Can pregnant women eat dates?

Dates are a popular product. In Europe, they are more often consumed in the form of dried fruits. In Asia and Africa, dates are more widespread. Here they are used in various forms and are often used in cooking. It is known that dried fruits not only retain the properties of the original fruit, but also acquire new ones. Dates contain a large number of different substances, can they be used by pregnant women?

General information

Dates are the fruits of date palms. This dried fruit has been known for many millennia. The fact is that the date tree is very fertile and bears fruit for decades. In the countries of the Ancient East, dates were one of the cheapest and most affordable products. Residents of India believe that the date palm comes from their country. Now this plant is common in North Africa and Asia.

The date palm grows about 6 years before the first harvest, and then another 60 years brings about 10 kg of fruit. Fruits are usually consumed in the form of dried fruits, previously dried naturally. In India, a national drink reminiscent of wine is prepared from dates. It is known that dates have a high calorie content and nutritional value. They are taken with them on long trips through the desert to satisfy their hunger.

The benefits of dates

Dates are rich in many trace elements and vitamins. Their biological activity is quite high. The benefits of dates are as follows:

1. A positive effect on the gastrointestinal tract. Dates have a lot of fiber. 100 g of this product contains approximately 7 g of fiber. This substance does not enter the body. It passes through the digestive tract, irritates the intestinal wall and enhances peristalsis, helping to get rid of constipation. In addition, fiber is essential for the bacteria that inhabit the intestines. Getting fiber, they produce vitamins that enter the human body.
2. Improvement of the nervous system. The composition of dates includes some representatives of B vitamins. They are necessary in order to normalize the metabolism. In addition, these vitamins help the functioning of nerve tissue.
3. Improving vision and skin condition. These effects are achieved due to the presence of vitamin A or retinol in dates. Thanks to this vitamin, a person is able to see the outlines of objects even in poor lighting. With its deficiency, a decrease in twilight vision develops, popularly called "night blindness." In addition, vitamin A is essential for the skin, hair and nails. He supports their beauty, health and youth.
4. Strengthening the heart muscle and skeletal muscle. Dates are rich in such an element as potassium. It performs an important function in ensuring contractility of the heart muscle. With a lack of potassium, various kinds of arrhythmias develop. People suffering from heart failure are even prescribed the use of dates as a source of potassium. In addition, skeleton muscles also need potassium in order to function properly.
5. Strengthening bone tissue. Dates have a lot of calcium. It is the main mineral in the composition of bones. In addition, calcium is necessary to ensure blood coagulation during bleeding, as well as to strengthen teeth and nails.
6. Improving blood coagulation. In addition to calcium, which is necessary for the implementation of this process, dates have another important element - vitamin K. This vitamin, called vikasol, has a direct effect on the blood coagulation system. It is even prescribed for bleeding.
7. The fight against anemia. Dates contain the main substance, the lack of which leads to the most common form of anemia - iron. Daily iron intake helps prevent iron deficiency anemia. In addition, dates have ascorbic acid. It helps to improve the absorption of iron and accelerate its intake into the body.

Harm and contraindications

In addition to useful properties, dates have a number of adverse effects on the body. Not all people can eat them. Contraindications to the use of dates are as follows:

1. Obesity. Dates are a very high-calorie product. 100 g of this dried fruit contains 200 kcal. It is better for people who are obese from this delicacy to refuse. In addition, there are a lot of carbohydrates in dates, which is also bad for a figure.
2. Diabetes. In addition to calorie content, dates have another feature - high sugar content. This makes them tasty, but at the same time it is a contraindication for diabetics.
3. Pathology of the teeth. This category includes caries, stomatitis and pulpitis. The fact is that the sugar contained in dates affects teeth badly. It is a breeding ground for microorganisms that cause a number of inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity.
4. Diarrhea. As already mentioned, dates accelerate intestinal motility. This is good for treating constipation, but diarrhea can only aggravate dates.
5. Hyperkalemia Some people due to various characteristics of the body increased potassium in the blood. Since dates contain a large amount of potassium, such people should not eat them.

Is it possible for pregnant women?

Another feature of pregnant women is the frequent development of iron deficiency anemia. As already mentioned, dates help prevent the development of this pathology. It is especially useful to use dates before childbirth. Firstly, because they improve blood coagulation, and childbirth is always blood loss. Secondly, dates enhance the tone of the muscles of the uterus. This leads to an acceleration of the birth process, making them easier and less long.

Thus, we can conclude that dates bring a lot of benefits to the body of a pregnant woman. They contain those substances that a woman needs to use during this period of her life. However, it is worth remembering contraindications. A woman who has at least one of them can not use dates.

Video: the benefits and harms of dates for the body