Cranberries during pregnancy - benefits and harms

Every normal and adequate person tries to take care of his health - eat right, exercise, move more and more often in the fresh air. Particularly intense care for the body becomes during the period of illness, in old age. But the future mothers become the most responsible for their health. As soon as a woman finds out about her new position, she tries in every way to change her habits for the better. A pregnant woman is constantly taking tests, is no longer self-medicating, refuses smoking and alcohol, relies on healthy foods. Among the most healthy and natural goodies, cranberries can be distinguished. This is not just a tasty and juicy red berry, it is also a pantry of valuable substances, which is simply necessary for a woman weakened by pregnancy.

Useful properties of cranberries during pregnancy

The composition of cranberries is rich in a variety of vitamins and minerals. The berry has glucose, sucrose, organic acids and pectins. The berry perfectly tones up, invigorates and lifts mood. Eat a few berries - this will improve your well-being. But what is the use of cranberries for women in an interesting position?

1. From cystitis and urolithiasis. Cranberries contain bactericidal components that perfectly cope with inflammation of the bladder. Getting on the mucous membrane, cranberries literally flush pathogens from the walls of the bladder and inhibits their activity. In combination with heavy drinking, cranberry juice is able to quickly relieve symptoms of cystitis - pain, painful urination, frequent urge, etc. In addition, cranberry drinks are an excellent prevention of urolithiasis.
2. Bactericidal property. Cranberry juice copes with viruses and some bacteria. For example, red berry is effective in combating Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and even anthrax. If you have ENT diseases, you can dissolve cranberry juice in a glass of warm water and gargle. The same composition can rinse your mouth with stomatitis or with a bad tooth. In the absence of special products, cranberry juice can treat wounds and damage to the skin.
3. For antibiotics. Cranberries are effective not only as an independent berry, but also as an auxiliary element in drug treatment. If you take cranberries during antibiotic therapy, it will improve the absorption and effectiveness of antibiotics. This is due to citric acid, which increases the absorption of medicines taken orally.
4. For high hemoglobin. Iron deficiency anemia occurs in every third pregnant woman - this is facilitated by a sharp increase in blood volumes, an unbalanced diet, the absence of red meat in the diet, etc. Cranberries contain a lot of iron, which is perfectly absorbed by the body and is involved in the process of hematopoiesis.
5. With toxicosis. Cranberries are very helpful in combating morning sickness. The sour taste of the berry immediately suppresses the urge to vomit. Prepare red cranberries in advance - leave it on the bedside table. Immediately after waking up, without getting out of bed, you need to eat some berries and only after that slowly get out of bed - this will help you get rid of the hated feeling of nausea. Many pregnant women know that toxicosis is not only nausea, but apathy, drowsiness, dizziness, poor appetite, and terrible health. Cranberries perfectly copes with these symptoms, it perfectly tones the body, gives good spirits and a working mood.
6. For immunity. Cranberries are very useful in the midst of colds, when a pregnant woman constantly catches ARVI due to reduced immunity. To create at least some kind of barrier to diseases, you need to eat cranberries every day, at least 5-6 berries, this is a real prevention of colds. If you still get sick, cranberries will help you in the treatment - the berry perfectly lowers the temperature, flushes viruses from the body, and has a diaphoretic effect.
7. For brain activity. It is believed that cranberries are the best way to concentrate, gather all your strength into a fist, do work or study. Many women during pregnancy continue an active social life, this requires considerable intellectual costs. In order not to become distracted, slow and forgetful, you just need to regularly lean on cranberries.
8. For blood vessels. Cranberries contain substances that positively affect the state of blood vessels, improve their elasticity and mobility. This allows you to get rid of the risk of developing varicose veins, which in women very often occurs precisely during pregnancy.
9. For the central nervous system of the fetus. Cranberries are rich in folic acid, which is essential for women in early pregnancy. Vitamin B9 reduces the risks of developing fetal neural tube pathologies - this is extremely important. If you lean on cranberries in the early stages of pregnancy - this is the key to the formation of a healthy central nervous system of the child.
10. For the nerves. Cranberries contain B vitamins, which have a very positive effect on a woman’s emotional state. Since future mothers constantly worry about something during pregnancy, become suspicious and moody, cranberries come in handy as never before.
11. Against gastritis. Everyone knows that the disease of the gastric mucosa is caused by the Helicobacter pylori bacterium. Scientists have proved that cranberry juice is effective in combating this bacterium, it significantly inhibits its activity, and with regular consumption it destroys it completely.
12. Against joint diseases. A lot of pregnant women face a problem such as arthritis, arthrosis, etc. All this happens against the background of leaching of calcium from the body, hormonal changes, a sharp increase in weight. The anti-inflammatory properties of cranberries help to cope with the problem, especially in late pregnancy.
13. In the fight against edema. Cranberries normalize metabolic processes in the body, perfectly remove excess fluid and relieve swelling. All future mothers should know about this, especially in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Cranberry cyanidin lowers blood sugar, which is especially true for pregnant women with diabetes. Cranberries are believed to be a winter berry, as they are picked in late autumn. But in fact, the value of cranberries lies in the high content of vitamins in the winter, when there are simply no natural vegetables and fruits. Even in nature, cranberries are considered a real salvation and a way of survival for many animals and birds. Do not resist nature and you - take care of the baby’s health in the womb with the help of a natural red berry.

Cranberry contraindications

If you decide to enjoy cranberries daily, be sure to read the contraindications. After all, the berry is far from harmless.

1. If you have kidney stones or a history of urolithiasis, it is better to stop eating cranberries. There are a lot of minerals in cranberries; a high content of minerals in the body contributes to the deposition of kidney stones. If you are completely healthy - it will not affect you. However, with a tendency to form kidney stones, cranberries can be dangerous.
2. Cranberries are very useful for thrombophlebitis and other diseases with thick blood - the berry dilutes it perfectly. However, if your blood is so liquid, if there is a tendency to bleeding, cranberries can aggravate the situation. In this case, the berries should be discarded.
3. Despite the fact that cranberries are used in the fight against gastritis, it can not be drunk with high acidity of the stomach, especially on an empty stomach and in undiluted form.
4. Cranberries perfectly reduce pressure, it is useful and effective for hypertensive patients, especially in the early stages, when taking medications is not recommended. However, for pregnant women who have low blood pressure, cranberries are not recommended; their condition may worsen.

The main contraindication is an allergic reaction, which can occur on cranberries quite often. Individual intolerance to the berry can be manifested by a rash on the skin, redness, swelling, nausea, bloating, etc.

How to eat cranberries correctly?

Cranberries are widely used not only in folk medicine, but also in cooking. The sweet and sour taste of the berry gives meat and fish dishes a special languor and piquant taste. Various cranberry drinks are very popular - fruit drinks, fruit drinks, jelly, tinctures and juices. Eat cranberries for pleasure, enjoy the palette of taste and benefits of red berries!

Video: the healing properties of cranberries