Plums during pregnancy - the benefits and harm

Berries and fruits are real stores of vitamins and fiber. But women in position need to pay attention to those of their varieties that have the highest nutritional value. And among the fruits that have a positive effect on the work of organs and systems are plums. How are they useful for pregnant women, in what cases they are better not to eat, and how to choose the right plum?

Unique properties of plums

This fruit has a very rich composition, namely:

1. Phenolic compounds that strengthen the capillaries and improve the functioning of the heart.
2. High concentration of vitamin E, which improves reproductive function in women. It also helps protect the skin from stretch marks, making it more elastic.
3. Carotene, restoring vision and promoting skin regeneration.
4. Folic acid, which guarantees the normal development of the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy. It ensures the proper functioning of the nervous system of the child, eliminates the likelihood of malformations.
5. Potassium, which regulates the water-salt balance, protects against the accumulation of toxic substances and chronic fatigue, familiar to most women in the position.
6. Iodine, affecting the physical condition of the fetus and its mental abilities. Its lack can lead to severe toxicosis, a state of chronic fatigue and dizziness.

A large amount of fiber, which is part of plums, provides normalization of the chair. One of the properties of this fruit is its beneficial effect on the gums. Plums help to eliminate such a delicate problem as periodontitis, which almost every second woman faces.

Plum is also considered a powerful natural antioxidant that protects the body from free radicals and the negative effects of the external environment. And due to the good iron content it can be attributed to effective means in the fight against anemia. Plum also helps restore vision and strengthen the immune system.

Recommendations for drinking plums

A separate topic - the use of plums in the last month of pregnancy. One of the features of this fruit is stimulation of appetite, which, in principle, is not welcome at any stage of carrying a child. Having eaten too many fruits, there is a temptation to eat too much. As a result, this can lead to an increase in the weight of the child, which means that it will be more difficult to give birth.

Pregnant women can eat plums, both fresh and dried. Of these, you can cook delicious compotes, combining with apricots, cherries or peaches. Such a natural drink will be a good substitute for coffee or tea.

Contraindications

Plums will have to be abandoned in case of gestational diabetes. Pregnant women suffering from damage to the gastrointestinal mucosa and chronic gastritis, the use of plums is better to discuss with a gastroenterologist.This is because fruits can increase the acidity of the stomach.

Selection and storage rules

The quality of plums should be approached with maximum criticality, because the health of the woman and the child depends on it. Mature fruits should be elastic to the touch, but it is easy to resist pressure. You can buy some solid plums and leave them ripening at home. If you need to speed up this process, then they can be put in a paper bag with bananas and put away in a dark place. Bananas secrete ethylene, contributing to the rapid maturation of any fruit.

You also need to pay attention to the grade. Yellow - sweet dessert plums, black are considered the leaders in the number of useful components in the composition, red used in traditional medicine. If the fruits have a pronounced sour taste, then they are unripe. They should not be eaten, because it can provoke intestinal upset and food poisoning.

Plums are stored for a relatively short time. After 3-4 days they begin to rot, so they are not worth buying a lot and for the future. Even in the markets, purchased plums must be thoroughly cleaned, because not only dust, but also chemistry after spraying the trees can accumulate on them.

Additional uses for plums during pregnancy

Many women know that dried plums contribute to the normalization of stool, eliminating constipation. For these purposes, you can use prunes or decoction of it. To do this, boil the usual compote or make it more concentrated: pour 3-5 ml of boiling water over the plums, let it brew for 20 minutes and drink 30-50 ml before each meal.

Dried plums help to cope with fever. Since, during pregnancy, women cannot drink classic antipyretic drugs, prunes will become a safe and very effective alternative. It can be used in the same way as in the case of the fight against fences.

Pregnant women can use plum leaves as a safe wound-healing agent. To do this, take 5-7 leaves and brew them with 200 ml of boiling water, let it brew for an hour. The tool is used as a compress on abrasions and cuts.

Due to the presence in the composition of plums of vitamin E, C, B, its pulp is an excellent basis for caring masks. It is enough to grind 2 large plums, after removing from them the skin, add 1 teaspoon of honey and 1 yolk. The resulting mixture should be applied to the face and leave for 5-10 minutes, then gently rinse. This mask perfectly moisturizes the skin and smoothes wrinkles.

Due to the huge list of useful properties of the plum is rightly worthy of attention of pregnant women. She will cope with a huge number of problems that are usually solved with the help of medicines. Finally, plum is a delicious, juicy fruit that is just nice to eat on a hot summer day.

Video: useful properties and contraindications of plum