Lingonberry during pregnancy - the benefits and harm

Lingonberry is an amazing berry that grows in swamps, pine forests and pine forests. The shrub blooms with white flowers, from which grow red, burgundy, and sometimes even brown cowberry fruits. It has long been in Russia used lingonberries in the preparation of various dishes. Sour, bitter and tart taste of the berries gives food a special aroma. Cranberries, jams, mousses, fruit drinks and other sweets are made from lingonberries. The unique taste has a lingonberry pie. On the basis of the berry, liqueurs, brandy and other alcoholic beverages are prepared, the lingonberry flavor gives the alcohol a subtle tart note. And lingonberries are made with sweet and sour sauces, which are perfect for meat dishes. And, of course, everyone knows about the famous Russian pickled lingonberries.

People have always tried to cook something delicious from a berry,because lingonberries are incredibly healthy and nutritious. Such a product is simply necessary in the diet of a pregnant woman, because her body is weakened and depleted. In this article we will try to understand the benefits of lingonberries for a pregnant woman, learn about the contraindications to the berry and understand how to eat the fruits of lingonberries in order to get the maximum benefit from them.

Useful properties of lingonberry for pregnant women

Lingonberry does not have a pronounced sweet taste, however, the berry is very much appreciated for its rich vitamin composition. Lingonberry includes various organic acids, cellulose, mineral salts, and various vitamins. Lingonberry has always been valued for its medicinal properties, besides, the caloric content of the product is incredibly low. But how does lingonberry affect the body of a pregnant woman?

1. Stretch marks. A large amount of vitamin E in cranberries makes the product very useful at different stages of pregnancy. Tocopherol makes the tissue more elastic, it allows the uterus to grow and stretch, protects the skin from stretch marks. Lingonberry is effective in both internal and external use.
2. Edema. Lingonberry is effective against edema, a large amount of vitamin P has a mild diuretic effect. This is very important for pregnant women, especially in the later periods, when the load on the kidneys increases and the swelling becomes more pronounced. In addition, lingonberry has an anti-inflammatory effect on the organs of the urogenital system, eliminating cystitis.
3. Hypoallergenic. The safety of lingonberries also lies in the fact that the berry does not cause a reaction at all. You can eat it without fear even during pregnancy, without worrying that the baby will develop an allergy in the womb.
4. SARS. Lingonberry contains a lot of vitamin C, it allows you to use the berry as a medicine against colds and flu. Immunity of a pregnant woman is very weak, she is constantly subject to viruses and bacteria, during this period it is very important to constantly observe preventive measures. Drinks with lingonberries have an anti-inflammatory effect, quickly relieve sore throat, relieve swelling in the nose, reduce the temperature and have a powerful expectorant effect. Every day, add 5-7 lingonberries to warm tea, this is a powerful protection against colds in winter.
5. Hypertension. As a rule, during a woman’s pregnancy, all chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, are exacerbated. Lingonberry contains potassium, copper, manganese and chromium, which are very good for the heart. Lingonberry juice is able to reduce blood pressure in a short time, and with regular intake it is possible to stabilize the pressure completely. If you have a tachycardia (which is extremely undesirable during pregnancy), just drink a couple of tablespoons of pure lingonberry juice, after half an hour you will be much easier.
6. Intestines. Many women during pregnancy and lactation are faced with constipation - this is the action of the hormone progesterone. Lingonberry helps to soften the muscles of the intestine and strengthen its perilstatics. Fiber in the composition of the berries instead of a brush cleans stagnant fecal masses, eliminating even from strong constipation.
7. Vision. Lingonberry contains a lot of carotene, even more than carrots. It is necessary for vision, especially if a woman wears glasses or corrective lenses. Regular consumption of lingonberry during pregnancy maintains visual acuity, protects against increased diopters.Moreover, lingonberry affects the vision of the fetus, participating in the laying of vital organs.
8. Nervous system. Lingonberry contains many B vitamins that affect the state of the nervous system and the psychological mood of a woman. A handful of eaten lingonberries allows you to calm down, get rid of disturbing thoughts, improve your mood. Moreover, lingonberry gives the body energy, it is so important for working mommies, who are forced to work right up to the decree.
9. Nausea. The sour taste of lingonberries allows some pregnant women to cope with painful nausea and toxemia. Just eat a couple of berries in the morning, without getting out of bed, the state of health will be much better.

