Raisins during pregnancy - the benefits and harm

The term “raisins” came from the Turkic language, which means “grapes”. It is based on ripe berries, dried for several weeks in their natural environment. And provided that all technological bases are observed, up to 90% of vitamins and almost 100% of macro and micro elements are stored in raisins. How is dried grapes useful for pregnant women, and how not to make a mistake in choosing it?

Varieties of raisins

Initially, raisins could be called only dried grapes with a stone. And the varieties without a bone are sushi. Today, all dried berries fall under this concept.

Black raisins or brownies are much more useful than the usual light. Just like a large stone fruit, after cooking, it does not lose its taste and is characterized by rich sweetness.This is the best variety for puddings, kvass and Easter cake. Kishmish or Sabza is suitable for drinks, pilaf and light pastries.

Calorie dried fruit

Raisins are high-calorie foods. 100 grams contains approximately 287 kcal. A handful of dried grapes for calories can replace a full meal. Therefore, women in the position, who managed to gain extra pounds, should not overload him. Its optimum amount is 10-15 berries added to porridge or pastries.

It is better to eat raisins in the morning, while a fast metabolism will facilitate the absorption of sweets and their processing into energy.

The benefits of raisins for the future mother

The beneficial effects of raisins on the body of a pregnant woman are related to its composition. It has:

1. Iron. With it, you can avoid anemia and oxygen starvation of the fetus. Low hemoglobin is a common problem for pregnant women. And with the help of raisins it can be easily eliminated.
2. Nicotinic and folic acid. Doctors often prescribe them additionally as a prophylaxis of possible pathologies of the neural tube and for the correct laying of the main organs and systems.
3. Biotin. Vitamin B7 clears the blood of cholesterol plaques, prevents the absorption of toxins. It also improves the circulatory system.
4. Pantothenic acid. This is one of the fundamental vitamins among all the B vitamins, because it is involved in the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates and proteins, it is necessary for the smooth functioning of the intestines and the nervous system.
5. Vitamin C. Ascorbic acid performs in the body a huge number of functions. It helps the absorption of iron, catalyzes blood clotting, strengthens the immune system in the fight against bacterial and viral infections. One of the unusual properties of this vitamin is that it prevents the formation of stretch marks.

Useful dried fruit and women who have just given birth. It increases lactation, increasing the nutritional value and fat content of milk.

Fructose, also present in raisins, will help to replace sweets and cakes for women. At the same time, it will provide the body with the energy necessary for natural activity.

Contraindications

High-calorie dried fruit should not be eaten by women suffering from stomach ulcers, diabetes, tuberculosis, inflammation of the small and large intestines.

The use of raisins during pregnancy

It is advisable for a future mother to abandon most pharmaceutical drugs (if this is not a serious problem requiring immediate treatment). But from seasonal colds and a general decrease in the energy tone, you can resort to using raisins. Several recipes for its preparation:

1. It is necessary to pour 40 grams of raisins with warm water and leave to soak for one hour. Water needs to be poured, and eaten softened berries with a glass of warm milk. This is a great help to the immune system.
2. To eliminate constipation, you can prepare a decoction based on dried grapes. This will require 100 grams of pure berries, which need to be poured with two milliliters of water and boiled for 3-4 minutes. Infusion should be drunk half an hour before meals.
3. As a natural energy bar, you can use a mixture of raisins, prunes and dried apricots. It is necessary to take dried fruits in equal proportions to each other, skip through a meat grinder or blender and put in a glass jar. If desired, you can add honey or nuts. The resulting cocktail is a real vitamin bomb, which will be an alternative to shop confectionery products, as well as saturate the body with nutrients.

How to choose raisins?

All the beneficial properties of this dried fruit are preserved only if the grapes were dried under natural conditions and not processed by chemistry. More than 90% of all raisins, which can be bought on the market or in a supermarket, are treated with sulfur or preservatives, which prolong its shelf life and provide a presentation.

Under the condition of natural drying, the light grape varieties should turn rich brown, and the dark ones should turn black with a blue tint. But not light. There is no natural golden raisin - if you come across one on the shelves of the store, you should know that it is fumigated with sulfurous anhydride. This is a dangerous carcinogen, which is strictly prohibited for pregnant women. Yes, and in principle it is desirable for any person to abandon such chemistry, since it leads to the development of chronic diseases, including oncological diseases.

How to choose a really high-quality product:

1. Prefer raisins with petiole. This is a sign that the whole ripe berry was not exposed to any external influence.
2. Raisins should not be too soft, nor vice versa too hard.
3. Slightly moist and under-dried berries are evidence of improper handling and storage.

Natural raisins should be fleshy, wrinkled brown or dark brown with a matte shade.

Terms of use

Before you add the raisins in the dish, you need to wash it under running water and soak for an hour in warm water. So you not only wash off the dust from it, but also get rid of at least some chemicals. After that, raisins recline in a colander and left to dry on a paper towel. With such processing, the berry not only does not lose its beneficial properties, but also straightens and becomes tastier.

Raisins are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals necessary for the health of women and children. However, it is widely distributed, therefore, affordable. It can be added to the baking, cereal and pilaf, or cook fragrant compotes from it. The main thing - to buy a good quality product that does not harm the body.

Video: what is useful raisins