beneficial effect on the body. So, they make a very effective antipyretic from it. To prepare it, you will need 1 cup of milk and several tablespoons of dried and chopped fig fruit. The fruits need to be boiled in milk so that it evaporates exactly twice.Take ¼ cup at least 2 times a day. This tool is often used for hoarseness, problems with the vocal cords and bronchitis.

Another excellent recipe, thanks to which you can strengthen the immune system - fig-based syrup. To prepare it, you will need 7-8 large fruits and 250 ml of water. Put the figs in a saucepan, fill with water and simmer over low heat for 25 minutes. We take out the figs, add water to its original amount and fill it with 200 grams of sugar. Once again we put the resulting mixture on a slow fire until sugar is completely dissolved, add the juice of half a lemon to it and cool. Syrup should be drunk several tablespoons before each meal.

For constipation, you can use the following recipe: 50 g of dried and chopped fig fruits need to be poured with a liter of boiling water and boil over half an hour over low heat. It is advisable to drink the resulting infusion per day, dividing by three times.

Pick figs

1. Avoid fruits with a characteristic white web of mold and a pungent sour smell.
2. Mashed or too hard figs should not be eaten - it will not do harm, but it will have a specific taste.
3. You can not store fruits in the refrigerator for a long time. The maximum is within 3 days after the purchase, and then it will begin to gradually deteriorate.
4. Raw figs should be washed immediately before meals under running water.

How to eat figs

During pregnancy, fig fruits can be consumed in any form: raw, fried or dried. It is best not to heat them, as fresh wine berries contain a minimal amount of sugar. The peel of the fig is edible, so it must be thoroughly washed, removing only the stem. If you don’t like its texture, you can carefully cut it off. To enjoy the taste of the fruit, it must be cut in half and eat with a spoon. Figs go well with butter, soft cheeses.

Figs during pregnancy are a useful and very tasty product that does not pose a threat to the health of the mother (if the woman does not suffer from the diseases mentioned above). This exotic fruit will enrich the body with necessary nutrients and provide a feeling of satiety for several hours.

Video: dried figs during pregnancy