Pineapple during pregnancy - the benefits and harm

This perennial herbaceous plant of the bromeliad family grows in all tropical countries. The fruit has a height of up to 60 cm, and the length of the leaves can reach 90 cm. The leaves along the edge are bordered with spines, which makes harvesting difficult. When a fruit is ready to be consumed, its weight ranges from 2 kg to 15. At this point, the pineapple looks like a cone of a coniferous tree with a bunch of short leaves on its crown. Pineapple fruit consists of a large number of small yellow berries, gathered in a single inflorescence.

Chemical composition

To find out what is useful for us pineapple, find out what it consists of.

100 grams of the product contains:

• Calories, kcal - 52
• Fat, g - 0.1
• Proteins, g - 0.3
• Carbohydrates, g - 11.8
• Water, g - 85,5
• Cellulose, g - 1
• Organic acids, g - 1
• Sugar, g - 11,8
• Vitamins - A, B1, B2, B5, B6, B9, C, E, PP

Minerals (mg)

• Potassium - 134
• Calcium - 17
• Magnesium - 13
• Sodium - 1
• Phosphorus - 8
• Iron - 0.3

Useful properties of pineapple pulp

Do not forget that fresh fruit, not subjected to heat treatment, contain more vitamins, much more useful than canned. This also applies to pineapple.

Advantages of fresh fruit:

1. The fruit contains bromelain, famous for its fat burning properties. In its action, bromelain is similar to enzymes of gastric juice (trypsin and pepsin). It promotes the breakdown and better absorption of proteins in the stomach and intestines, has a stimulating effect on the pancreas while reducing the secretion of enzymes. Eases the condition of a person after overeating. The substance is present only in fresh pineapple. Nutritionists recommend eating this product on an empty stomach, not combining it with other foods. Pineapple is indispensable in the diet of obese patients. When used, a person experiences a lesser feeling of hunger, metabolic processes are accelerated, and his mood improves.
2. Vitamin C helps to strengthen the immune system, accelerates recovery in the presence of inflammatory diseases.
3. Potassium and magnesium contained in pineapple, improve heart function, strengthen blood vessels, contribute to the normalization of blood pressure. Organic substances in its composition thin the blood, reduce the risk of blood clots. They successfully fight cholesterol plaques.
4. Pineapple improves the condition of cancer patients. The pulp of the fruit contains components that block the protein of cancer cells.
5. Cellulose facilitates cleansing the intestines of food debris, toxins, mucus. It also helps to restore beneficial intestinal microflora.
6. Regular consumption of this fruit improves the general condition of patients with arthritis, arthrosis, reduces joint and muscle pain.
7. The pulp has diuretic properties, thanks to which the edema caused by diseases of the cardiovascular system and kidneys, is significantly reduced.

Is pineapple allowed for pregnant women?

This fruit is a treasury of vitamins, which are so necessary for women when carrying a baby. Therefore, pregnant women often pulls on all sorts of berries and fruits, the body simply sends them to the right path.

Benefits of pineapple for future mothers:

1. Vitamin C contained in pineapple strengthens the immune system and helps prevent seasonal colds. The list of approved medications during pregnancy is very small, so special attention should be paid to prevention. Vitamin C improves the absorption of beneficial trace elements and other vitamins. B vitamins are very important for the formation of the central nervous system of the fetus.
2. Pineapple contains folic acid, which is extremely important for the proper formation of the fetal neural tube, for the normal development of the baby’s nervous system.
3. Calcium and manganese help to strengthen the infant's bone and muscular system. The lack of these elements can lead to a deterioration of the condition of the teeth and bones of the woman.
4. Many pregnant women face problems of constipation. A large amount of fiber in this product contributes to regular bowel cleansing. When released into the intestine, bromelain is able to destroy pathogenic bacteria.
5. Bromelain not only helps to break down fats better, but also facilitates the functioning of the liver. This leads to the fastest splitting of food, getting rid of heartburn, feeling of heaviness in the stomach and flatulence.It is extremely important for a pregnant woman to control her body weight, those extra pounds can interfere with the proper course of pregnancy and impede the process of childbirth.
6. Fresh pineapple juice clears the walls of blood vessels from cholesterol plaques, normalizes blood pressure.
7. During pregnancy, the volume of blood circulating in the body of a woman increases. This leads to a decrease in hemoglobin levels. Consumption of pineapple pulp increases the amount of iron in the blood, improving the supply of oxygen to the fetus.
8. In the first trimester of pregnancy, when many expectant mothers are bothered by toxicosis, a few slices of sweet and sour juicy fruit help to cope with nausea and prevent vomiting.
9. Toward the end of pregnancy, a pineapple with a mild diuretic effect will help to cope with swelling of the limbs.
10. Since the fruit is low-calorie and contains little sugar, it can be included in your diet for women who gained extra weight during pregnancy.
11. Just before the birth, a pineapple will help the female body to prepare for this event.Pineapple enhances the tone of the uterus, contributes to the rapid softening and opening of the cervix.

And what is important for any woman, especially pregnant, pineapple has an excellent taste and aroma, which improves her mood.

Harm of pineapple for future mothers

This fruit contains vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for women during pregnancy. However, there are some contraindications:

1. By consuming a large amount of pineapple pulp, uterine tone may increase. This is especially dangerous in the first trimester of pregnancy, especially if there is a threat of miscarriage. If a woman feels nagging pain in the lower abdomen, she has bloody discharge, it is worth noting to eat pineapple.
2. It is necessary to limit the use of pineapple with increased acidity of gastric juice, so as not to provoke an exacerbation of gastritis or ulcers.
3. This fruit may be an allergen.
4. With care you need to eat pineapple with diabetes.
5. Due to the high content of acid in the pulp of pineapple, irritation of the oral mucosa and destruction of the tooth enamel can be observed.

Nutritionists recommend eating no more than 150-200 grams of pulp per day or drinking a glass of pineapple juice. Note that this is a fresh juice. Packed juices and canned pineapple rings contain a lot of sugar and citric acid, and most of the vitamins are destroyed during heat treatment. The benefits of such a product is minimal.

Video: Pineapple Benefits