Pumpkin juice during pregnancy - the benefits and harm

In late summer and early autumn a beautiful pumpkin ripens in our gardens. So we call the fruits of the same plants from the pumpkin family. These are annual or perennial grasses with large leaves and large white or pale yellow flowers. A pumpkin, unfortunately, does not appear very often on our tables, although it contains many useful substances. Its bright orange color immediately indicates that the fruit is rich in carotene. A lot of nutrients found in the pulp and seeds.

Dignity of pumpkin juice

This drink rightfully earned the title of one of the most accessible and beneficial to humans. By the number of valuable substances, he leaves far behind many of his fruit competitors. The bright orange color of the peel and pulp indicates a huge percentage of beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A.Juice contains many essential microelements.

In pumpkin juice are present:

• water;
• carbohydrates;
• cellulose;
• Sahara;
• squirrels;
• pectins;
• vitamins;
• trace elements;
• ash;
• fat;
• organic acids.

Caloric content of juice without added sugar is 38 kilocalories.

Thanks to this, it has a beneficial effect on all organs:

1. The high content of vitamins helps to strengthen the immune system, helps the body to resist the effects of bacterial, viral and fungal infections. While carrying a baby, the expectant mother is prohibited from using most medications. Therefore, the strengthening of immunity will be very useful, especially in the cold season during the epidemics of influenza.
2. In the early stages of pregnancy, constipation occurs on the background of hormonal adjustment. Progesterone relaxes muscles to ensure pregnancy. Intestinal motility slows down. In later periods, the enlarged uterus squeezes the internal organs, including the intestinal loops, disrupting the promotion of fecal masses. Pumpkin juice contains a large percentage of fiber, it normalizes the digestive system,helps to cope with constipation, promotes colonization of the intestines with healthy microorganisms.
3. Vitamin A is called a beauty vitamin for a reason. Its deficiency adversely affects the condition of nails, hair, and skin. It is also essential for maintaining healthy eyes. This is especially important now, when most of the time people spend behind the screen of a computer, tablet, laptop. The antioxidants contained in the juice lutein and zeaxanthin prevent the occurrence of cataracts, slow down age-related changes in the organs of vision.
4. Pectin helps to dissolve cholesterol plaques in vessels, reduces the level of bad cholesterol in the blood. Arteries are cleared of unnecessary layers, become more plastic. Due to this, the level of blood pressure is normalized, the risk of atherosclerosis, stroke or heart attack decreases.
5. Regular use of pumpkin juice improves kidney function, dissolves and removes stones from them.
6. Traditional medicine recommends drinking pumpkin juice with honey as a sedative and mild hypnotic. Magnesium contained in a glass of pumpkin juice will help calm down, improve mood, relieve stress.Many women during pregnancy face mood swings and sleep disorders caused by hormonal changes, worries and anxieties.
7. Pumpkin juice contains potassium and magnesium, which are necessary for the normal functioning of the heart. These microelements prevent the occurrence of vascular atherosclerosis, strengthen the muscles of the myocardium, normalize blood formation.
8. Iron is necessary to maintain hemoglobin levels in the blood. This rate often decreases during pregnancy due to an increase in the volume of blood circulating in the body.
9. A very rare vitamin K contained in pumpkin juice promotes good blood coagulation.
10. Many pregnant women face the problem of edema, especially at the end of their term. Pumpkin juice has a diuretic effect, removes excess fluid from the body.
11. The use of pumpkin juice immediately after waking up helps to alleviate the manifestations of toxicosis, reduce nausea.

Contraindications

Pumpkin juice has a lot of useful properties, but for some health problems it is necessary to limit its use.

This applies to the following diseases:

1. When gastritis, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer, accompanied by low acidity of gastric juice, pumpkin juice can exacerbate the disease.
2. Juice from sweet pumpkin varieties contains quite a lot of sugar and carbohydrates, it needs to be limited to diabetics.
3. Due to the large amount of dietary fiber, it is necessary to exclude this product from the diet of people suffering from diarrhea.

Pumpkin juice is a useful drink for a pregnant woman, but it is necessary to take into account the possibility of hypervitaminosis due to the large amount of vitamin A. Doctors consider the optimal dose of 100–200 ml of juice per day.

Fresh-squeezed juice will bring the maximum benefit, especially since the pumpkin is perfectly preserved for almost the entire winter. To improve the taste, you can add apple, carrot or lemon juice, a spoonful of honey. Store packaged juices contain a fairly large amount of sugar, which can provoke an increase in blood glucose levels, excessive weight gain. Moreover, after heat treatment, the amount of vitamins in the juice is significantly reduced. Half a glass of pumpkin juice, drunk before breakfast, will charge the body with energy,will provide with vitamins and trace elements.

Video: cold pressed juices during pregnancy