Can pregnant women eat tangerines in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimester?

Content

1 What are the benefits of tangerines for pregnant women?
2 Rules for eating tangerines during pregnancy
3 Can tangerines be eaten during pregnancy?
4 Recipes with tangerines for pregnant women
- 4.1 Curd dessert
- 4.2 Tangerine candies
5 Possible harm and contraindications
6 Conclusion

Nutritionists agree that pregnant women can eat tangerines in the absence of an allergic reaction or other contraindications. They become a valuable source of vitamins, macro- and microelements necessary for the woman and the fetus, and have a beneficial effect on the well-being of the expectant mother.

What are the benefits of tangerines for pregnant women?

Tangerines contain about 50 kcal per 100 g, so they can be considered a dietary fruit. During pregnancy, they provide a woman with the substances her body needs without contributing to the gain of extra pounds.

Citrus fruits during pregnancy are very beneficial for the brain, ensuring its full functioning.

But the benefits of tangerines during pregnancy are not limited to this:

The high concentration of vitamin C they contain is necessary to strengthen the immune system. And any disease, even a “harmless” cold during pregnancy, is a potential harm to the fetus.
Vitamin C is necessary for the absorption of iron.Accordingly, eating citrus fruits is an effective prevention of anemia. And this is a very common problem during pregnancy.
Citrus pulp, rich in fiber and pectin, has a beneficial effect on the digestive system and normalizes the functioning of the stomach and intestines. The juice restores appetite. The latter often disappears completely during pregnancy, especially when toxicosis appears.
Tangerines have an antiseptic effect. The pulp and juice contain phytoncides that destroy fungi, microbes, and other pathogenic microflora. During pregnancy, a woman’s body is more susceptible to them due to hormonal “changes” and decreased immunity.
An infusion or decoction of the peel significantly alleviates the condition of toxicosis. It is especially effective against nausea, which is almost inevitable at the beginning of pregnancy. The drink also helps lower the temperature and get rid of bouts of diarrhea.
Thanks to its mild diuretic effect, citrus during pregnancy helps to avoid swelling and promptly remove waste and toxins from the body.
The scent of tangerine is widely used in aromatherapy. During pregnancy, it has a very beneficial effect on the nervous system and restores mental balance, helping to combat attacks of causeless anxiety, irritation, mood swings, and depression.
The white film that covers the lobules contains glycosides in a fairly high concentration. These substances are very beneficial for the cardiovascular system, preventing placental abruption and the development of varicose veins.
Tangerines activate metabolism. Accordingly, the substances necessary for the body of the mother and child during pregnancy are absorbed faster.Food is not stored as extra pounds, which further prevents the appearance of stretch marks.

Mandarin is a valuable “help” for health during spring vitamin deficiency

Important! There is an interesting folk superstition about tangerines during pregnancy: if a woman is strongly “drawn” to them in the first trimester, one can almost certainly say that she will have a boy. An aversion to citrus fruits most likely indicates that she is expecting a girl.

Rules for eating tangerines during pregnancy

In the first trimester, a woman can eat tangerines in almost unlimited quantities if she wants it and there are no contraindications. In the second, the average “daily dose” of citrus fruits during pregnancy recommended by doctors is 2-3 pieces (150-200 g). In the third, many experts advise abandoning them altogether, so as not to provoke heartburn, premature birth, and in the future not to cause allergies in the child during breastfeeding.

There are no strict rules regulating the use of tangerines.

Can tangerines be eaten during pregnancy?

Purposefully giving up tangerines during pregnancy, especially if the body persistently “asks” for citrus fruits, is a bad idea. However, even a slight malaise or a mild allergic reaction is a reason to look for other sources of vitamins, macro- and microelements.

Is it possible for pregnant women to eat tangerines in the early stages?

The first trimester of pregnancy is the time of the most radical “restructuring” of a woman’s body. This inevitably negatively affects immunity and metabolism; accordingly, tangerines are very useful for expectant mothers in the early stages.

Another health problem that can rarely be avoided is toxicosis.Citrus fruits help reduce the intensity of its symptoms, especially nausea. Juice helps normalize digestion.

Tangerines contain almost all B vitamins in fairly high concentrations. But folic acid (B9) is especially necessary during pregnancy. For an embryo, its lack can be fraught with pathologies in the formation of the placenta, nervous and cardiovascular systems.

Why else are tangerines not only possible, but also necessary, to be included in the diet in the first trimester of pregnancy:

stimulation of immunity;
fight against depression, nervous excitability;
ensuring vigor, preventing increased fatigue and drowsiness;
activation of digestion and blood circulation;
“help” the liver in removing waste and toxins from the body, stimulating the outflow of bile.

Both pulp and peel of tangerine are effective in the fight against toxicosis.

Important! Women who are prone to allergies, if they are “drawn” to citrus fruits in the early stages of pregnancy, are recommended to alternate between different types, for example, tangerines and oranges. The body “considers” them to be different fruits, which significantly reduces the risk of a negative reaction.

Can pregnant women eat tangerines in the 2nd trimester?

