Pumpkin in the diet during pregnancy
Pumpkin is a low-calorie and healthy vegetable. Not only pulp is suitable for food, but also seeds and juice. The vegetable is eaten raw and processed. Pumpkin during pregnancy should take one of the main places on the list of healthy foods. But you need to know the rules for its use, because sometimes it can harm the expectant mother and baby.
Pumpkin in the diet during pregnancy
The benefits of pumpkin during pregnancy
The vegetable, which is 90% water, is a storehouse of vitamins and minerals. There are 23 kcal per 100 g of the product, so a woman does not have to worry about her weight.
In the early stages
The product has a beneficial effect on the body of the expectant mother and fetus. It is able to alleviate the condition of a pregnant woman with toxicosis in the early stages. The vegetable differs in the following properties:
- contributes to the correct formation of the baby's musculoskeletal system - thanks to the phosphorus and calcium that the culture contains;
- improves the functioning of the nervous system;
- eliminates depression;
- helps to fight insomnia that occurs in the early stages of pregnancy due to hormonal changes;
- quenches thirst.
At a later date
In the second trimester, the blood volume of the expectant mother increases dramatically. Because of this, the heart begins to work hard. Pumpkin can help fight stress because it contains potassium and magnesium.
Iron, which is part of the vegetable, helps to maintain hemoglobin at the required level. Thanks to this, the fetus will not suffer from hypoxia.
In late pregnancy, a woman is also worried about insomnia, since the uterus grows during this period. The pumpkin will be helpful in fixing this problem as well.
A vegetable helps to remove excess fluid from the body if consumed for a long time. This property is useful in that it prevents the appearance of edema that worries a pregnant woman in the third trimester.
Any product is a good remedy for constipation. Due to the content of pectins, it removes toxins and metabolic products. Fiber is well absorbed by a weakened body, which is important, because in pregnant women, immunity is reduced.
Pumpkin juice in the diet
The product supports the health of a woman and her unborn child. It is a good source of biologically active substances. It has diuretic and anti-inflammatory properties. Normalizes the digestive tract. It has a calming effect, so it is worth drinking pumpkin juice in the evening.
Juice relieve nausea
In the first trimester of pregnancy, the product will help relieve nausea. To use it, perform the following actions:
- peel and seed the vegetable;
- using a juicer squeeze out the juice;
- dilute it with water in a 1: 1 ratio - this will help reduce the negative effect of the product on the stomach of the expectant mother;
- drink juice in small sips with an attack of nausea or at other times for half a glass.
Not everyone likes the taste of pumpkin juice, so you can add other products to it that will increase the organoleptic properties.It is worth considering the presence of allergies to certain substances. Better to choose seasonal vegetables, fruits and berries. You can also add honey, sugar and various spices:
- cinnamon;
- cardamom;
- vanillin;
- ginger.
Carrot and pumpkin juice will be useful for the body of the expectant mother. Add 1 tbsp to it. l. vegetable oil, which promotes the absorption of vitamins. For this purpose, cream or sour cream is also used.
Pumpkin juice is useful when planning pregnancy. It is a source of B vitamins. They help prevent cleavage of the palate, as well as the development of defects in the neural tube and brain of the fetus.
Pumpkin seeds
This is the most nutritious part of the vegetable. She is recommended to replace sweets. They can be a great snack because pregnant women need fractional meals.
The seeds are often used to prevent or control helminthiasis. A woman may not even be aware of the presence of parasites, and they will create obstacles to the full development of the child. Pumpkin seeds during pregnancy will help to cope with this problem and will not harm the fetus.
To do this, they are used in 1 tbsp. l. on an empty stomach for at least a week. During the period of treatment, they drink a lot of fluids.
In addition, the benefits of pumpkin seeds for the body of the expectant mother are as follows:
- they increase hemoglobin;
- help the correct development of the fetus in early pregnancy, because contain folic acid;
- relieve nausea during toxicosis;
- strengthen the body's defenses of the expectant mother;
- reduce the burden on the liver and kidneys - subject to regular use;
- remove toxins from the body;
- have a beneficial effect on the musculoskeletal system;
- eliminate excess hydrochloric acid, which is useful in combating heartburn that occurs in late pregnancy;
- improve the condition of the skin, hair and nails.
