Semolina during pregnancy - benefits and harms

Airy and soft semolina cooked in milk is a traditional dish that has been familiar to more than one generation of children since childhood. A few decades ago, no one doubted its benefits. Now the situation has changed, heated debates have not subsided for many years about the dangers and benefits of semolina porridge. During the period of carrying the baby, each expectant mother strictly watches her diet, tries to eat so that the baby receives a maximum of useful substances. Should I eat porridge from semolina during pregnancy?

Characteristics of wheat groats

Semolina is produced from wheat grains. This cereal is one of the most popular and indispensable cereal crops in almost all peoples. This is one of the oldest plants that people began to eat. Over the long millennia of cultivation of this culture several varieties are bred. The main difference between them is the hardness of the grains. All types of wheat are divided into soft and hard varieties. Depending on the type of processing, several varieties of cereals are obtained:

• wheat;
• semolina;
• couscous
• bulgur.

In our country, the most popular cereals made from wheat groats and semolina.

The properties of semolina are determined by its chemical composition (content, per 100 g of product):

• Proteins - 10.3 g
• Fats - 1 g
• Carbohydrates - 10.6 g
• Fiber - 3.6 g
• Tocopherol - 1.5 mg
• Thiamine - 0.39 mg
• Pyridoxine - 0.1 mg
• Folic Acid - 0.072 mg
• Vitamin B3 - 0.08 mg
• Magnesium - 47 mg
• Iron - 1.23 mg
• Zinc - 0.105 mg
• Copper - 0.19 mg
• Sodium - 1 mg
• Potassium - 185 mg
• Calcium - 20 mg
• Phosphorus - 136 mg
• Riboflavin - 0.27 mg
• Manganese - 0.62 mg
• Water - 14 g

Calories in 100 grams of product 333 kilocalories (cooked on water).

Semolina differs from wheat in higher purification and fine grinding. Sizes of grains are from 0, 25 to 0, 75 mm. Groats are made from hard and soft wheat. Hard cereals are more healthy. The letter T must be present on the bag. Manka is distinguished by a yellowish tint, grains are slightly transparent. The porridge is crumbly. Soft groats are marked with the symbol M. Such groats are white in color, opaque, and boiled during cooking. A bag containing a mixture of cereals is marked with the letters TM (the content of semolina from soft cereal reaches 80%). Croup of heterogeneous color. Finding durum cereals on the counter is not easy; more semolina is made from soft wheat varieties.

Semolina for expectant mothers

In order for the body to receive a sufficient portion of energy, nutritionists recommend eating a plate of porridge for breakfast. Semolina is among the most popular. The dish is prepared quickly, it turns out delicious, delicate. With the help of various additives, you can diversify the taste of porridge, make it sweet or salty, cook in milk or water, add nuts, dried fruits, berries and citrus fruits. Since in recent decades, many nutritionists have been talking about the dangers and futility of semolina porridge, pregnant women are often wary of it.

Useful properties of semolina porridge

Semolina porridge has the same properties as wheat:

1. Contains vitamins, minerals.
2. Thanks to the presence of potassium, semolina will improve the functioning of the heart and blood vessels.
3. Vitamin E helps maintain healthy skin, hair, nails, improves the activity of the nervous system. It helps to reduce the risk of spontaneous abortion, is actively involved in the formation of the placenta, which protects the fetus from the negative effects of external factors.
4. Porridge from semolina is digested and absorbed in the lower intestine.When passing through the gastrointestinal tract, semolina absorbs unnecessary fat, mucus, and harmful substances. With digestive upsets, semolina reduces pain, relieves spasm, and facilitates the absorption of food.
5. When eating porridge from semolina there is no irritation of the gastric mucosa, there is no feeling of heaviness. Therefore, it is recommended to include in the diet for women suffering from gastritis.

Harm of semolina during pregnancy

This dish for pregnant women can simultaneously bring both benefits and harm:

1. Semolina, especially boiled in milk with the addition of butter, is a high-calorie product. It can provoke the occurrence of excess weight, complicate the course of pregnancy and childbirth. Excess weight during pregnancy is the cause of the development of edema, varicose veins of the lower extremities, the occurrence of pain in the back and lower back.
2. In women with gluten intolerance, allergic reactions may occur. In this case, you must completely exclude the product from your menu.
3. Semolina contains phytin, which interferes with the proper absorption of calcium and vitamin D. The lack of these substances harms both the unborn child and his mother. They have increased brittle bones, hair and nails are affected.
4. Due to the frequent use of semolina, the body begins to absorb iron worse. This can cause a decrease in hemoglobin in the blood, the appearance of anemia.

Eating semolina

Semolina during pregnancy will bring both baby and mother only benefit if you alternate its use with cereals from other cereals, such as oatmeal and buckwheat. Nutritionists recommend boiling semolina no more than 2 times a week. To reduce its calorie content, replace milk with water and sugar with fresh berries and fruits. Thus, you increase the content of vitamins and fiber, and reduce the calorie content of the dish. If the semolina boiled on water seems to you completely tasteless, replace half of the water with milk, add a slice of natural butter.

To semolina porridge brought only benefit to a pregnant woman, limit its use, cook no more than twice a week. Increase its nutritional value by adding dried fruits, honey, fresh berries. Alternate it with cereals from more valuable cereals, such as buckwheat, oat, millet.

Video: how to cook semolina porridge