In the second trimester of pregnancy, the fetus already has its own digestive and excretory system, so all products entering a woman’s body can cause an individual negative reaction in him. Accordingly, it is recommended to limit the consumption of tangerines and constantly monitor your well-being, including them in your diet.

However, you should not completely give up citrus fruits if the body “accepts” them. There are enough reasons for this:

Tangerines help cope with toxicosis, which often continues into the second trimester of pregnancy.
Citrus fruits are effective against edema, as they have a beneficial effect on the kidneys and the entire excretory system.
Vitamin B4 contained in the pulp “inhibits” the synthesis of cortisol. For the expectant mother, this reduces the risk of developing postpartum depression. There is also research data suggesting that children of women who experienced vitamin B4 deficiency during pregnancy are more likely to suffer from memory and mental problems.
Citrus is rich in calcium, which the developing fetus literally “pulls” out of a woman’s body during pregnancy, causing her problems with bones and teeth.
Fiber and pectin are vital as they lower blood cholesterol levels and help cope with constipation.
Juice, when consumed internally or externally, helps reduce sebum production and at the same time prevents drying of the dermis.

Tangerine juice is an effective prevention of hyperpigmentation that often appears during pregnancy.

Important! Tangerines are low in sodium and rich in potassium. This proportion prevents hypertonicity of blood vessels, their “relaxation” maintains normal pressure.

Tangerines during pregnancy in the third trimester

In late pregnancy, it is recommended to reduce the consumption of tangerines to a minimum. The closer the birth is, the higher the risk of allergies in mother and child. An alternative can be any relaxing procedures using tangerine essential oil - aromatherapy, warm baths, hair combing, massage.

Tangerine essential oil will help restore good mood, get rid of migraine attacks, sleep problems

Recipes with tangerines for pregnant women

The easiest way to eat tangerines during pregnancy is to eat them fresh or squeeze the juice out of them.They are also used as an ingredient in fruit salads. But there are other recipes.

Curd dessert

What you will need:

tangerine pulp – 300 g;
cottage cheese – 350 g;
sour cream – 100 g;
honey – 40-50 g;
pistachios, walnuts, hazelnuts (or any other nuts) - only about 200 g;
gelatin – 20 g;
vanillin - to taste (2-3 g);
water – 7-10 ml.

The dessert is prepared quickly and easily:

Pour gelatin with water, stir, leave for 15-20 minutes to swell.
Using a blender or mixer, beat the cottage cheese with sour cream and honey into a homogeneous mass.
Add gelatin and vanillin to the cottage cheese, mix well.
Cut the tangerine slices and, if desired, chop the nuts a little. Add “fillers” to the total mass and mix again.
Place the dessert in a deep bowl or baking dish, cover with cling film “in contact”, put in the refrigerator for 5-6 hours.

It is advisable to use homemade cottage cheese, sour cream, and natural honey for this dessert.

Tangerine candies

Required ingredients:

medium-sized tangerines – 8 pcs.;
sugar – 150 g;
water – 100 ml;
chocolate (any kind, but preferably bitter) – 50 g;
nuts – 50-60 g.

How to make candy:

Wash the tangerines thoroughly and scald with boiling water. Cut into circles without removing the peel.
Place the citruses in a saucepan, add about 20 ml of water, cook over medium heat for 2-3 minutes. Drain the liquid.
Repeat the procedure without draining the water.
Add the remaining water and sugar to the pan and mix well. Cook for about half an hour over low heat, stirring constantly.
Place the circles on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place in an oven preheated to 150°C for 15 minutes.
Chop the nuts and melt the chocolate in a water bath. Dip each circle first into the glaze, then into the crumbs.

Before use, the finished candies are placed on a plate in one layer to allow the chocolate to harden.

Possible harm and contraindications

Tangerines are a strong potential allergen. Moreover, a negative reaction to it can also occur in women who ate citrus fruits without problems before pregnancy.

Also, tangerines during pregnancy can cause heartburn. This problem, typical during pregnancy, can become even worse. Organic acids and vitamin C in high concentrations increase the acidity of gastric juice.

Unconditional contraindications for including tangerines in the diet during pregnancy are:

diabetes mellitus of any type and other chronic diseases affecting metabolism and the endocrine system;
gastritis, colitis, peptic ulcer of the stomach and intestines, other problems of the digestive tract caused by increased acidity of gastric juice;
hepatitis, cholecystitis, other pathologies of the liver and gall bladder;
diseases of the kidneys and genitourinary system in the acute stage.

Important! Excess ascorbic acid in the body increases the risk of developing uterine tone. Abuse of tangerines during pregnancy, especially in the first and third trimesters, can cause miscarriage or premature birth.

Conclusion

The fact that pregnant women can eat tangerines is not in doubt. If the state of health and individual characteristics of the body allow, they must be included in the diet. Citrus fruits become a valuable source of vitamins and minerals for mother and fetus. However, their excessive use can negatively affect a woman’s well-being and harm the unborn child, so certain rules and restrictions must be followed.