Raisins during pregnancy - benefits and harms

In everyday life, the concept of "raisins" came from the Turkic language, which means "grapes". It is based on ripe berries, dried for several weeks in a natural environment. And subject to all the technological foundations, raisins retain up to 90% of vitamins and almost 100% of macro- and microelements. How is dried grape useful for pregnant women, and how not to make a mistake in choosing it?

Varieties of Raisins

Initially, only dried grapes with seeds could be called raisins. And the seedless varieties are a sultana. Today, all dried berries fall under this concept.

Black raisins or cinnamon are much more useful than ordinary light. Just like a large stone fruit, after cooking it does not lose its taste and is distinguished by rich sweetness. These are the best varieties for puddings, kvass and Easter cake. Quiche or sabza is suitable for drinks, pilaf and light baking.

Calorie content of dried fruit

Raisins are a high-calorie product. 100 grams contains about 287 kcal. A handful of dried grapes in calories can replace a full meal. Therefore, women in a position who managed to gain extra pounds should not lean on him. Its optimal amount is 10-15 berries added to porridge or pastries.

It is better to eat raisins in the morning, while a quick metabolism will contribute to the absorption of sweets and its processing into energy.

The benefits of raisins for the expectant mother

The beneficial effect of raisins on the body of a pregnant woman is associated with its composition. It contains:

1. Iron. With its help, anemia and oxygen starvation of the fetus can be avoided. Low hemoglobin is a common problem in pregnant women. And with the help of raisins it can easily be eliminated.
2. Nicotinic and folic acid. Doctors often prescribe them additionally as a prophylaxis of possible neural tube pathologies and for the correct laying of the main organs and systems.
3. Biotin. Vitamin B7 cleanses the blood of cholesterol plaques, prevents the absorption of toxins. It also improves the circulatory system.
4. Pantothenic acid. This is one of the fundamental vitamins among all B vitamins, since it is involved in the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates and proteins, and is necessary for the smooth functioning of the intestines and nervous system.
5. Vitamin C. Ascorbic acid performs a huge number of functions in the body. It helps the absorption of iron, catalyzes blood coagulation, strengthens the immune system in the fight against bacterial and viral infections. One of the unusual properties of this vitamin is that it prevents the formation of stretch marks.

Dried fruit is also useful for women who have just given birth. It increases lactation, increasing the nutritional value and fat content of milk.

Fructose, also present in raisins, will help replace sweets and cakes for women. At the same time, it will provide the body with the energy necessary for natural activity.

Contraindications

High-calorie dried fruit can not be eaten by women suffering from stomach ulcers, diabetes, tuberculosis, inflammation of the small and large intestines.

The use of raisins during pregnancy

It is advisable for the expectant mother to abandon most pharmacy medicines (if this is not a serious problem requiring urgent treatment). But from seasonal colds and a general decrease in energy tone, you can resort to the use of raisins. A few recipes for its preparation:

1. It is necessary to pour 40 grams of raisins with warm water and leave it to soak for one hour. Water needs to be poured, and softened berries to eat, washed down with a glass of warm milk. This is a great help to the immune system.
2. To eliminate constipation, you can prepare a decoction based on dried grapes. To do this, you need 100 grams of pure berries, which you need to pour in two hundred milliliters of water and boil for 3-4 minutes. Infusion should be drunk half an hour before meals.
3. As a natural energy bar, you can use a mixture of raisins, prunes and dried apricots. It is necessary to take dried fruits in equal proportions to each other, pass through a meat grinder or blender and put them in a glass jar. If desired, you can add honey or nuts. The resulting cocktail is a real vitamin bomb, which will become an alternative to store confectionery products, as well as saturate the body with nutrients.

How to choose raisins?

All the useful properties of this dried fruit are preserved only if the grapes were dried in a natural environment and not processed by chemistry. More than 90% of all raisins that can be bought on the market or in the supermarket are processed with sulfur or preservatives, which extend its shelf life and provide a presentation.

Subject to natural drying, light grape varieties should become saturated brown, and dark grapes should become black with a blue tint. But not bright at all. There is no natural golden raisin - if you have met one on the shelves of a store, know that it is fumigated with sulfur dioxide. This is a dangerous carcinogen, which is strictly prohibited for pregnant women. Yes, and it is advisable for any person, in principle, to abandon such chemistry, since it leads to the development of chronic diseases, including cancer.

How to choose a really high-quality product:

1. Prefer raisins with stalk. This is a sign that the berry has ripened whole and has not been subjected to any external effects.
2. Raisins should not be too soft, nor vice versa too hard.
3. Slightly moist and not-dried berries are evidence of their improper handling and storage.

Natural raisins should be fleshy, wrinkled brown or dark brown with a matte finish.

Terms of use

Before adding raisins to the dish, you need to wash it under running water and soak for an hour in warm water. So you not only wash dust off it, but also get rid of at least part of the chemicals. Then the raisins are thrown into a colander and left to dry on a paper towel. With this treatment, the berry not only does not lose its beneficial properties, but also straightens and becomes tastier.

Raisins are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals necessary for the health of women and children. Moreover, it is widespread, therefore, affordable. It can be added to pastries, cereals and pilaf or boiled aromatic compotes from it. The main thing is to buy a good quality product that does not harm the body.

Video: what is useful raisins