The seeds must be of high quality. You can eat them whole. They are often crushed into powder and added to salads and desserts. Raw seeds will be more beneficial to the body. In thermally processed, the amount of nutrients decreases, amino acids are destroyed.
The product can be dried without using high temperatures. Then its shelf life will be 3 months. To eliminate insomnia, a decoction of seeds in milk is prepared.
Eating raw pumpkin
Pumpkin is able to stabilize pressure
All nutrients are preserved in the fresh pulp. It has a beneficial effect on the body of a pregnant woman, because contains vitamins A, group B, antioxidants. Possesses the following properties:
- removes cholesterol from the body;
- stabilizes pressure;
- participates in the formation of fetal bone tissue.
Raw pumpkin during pregnancy is beneficial for women who experience spikes in blood sugar.
If the vegetable does not taste like a stand-alone product, you can combine it with other ingredients. For pregnant women, the following salad is suitable:
- 0.4 kg of pumpkin pulp;
- 4 medium apples;
- 0.5 tbsp. walnuts;
- olive oil;
- lemon.
Chop the nuts, quickly fry in a little oil. Peeled apples and pumpkin must be grated. Add lemon juice and cooled nuts. Salt a little, sprinkle with sugar or fructose.
Boiled and steamed pumpkin
A thermally processed product loses some of its vitamins, but remains very useful. It has the following effect:
- improves blood composition;
- fights edema;
- has a beneficial effect on the intestines.
Cooking a vegetable is easy. You can use this recipe:
- take 1 kg of pumpkin and 1.3 liters of water;
- remove the peel from the vegetable;
- cut into cubes;
- fill with liquid;
- boil for 10 minutes, adding cardamom or vanilla;
- Sprinkle the finished dish with sugar.
You can make mashed potatoes from boiled pumpkin. You will get a delicious filling for pies.
Various cereals are prepared on the basis of a vegetable. For the dish you will need the following ingredients:
- 220 g pumpkin;
- 75 g millet;
- 0.5 tbsp. l. butter;
- 150 ml of water;
- 150 ml of milk;
- sugar, salt.
The vegetable is cut and peeled. Placed in a saucepan, poured with water, heated.Gradually add cereals. Keep on low heat until thickened. Large pieces of vegetable can be chopped. Pour milk and spices to taste.
You can cook many dishes from a vegetable
Some housewives put the porridge in the oven for a few minutes. Then add butter and stir.
Steamed pumpkin is prepared like this:
- peel a vegetable, cut into cubes;
- placed on a baking sheet with sides;
- watered with water and honey;
- placed in the oven for 20 minutes. at a temperature of 180 ° C.
Dried fruits are often added to the dish. Dried apricots and raisins will do.
You can also bake the vegetable. It is cut into pieces, placed on a baking sheet. Add honey, nuts. Send to the oven. When the slices are soft, remove. The product can be baked with chicken, apples, etc.
Harm and contraindications
Despite the benefits of pumpkin, not all women are recommended to use it during pregnancy. It is necessary to exclude it from the diet if you are allergic to a vegetable and with such diseases:
- gastritis;
- chronic diarrhea;
- genitourinary problems;
- duodenal ulcer;
- diabetes mellitus - the product contains a lot of carbohydrates;
- aggravated digestive diseases - vegetable juice can cause nausea and bloating;
- violation of the acid-base balance in the body.
It is worth considering that due to the laxative effect, the vegetable can provoke diarrhea. Raw seeds should not be consumed by pregnant women in an amount of more than 100 g per day. The product can harm a woman's body - cause constipation, abdominal pain, nausea.
Canned juices are not worth buying. They contain a lot of sugar and dyes.
Pumpkin can be included in the diet of the expectant mother every day. She will provide valuable substances not only to her body, but also to the fetus. A lot of different dishes can be prepared from a vegetable that will diversify a woman's menu. If the pregnant woman has no contraindications to use, then the vegetable will only benefit her.
In addition, the leaves and flowers of the culture are used for medicinal purposes. The latter help to cope with cough, which is a very useful property, because many medicines are contraindicated during pregnancy. A decoction is prepared from the stems, which eliminates edema.