Eating carrots during pregnancy
The most popular food when expecting a baby is vegetables and fruits, a special place among which is given to root vegetables. During pregnancy, carrots are allowed to be consumed in all kinds: stewed, boiled, steamed and cheese. It is indispensable in the diet of women expecting a baby.
Eating carrots during pregnancy
Beneficial features
The benefits of carrots, unlike other vegetables, lie in their significant nutritional value. The root vegetable contains:
- vitamins of the B-group, E, C;
- a nicotinic acid;
- cellulose;
- minerals;
- antioxidants;
- organic acids;
- natural sweetener;
- bioflavonoids;
- essential oils.
Raw carrots are a storehouse of vitamins and minerals, but even with heat treatment, the vegetable retains a large amount of nutrients.
Use during pregnancy
Carrots during pregnancy are allowed to be consumed throughout the entire period of gestation. In each trimester, the vegetable will benefit both mother and baby.
The allowed amount of the product in the diet should be agreed with the leading gynecologist.
First trimester
The onset of pregnancy leads to drowsiness, intolerance to certain tastes and odors, nausea, and bouts of heartburn.
In the first 3 months, there is an intensive production of progesterone, which contributes to the formation of a new body, it also reduces the immunity of the expectant mother. The first trimester is the best time to start eating orange root every day.
The universal vitamin and mineral complex contained in the root vegetable enhances the body's defenses:
- folic acid prevents anemia;
- the antacid properties of the vegetable help to effectively eliminate heartburn;
- mineral components purify the blood and reduce the severity of symptoms of early toxicosis.
Second trimester
From 4 to 6 months, the child intensively develops in the mother's stomach, this process requires the consumption of a large amount of protein. In the body of the expectant mother, the load on the kidneys and the cardiovascular system increases.
Eating carrots is also beneficial during the second trimester. Eating finely grated vegetables in a salad along with sweet and sour apples, or drinking fresh juice, a pregnant woman can normalize hemoglobin and prevent a lack of it, which is fraught with anemia.
Carrot juice normalizes hemoglobin
Orange root vegetables are a good remedy for puffiness. Dishes from carrots during pregnancy help to remove excess fluid, since they have a slight diuretic effect. Potassium improves muscle tone and helps a pregnant woman cope with increased stress on the body.
Third trimester
The third trimester is characterized by the improvement of the child's nervous system and the formation of the cerebral cortex.At the end of pregnancy, a woman significantly gains weight, which reduces her physical activity, an enlarged belly creates pressure on the internal organs.
From 7 to 9 months, a woman is tormented by constipation and frequent urge to urinate (sometimes this begins in the second trimester). The fiber-rich vegetable is a good laxative with a mild choleretic effect, which helps to cope with delicate problems before childbirth.
Vitamin K affects blood clotting. The amino acid tryptophan or provitamin B3 helps in the creation and strengthening of nerve fibers during fetal formation.
Increased appetite at the end of pregnancy often leads to gaining more extra pounds. For a snack, it is better to choose vegetable dishes that include raw or boiled carrots.
Orange root vegetable improves skin condition, strengthens nails and hair, and is also a preventive measure against stretch marks.
Other uses
There are many ways to use carrots during pregnancy. Among them are the following options for using juice:
- to bury in the nose for colds;
- rinse the mouth for sore throat (diluted with water in a 50/50 ratio);
- take with honey for bronchitis (up to 3 times a day);
- drink after meals for stomach diseases (100 g of juice is mixed with 20 g of milk).
If there is protein in the urine of a pregnant woman, she should include carrots with a drop of vegetable oil in her diet. With hemorrhoids, it is recommended to eat carrot salads on an empty stomach or drink an infusion from its tops.
The carrot tops are finely chopped and poured with boiling water, after which they insist for about 30 minutes. Consumed three times a day before meals.
Vegetable seeds are an irreplaceable remedy in the fight against hypertension. For this, 1 tbsp. l. seeds with a slide are poured with a glass of boiling water. The tincture is filtered and drunk 3 times throughout the day.
Contraindications
Carrots have a large number of useful properties, and therefore are indispensable in the diet of pregnant women. Nevertheless, she also has contraindications. These include:
- allergies;
- pathological disorders in the pancreas;
- gastritis;
- disturbances in the work of the intestines;
- diabetes.
During these diseases, it is allowed to eat carrots in limited quantities and only in boiled form.
A large amount of root vegetables increases headaches and feelings of weakness.
Conclusion
If you want to satisfy your desire to eat with a dish with few calories, a side dish of carrots will be a great addition to lean fish or diet meat. You should not abuse the vegetable, because even the most useful ones can harm the expectant mother and baby.