And the lingonberry necessarily used in the complex for the treatment of various endocrine disorders, hormonal disruptions, etc. The sour taste of the berry stimulates the secretion of gastric juice, it increases the appetite and restores the body against the background of exhaustion during toxicosis. Lingonberries are also used as an effective treatment with reduced acidity of the stomach. Lingonberry berries - not just a treat, but a potent medicine that can completely change the body's work. That is why it is impossible to take cranberries mindlessly.

Harm cranberries during pregnancy

Lingonberry is a rather acidic berry that can affect the functioning of the stomach. In case of gastritis with high acidity, gastric and duodenal ulcers, cholecystitis and other gastrointestinal diseases, cowberry should be abandoned. Previously, it was noted that lingonberry effectively reduces pressure, it is useful for hypertensive patients. But if you are hypotensive and your blood pressure is constantly low, it is better to refrain from eating berries. Another caveat when eating cowberries is the presence of kidney stones, the berry can trigger their movement. In case of kidney and urolithiasis cowberry is contraindicated. If you have a low blood clotting, it is impossible to eat cowberries - the berry can aggravate the condition of the body. In addition, with a weak intestine prone to diarrhea, many berries should be eaten with caution. Even if you do not have direct contraindications to receiving lingonberries, you need to know the measure and consume berries wisely, no more than 100 grams per day. But how to do it right?

How to eat lingonberry during pregnancy?

You can eat the berry in any form, but for us it is important to preserve all the valuable components of the product. Here are the most useful and tasty ways to eat ripe lingonberries.

1. Frozen lingonberries. Save all the vitamins for months, and even years, you can use the usual freezing. Lingonberries should be washed, dried and laid out on a plate with a flat bottom so that the berries do not touch each other. Freeze in this form, and then simply pour them into a container or package. If necessary, you can take the right amount of berries - lingonberries do not stick together. Before use, berries should be thawed gradually - first keep in the refrigerator and then leave at room temperature. This lingonberry retains almost all the vitamins and nutrients in its composition.
2. Useful jam. It is impossible to cook jam from lingonberries - when heated, it loses most of its useful substances. But if you do not like to eat sour lingonberries whole, you can make healthy and healthy jam. To do this, the berries are crushed with a blender or meat grinder and sprinkled with sugar. When the sugar is dissolved, the sweet pulp is poured into plastic bottles and sent to the freezer.In winter, you can unfreeze the container and enjoy the bright taste and natural aroma of lingonberries. And from such jams you can make jelly or use it as a filling for the cake and pancakes. Such a sweet medicine will certainly appeal to even the smallest pickups!
3. The drinks. If you do not like lingonberries, you can make drinks from the berries. The easiest way to add juice to boiled water is that saturated juice will be ready. In no case do not add the juice in hot tea - cranberries lose their value. In addition, you can make delicious lemonade from lingonberries. Take a carafe of water, pour juice from one lemon and one orange into it, add a couple of mint sprouts, three tablespoons of honey, a glass of lingonberry juice and fill all with carbonated mineral water. Serve with ice. This is a wonderful drink that will surely please not only adults but also children. Lingonberry lemonade is a great alternative to sweet soda.

In the fight against the depletion of the body during pregnancy, not only berries are used, but also lingonberry leaves - a decoction of them turns out to be incredibly useful and concentrated.

There is an ancient legend about lingonberries.She tells about a swallow that flew to people in order to give them a drop of living water that gives immortality. But the evil wasp bitten the bird, and the swallow dropped a drop of living water on the ground, in this place an evergreen shrub grew. The fruits of this shrub instilled in human strength, health and longevity, it was lingonberry. Eat lingonberries during pregnancy to feel easy until the very birth.

Video: lingonberry juice from a cold