Cranberries during pregnancy - the benefits and harm

Every normal and adequate person tries to take care of his health - eat right, play sports, move more and stay in the fresh air more often. Particularly intense care for the body becomes in the period of illness, in old age. But future moms are the most responsible for their health. As soon as a woman finds out about her new position, she tries in every way to change her habits for the better. A pregnant woman constantly undergoes tests, no longer self-medicates, gives up smoking and alcohol, relies on healthy foods. Among the most useful and natural delicacies can be identified cranberries. This is not just a tasty and juicy red berry, it is also a pantry of valuable substances that is simply necessary for a weakened woman’s pregnancy.

Useful properties of cranberry during pregnancy

The composition of the cranberries is rich in various vitamins and trace elements. In the berry there is glucose, sucrose, organic acids and pectins. Berry perfectly tones, refreshes and uplifting. Eat a few berries - it will improve your well-being. But why is cranberry useful for women in an interesting position?

1. From cystitis and urolithiasis. Cranberries have bactericidal components that perfectly cope with the inflammation of the bladder. Getting on the mucous membrane, cranberry literally washes away the pathogenic microorganisms from the walls of the bladder and inhibits their activity. In combination with heavy drinking, cranberry juice can quickly get rid of the symptoms of cystitis - cramps, painful urination, frequent urging, etc. In addition, cranberry drinks are an excellent prevention of urolithiasis.
2. Bactericidal property. Cranberry juice copes with viruses and some bacteria. For example, the red berry is effective in the fight against Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli and even anthrax. If you have ENT diseases, you can dissolve the cranberry juice in a glass of warm water and rinse your throat.The same composition can rinse your mouth with stomatitis or with a bad tooth. In the absence of special means, cranberry juice can be used to treat wounds and lesions on the skin.
3. For antibiotics. Cranberry is effective not only as an independent berry, but also as an auxiliary element in drug treatment. If you take the cranberries during antibacterial therapy, it will improve the absorbability and effectiveness of antibiotics. This is due to citric acid, which increases the absorption of drugs taken orally.
4. For high hemoglobin. Iron deficiency anemia occurs in every third pregnant woman - this contributes to a sharp increase in blood volumes, unbalanced nutrition, the lack of red meat in the diet, etc. Cranberries contain a lot of iron, which is well absorbed by the body and participates in the process of blood formation.
5. When toxicosis. Cranberries are very helpful in the fight against morning nausea. The sour taste of the berries immediately suppresses the urge to vomit. Prepare the red cranberries in advance - leave them on the bedside table. Immediately after waking up, without getting out of bed,you need to eat a few berries and only after that slowly get out of bed - this will help you get rid of the hated feeling of nausea. Many pregnant women know that toxicosis is not only nausea, but also apathy, drowsiness, dizziness, poor appetite, and terrible state of health. Cranberry copes with these symptoms perfectly, it perfectly tones the body, gives pep and working mood.
6. For immunity. Cranberries are very useful in the midst of colds, when a pregnant woman constantly catches ARVI because of reduced immunity. To create at least some barrier to disease, you need to eat cranberries every day, at least 5-6 berries, this is a real prevention of colds. If you are still sick, cranberries will help you in the treatment - the berry perfectly lowers the temperature, washes away the viruses from the body, has a diaphoretic effect.
7. For brain activity. It is believed that cranberries are the best way to concentrate, gather all the forces into a fist, do work or study. During pregnancy, many women continue their active social life, which requires considerable intellectual expenses.In order not to become scattered, slow and forgetful, you just need to regularly lean on the cranberries.
8. For vessels. Cranberries contain substances that have a positive effect on the condition of the blood vessels, improve their elasticity and mobility. This allows you to get rid of the risk of developing varicose veins, which in women very often occurs during pregnancy.
9. For the CNS fetus. Cranberries are rich in folic acid, which is indispensable for women in early pregnancy. Vitamin B9 reduces the risk of developing fetal neural tube pathologies - this is extremely important. If you lean on the cranberries in the early stages of pregnancy - this is the key to the formation of a healthy central nervous system of the child.
10. For the nerves. Cranberries have B vitamins, which have a very positive effect on the emotional state of a woman. Since during pregnancy, future moms constantly worry about something, become suspicious and capricious, cranberries have more than ever.
11. Against gastritis. Everyone knows that the disease of the gastric mucosa is caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. Scientists have proven that cranberry juice is effective in combating this bacterium, it significantly suppresses its activity, and with regular consumption destroys it completely.
12. Against diseases of the joints. Many pregnant women face arthritis, arthrosis, etc. All this happens against the background of the leaching of calcium from the body, hormonal adjustment, a sharp increase in weight. Anti-inflammatory properties of cranberries help to cope with the problem, especially in late pregnancy.
13. In the fight against edema. Cranberry normalizes metabolic processes in the body, perfectly removes excess fluid and eliminates edema. All future moms should know about it, especially in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Cyanidin in the cranberry reduces blood sugar levels, which is especially important for pregnant women with diabetes. Cranberries are believed to be a winter berry because they are harvested in late autumn. But in fact, the value of cranberries lies in the high content of vitamins in the winter, when there is simply no natural vegetables and fruits. Even in nature, cranberries are considered a real salvation and a means of survival for many animals and birds. Do not resist nature and you - take care of the health of the baby in the womb with the help of a natural red berry.

Contraindications to eating cranberries

If you decide to feast on cranberries daily, be sure to familiarize yourself with the contraindications. After all, the berry is far from harmless.

1. If you have kidney stones or urolithiasis in history, it is better to abandon the consumption of cranberries. Cranberries contain many minerals, the high content of minerals in the body contributes to the deposition of kidney stones. If you are completely healthy - it will not affect you. However, with the propensity to form kidney stones, cranberries can be dangerous.
2. Cranberries are very useful for thrombophlebitis and other diseases with thick blood - the berry liquefies it perfectly. However, if your blood is so thin, if there is a tendency to bleed, cranberries can aggravate the situation. In this case, the berries should be abandoned.
3. Despite the fact that cranberry is used in the fight against gastritis, it can not be drunk with a high acidity of the stomach, especially on an empty stomach and in undiluted form.
4. Cranberry perfectly reduces pressure, it is useful and effective for hypertensive patients, especially in the early stages, when taking medication is not recommended. However, for those pregnant women who have low blood pressure, cranberries are not recommended, the condition may worsen.

The main contraindication is an allergic reaction, which can occur to cranberries quite often. Individual intolerance of the berry can be manifested by a skin rash, redness, swelling, nausea, swelling, etc.

How to eat cranberries right?

Cranberries are widely used not only in traditional medicine, but also in cooking. The sweet and sour taste of the berry gives the meat and fish dishes a special languor and savory taste. Various cranberry drinks are very popular - fruit drinks, compotes, jelly, tinctures and juices. Eat the cranberries in pleasure, enjoy the palette of taste and benefits of red berries!

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