Blueberry is one of the most useful plants that can become an optimal analogue to a large number of medications that are prohibited for use by pregnant women. The only drawback of the plant is that the use of its fruits can also harm the expectant mother if she does not get acquainted with their features and composition in time.
Can blueberries be pregnant
Due to the fact that blueberries are a natural product, it is not banned for use by pregnant women. Moreover, most doctors strongly recommend that future mothers regularly eat the berries of this plant in order to improve their health and ensure the pregnancy is safe. The fruits contain a large number of vitamins and beneficial elements that contribute to the timely development of the fetus.
At the same time, it should be borne in mind that blueberries are a forest plant, which is found mainly in marshy areas in the vicinity of Ledum. This herb has a very rich and persistent aroma, which tends to cause dizziness and migraines in pregnant women. It is also not recommended to eat too many fruits at a time, because this can provoke nausea and even vomiting.
Did you know? Blueberries are considered a symbol of North America. In the state of Minnesota, muffins with the addition of its fruits are held in high esteem: they even became the main symbol for its inhabitants.
Blueberry Vitamin Composition
Quite often, ripe blueberries are confused with blueberriesbecause they are similar in color. The main difference is that blueberries are larger. The difference can also be seen in the color of the juice of these two berries: in blueberries it is dark blue (closer to purple), and in blueberries it is light blue (almost blue). The taste qualities of plants are also different, because, unlike blueberries, blueberries are not sweet, often watery.
A temperate and cold climate is most suitable for this plant. In such conditions, the berries grow as large as possible and contain a full range of vitamins and nutrients, including:
- phosphorus;
- vitamin A;
- calcium;
- vitamin C;
- organic acids;
- potassium;
- Vitamin E
- magnesium;
- vitamin R.
Fruits are great as a dietary product, because they contain only 39 calories per 100 g of product, which is extremely important for pregnant women who need to carefully monitor the progression of weight gain.
Pregnancy Benefits
Experts say that for normal intrauterine development, the baby needs to regularly receive the whole spectrum of nutrients. Otherwise, problems with the timely formation of internal organs and body systems are not ruled out. It is very important that the nutrition of the expectant mother during this period is as balanced as possible.
Blueberry is one of the almost universal berries, because it replaces a large number of drugs. So, due to the high content of ascorbic acid, blueberries are an excellent tool for the prevention of colds. High immunity is the number one task for every pregnant woman, because colds at this time can lead to complications in the development of the child.
Important! When choosing fruits, it is very important to pay attention to its appearance. Berries should be large and without mold. At the same time, a slight whitish coating should be present on the surface.
I trimester
Vitamin C, which is contained in the plant, also helps to keep the body in good shape, which is extremely important in the first months of pregnancy, when women experience a loss of strength, dizziness and weakness. Additionally, iron, which is also rich in this plant, will help to overcome anemia and nausea. This element normalizes the functioning of the heart and strengthens blood vessels. The berries also contain folic acid, which prevents the risk of malformation and development of the child’s nervous system.
II trimester
The second trimester is a period of active growth and development of the fetus. During this period, the pregnant woman should consume the maximum amount of vitaminsso that all the baby's organs develop in a timely manner. The berries also do an excellent job of indigestion and metabolic disorders, which is often observed in expectant mothers.
The fruits of the plant are actively struggling with high cholesterol, problems in the work of the pancreas and cardiovascular diseases.which may appear more acutely during pregnancy. Many pregnant women complain that their memory is deteriorating and they cannot concentrate on a specific task. The plant will help to solve this problem if you eat its fruits regularly.
III trimester
In the third trimester, it is very important to eat foods high in vitamin C, since it helps to strengthen blood vessels and prevent problems with varicose veins, which so often bothers expectant mothers. The berry will also be very useful for expectant mothers with diabetes, since its components help restore tissues and establish metabolism much faster, lowering blood sugar levels.
Iron, which is contained in large quantities in the berry, is responsible for the formation of hemoglobin in a sufficient volume, which helps to saturate the body with oxygen. Thanks to this, the expectant mother is less susceptible to drowsiness, weakness and causeless dizziness.
Magnesium, which is also part of the berries, will help calm the nerves and prevent constant emotional changes.caused by hormonal imbalance in the body of a pregnant woman. Puffiness, which is so worrying for most women in the last months of pregnancy, will help remove pectin, which is part of blueberries.
Harm and contraindications
Since blueberry is a natural product, it does not have a large number of contraindications.
- Among the main symptoms and diseases in which you should refrain from eating berries, you can name:
- allergies
- violations in the work and functioning of the genitourinary system;
- dyskinesia.
Often there is a situation of excessive consumption of blueberries by pregnant women. This can lead to intoxication of the body, provoking symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and flatulence. It is necessary to consume the berry in small portions (1 glass per day), especially if there are problems with frequent indigestion.
Important! Do not get carried away with the use of blueberries and patients who regularly take drugs to thin the blood. A plant, on the contrary, enhances its coagulability.
If you take into account all the features of your body, as well as follow the advice of your doctor, you can easily protect yourself from the unpleasant consequences that can lead to the use of blueberries.
Blueberry Recipes
Since this berry is quite soft and tender, in most cases it is consumed fresh and does not lend itself to heat treatment. Fresh fruits retain the maximum percentage of nutrients and vitamins. Doctors advise expectant mothers to drink daily a glass of freshly squeezed juice from these berries, which helps to tone the body and quickly remove toxic substances from it.
The plant is also considered an excellent natural antioxidant. You can immediately purchase a large number of berries and store them in an airtight container at a temperature of 0 to + 4 ° C. In this form, berries can be stored for up to 14 days. Shelf life can be easily extended by moving the container with fresh blueberries into the freezer. At temperatures up to -15 ° C, berries can be stored all year.
Blueberry broth
If there is no opportunity to purchase fresh fruits, you can replace them with dried ones. A decoction of berries will be very useful.
220 minutes
dried blueberries
40 g
Nutritional value per 100 g:
- Pour the berries in a glass bowl and pour boiling water.
- Let the broth brew for 15 minutes.
- Divide the drink into two doses and drink.
It is also very useful to add the dried mixture to regular black tea. This helps to further strengthen the immunity of the pregnant woman, but does not cause allergies or intoxication, because it implies the use of fruits in small quantities.
Blueberry jam
Blueberry jam will be useful enough for a pregnant woman. In addition, it can be stored in the refrigerator or cellar for up to 2 years.
2 L 1 hour 20 minutes
Nutritional value per 100 g:
- Wash and sort the berries, then pour them into a deep saucepan. It is necessary to pre-dry the fruits so that a large amount of foam does not form on the jam.
- Pour the berries with sugar and crush them with a potato crusher. Do not try to crush all the berries. The main thing is to violate the integrity of at least half of them.
- Leave the pan with the berry-sugar mixture for half an hour, so that the blueberries let the juice. This will avoid adding water during cooking.
- After half an hour, put the pan on a small fire and boil the mixture for 20 minutes, periodically stirring the jam.
- When the jam is ready, pour it into banks and leave to cool.
Did you know? If, after making the jam, the hands turn blue and it does not rub off, folk remedies will come to the rescue. It is enough to rub the places of contamination with a soft brush dipped in vinegar.
The plant brings great benefits to the body of a pregnant woman, but only if consumed in moderate doses. If you prevent all possible unpleasant consequences from eating fruits, they will become a real storehouse of useful substances and vitamins for the baby and his mother.