Can pregnant women eat strawberries?

The origin in the body of a woman of a new organism is a real miracle of nature. It is amazing how life processes occur, and in just 9 months a full-fledged child grows out of one cell of the father and mother, able to eat, breathe, live independently. The health of the child depends not only on the genetic factor. The intrauterine development of the baby has a great influence. The mother bears tremendous responsibility for this period, since it is the woman who depends on nutrition, addiction to bad habits, taking vitamins, visiting a doctor, etc. It is important to monitor the condition of the baby in the womb, and most importantly, you need to eat right. The diet should be varied and balanced, it should contain proteins, fats and carbohydrates. It is very important to lean on dairy products, meat and fish, vegetables and fruits. It is difficult to find a future mom who, at least once in her entire pregnancy, would not want to enjoy juicy red strawberries. In this article we will try to consider the benefits of this amazing berry and find out whether strawberries are so safe during pregnancy.

Useful properties of strawberries during pregnancy

Strawberry is one of the most common and beloved human berries. Strawberries are used to make various desserts and drinks. Strawberry flavor and aroma are used everywhere - from the production of paper and napkins to the manufacture of tobacco. The red berry contains a huge amount of vitamins, macro- and microelements, fiber and organic acids. All this makes strawberries not only tasty, but also very useful for a woman during pregnancy.

1. ARVI. Along with currants, strawberries contain a huge amount of vitamin C in their composition, only 100 grams of red berries are able to make up the daily dose of ascorbic acid. This is a great defense for immunity. In the early stages of pregnancy, immunity is artificially reduced so that the body does not push away a foreign cell (a nascent fetus). Against this background, future mothers often begin to get sick. Strawberries will support the strength and health of the body during this difficult period.
2. Antimicrobial action. Strawberry not only supports the immune system, but also has excellent antiseptic properties. This helps to cope with various inflammations in the oral cavity and on the gastric mucosa.
3. For the development of the fetus. The composition of strawberries contains a huge amount of folic acid, which is necessary for the fetus in the early stages. This is one of the most important vitamins during pregnancy, which is prescribed to all women at the planning stage and up to 14 weeks of pregnancy inclusive. During the development of the baby in the womb, a sufficient amount of folic acid protects the baby from malformations of the neural tube of the fetus, folic acid is essential for the formation of the central nervous system of the child.
4. For the intestines. The composition of strawberries contains a huge amount of pectin and dietary fiber, which facilitate the intestines, help gently cope with constipation. This is very important for a pregnant woman, since constipation in the early and late stages develops very often.
5. For sight. Strawberries are rich in retinol, which is involved in the formation of the fetal organs of vision. Adequate amounts of vitamin A also help maintain maternal vision.
6. For the bones. As part of strawberries, there are very necessary trace elements that help maintain the health of the mother’s bones, hair and nails. Calcium, phosphorus, magnesium are extremely necessary, during pregnancy they often lack them. Deficiency of these microelements is manifested by brittle nails and hair, dental problems, cramps in the limbs.In addition, calcium and phosphorus are the basis for the formation of the skeleton of the fetus, an excellent prevention of rickets.
7. For heart. A large amount of potassium facilitates the work of the heart and the circulatory system, which is forced to work on two organisms. Removing a serious load helps get rid of swelling and pain in the heart.
8. For the nerves. The composition of red juicy berries contains a lot of B vitamins, which positively affect the state of the nervous system. Regular consumption of strawberries will help calm down, get rid of anxiety and irritability. In addition, strawberries are so tasty and fragrant that they are capable of raising their mood for a future mom with one of their looks.
9. For the skin. Strawberries are rich in tocopherol, which is essential for skin elasticity. A sufficient amount of vitamin E in the composition of the product provides a woman with protection against stretch marks and the possible prevention of labor tears.

If your pregnancy coincided with the ripening season of juicy and sweet strawberries - be sure to use this period. It is believed that for the entire season you need to eat at least a bucket of strawberries, this leads to the renewal of the body. But remember that this must be done very carefully.

What is the harm of strawberries during pregnancy?

In fact, strawberries are not just tasty and healthy berries; they also contain many negative aspects that you need to know about in advance.

1. Allergy. The most important minus is the high allergenicity of the product. Strawberries very often cause a reaction in humans, it manifests itself as a skin rash with severe itching, blisters and irritation. If a woman is allergic to strawberries, eating it during pregnancy is strictly contraindicated. Moreover, if the reaction was in childhood, you must also abandon the berry, since during pregnancy all processes are aggravated. Even if there is no allergy, it is impossible to lean on strawberries in late pregnancy. After 30 weeks, the child's own immunity is formed and the abuse of allergens during this period can cause the baby to grow allergic. To protect yourself and your baby, it is enough to consume no more than 200 grams of strawberries per day, 2-3 times a week, no more. Doctors say this dose is safe during pregnancy.
2. Saltpeter. The second big minus is the presence of chemicals in the composition of the berry. If you eat strawberries earlier than the main season, most likely the berry is processed with nitrate and other substances that artificially accelerate the ripening process. There is nothing useful in such a berry, moreover, eating artificially grown strawberries can lead to food poisoning. The harmful effects of strawberries apply to berries brought from afar. So that the tender and juicy strawberries survived the transportation and retained their presentation, it is treated with special substances. Eating such a strawberry during pregnancy is definitely not worth it. If you want to protect yourself in this crucial period, it is enough to eat strawberries strictly in high season, when the berry ripens in your region.
3. Parasites. Many parasites have a fecal-oral route of infection and often enter the human body with berries that grow in close proximity to the ground. First of all, we are talking about roundworms, which enter the human body, can penetrate the tissues and even the lungs, causing a constant and causeless cough. During pregnancy, parasites are extremely dangerous, as they deprive the fetus of basic nutrition, deplete the woman’s body, and threaten the survival of the child. It is very simple to get parasites through strawberries - ascaris eggs get to our table just like that. You can get rid of risk if you thoroughly rinse the strawberries before use. If you are pregnant, this should be done 2-3 times.

In addition, a large amount of strawberries can provoke the deposition of kidney stones, since oxalic acid, which is found in the berry, binds calcium and provokes the deposition of oxolates. With a tendency to urolithiasis, it is better to refuse the use of berries. In addition, a large amount of organic acids in the composition of strawberries can provoke uterine tone.

How to save strawberries for the winter?

Strawberries are always in the freezer of a good housewife. After all, it can not only be used as food, but also make useful face masks, ice cubes and solutions for rinsing hair from berries. Keep strawberries on hand - it will not only delight you with its taste, but also help you always look beautiful and well-groomed!

Video: beneficial properties and vitamins of strawberries