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Honeysuckle is not prohibited during pregnancy. But you can eat it only after consulting a doctor. If certain nuances are not taken into account, the berry can be harmful to health.
Is it possible to have honeysuckle during pregnancy?
Honeysuckle is the fruit of a shrub belonging to the Honeysuckle family. The Latin name of the plant is Lonicera. The berries are distinguished by their oblong shape and rich purple color. Honeysuckle has a sweet and sour taste with a slight bitterness. There are about 250 types of berries in nature. Instances that are orange and red in color are considered poisonous. Only purple fruits are eaten.
Consuming honeysuckle during pregnancy helps reduce heart rate
Pregnant women often use the healthy berry to eliminate nausea during toxicosis. In addition, it is considered extremely useful for both the baby and the expectant mother. But not everyone knows that you can eat honeysuckle during pregnancy. If the gestation process is normal and there are no contraindications, the product is not prohibited for use. But this does not mean that it can be consumed in unlimited quantities.You should check with your doctor individually about the possibility of using berries during pregnancy.
The benefits of honeysuckle for pregnant women
Honeysuckle is considered the richest source of biologically active substances. It contains a huge amount of minerals, vitamins, organic and carbonyl compounds. For pregnant women, the product is useful because it contains folic acid and vitamin PP. To get the maximum benefit from the berry, you need to eat it on an empty stomach. Experts say that regular intake of vitamins in the product significantly improves a woman’s health and increases the chances of successfully bearing a child.
Silicon present in the composition has a strengthening effect on bones and cartilage. Organic acids accelerate metabolic processes, which helps control weight gain. In medicine, honeysuckle is often used as an effective diuretic. The beneficial properties of honeysuckle for pregnant women are as follows:
- stimulation of intestinal function;
- removal of waste and toxins from the body;
- strengthening the immune system;
- rejuvenation of the body;
- decrease in pressure;
- elimination of edema by removing excess fluid;
- decrease in hemoglobin;
- reducing the risk of developing varicose veins;
- improved blood circulation;
- normalization of the liver and gall bladder.
One of the common problems during pregnancy is constipation. Due to its fiber and pectin content, honeysuckle helps improve digestion, providing a mild laxative effect. The beneficial components that make up the berry are especially relevant in the first trimester of pregnancy.They have a positive effect on the process of formation of vital organs. At later stages, the product helps get rid of heartburn. This result is achieved due to its choleretic effect.
Thanks to its ascorbic acid content, honeysuckle improves the functioning of the immune system. This helps prevent infection with viral and infectious diseases. During ARVI and colds during pregnancy, the product can be used instead of medications. Its advantage lies in its natural origin. Despite this, the berry has powerful antipyretic properties.
Due to its iron content, the berry is used to prevent anemia.
How to eat honeysuckle during pregnancy
During pregnancy, doctors recommend consuming honeysuckle in strictly limited quantities. The daily dosage is 30 g. It is believed that fresh berries contain more useful substances than frozen ones. Therefore, it is advisable to eat it from May to June.
In cooking, the product is often used to prepare refreshing drinks and various desserts. Compotes, teas and infusions based on berries help to quickly cope with swelling and quench thirst. Among the desserts made from honeysuckle are jam and berry jelly. Fresh fruits can simply be ground with sugar. They are preserved for the winter to preserve their beneficial properties for a long time.
For medicinal purposes, the product is used in the form of a decoction. A handful of berries are poured with hot water and left for four hours.
The resulting product is taken orally and used for rinsing.
Oral intake during pregnancy helps with headaches and indigestion.Gargling is practiced for sore throat. The external method of using the decoction is relevant for skin diseases. It has an antiseptic effect and accelerates the healing process of soft tissues.
Contraindications and precautions
Pregnant women should take special care when consuming honeysuckle. In excessive amounts, it can cause indigestion, cramps, skin rashes or abdominal pain. Its contraindications during pregnancy include:
- low pressure;
- allergic reaction;
- period of exacerbation of gastritis and peptic ulcer;
- pathologies of the kidneys and liver.
Honeysuckle can be consumed during late pregnancy only if there are no changes in blood pressure. Otherwise, using the berry will worsen the woman’s well-being. In the form of jam, the product should not be consumed by persons with diabetes mellitus and those with prerequisites for gaining excess weight.
Conclusion
Honeysuckle during pregnancy can be both harmful and beneficial. It all depends on how well the rules for its use are followed. In small quantities, it only has a beneficial effect on the course of pregnancy.
