Content
Currant is the leading berry in terms of ascorbic acid content. It is also rich in natural pectins and organic acids. The composition of the mineral complex makes the fruits of this shrub useful and in demand for anemia and vitamin deficiencies. During pregnancy, black currant can become a source of essential calcium, as well as strengthen the immune system and help improve blood counts.
Can pregnant women eat black and red currants?
Pregnancy is a state of a woman’s body when any food product can have noticeable effects. The benefits or harms of currants during pregnancy are talked about, implying the influence of the components of the composition.
During the period when the female body is being rebuilt, using all resources in order to bear a healthy child, it is necessary to properly plan the diet, include all kinds of useful elements rich in vitamins and minerals.
This group of products includes a variety of berries. Each of the varieties may be contraindicated when diagnosing specific diseases in pregnant women.If there are no contraindications, then the benefits of blackcurrant for a pregnant woman become undeniable. Currants act as a general tonic and are a natural complex of vitamins and minerals.
What are the benefits of black and red currants for pregnant women?
Black currant contains vitamin C, B vitamins, and provitamin A, which is necessary for pregnant women. Sugars in currants are glucose and fructose. The composition is supplemented with glycosides, organic acids, flavonoids, and natural pectins. Among the mineral composition, the content of potassium and calcium is increased. In addition, the berry contains essential oils, which give the fruits and leaves a recognizable aroma. The black variety is recommended for pregnant women in the absence of contraindications as a product with multidirectional effects:
- For general strengthening of the immune system. Ascorbic acid, as the main element of the composition, helps prevent the development of viral infections.
- For saturation with various types of vitamins. The complex of components is diverse: calcium, potassium, and magnesium are needed to strengthen bones; iron, phosphorus, and magnesium are useful to improve blood counts.
- To normalize the digestive system. The tanning components of black currant help relieve flatulence and bloating.
- To normalize blood pressure. This property of black currant is considered especially important during late pregnancy.
- To improve blood counts, improve brain activity. The components of the composition influence the condition of blood vessels, prevent their fragility, increasing elasticity.
The red variety is also rich in vitamins and minerals.In addition, it contains vitamin E, among minerals the content of potassium, calcium, and phosphorus is increased. Red currant, in the absence of contraindications, is especially useful in the early stages of pregnancy; it contains slightly less ascorbic acid than black currant, but has an increased content of vitamins PP and vitamin A, which is especially important for women with a short term.
Fruits, when taken in doses and regularly, can be a prophylactic agent that prevents anemia and fetal hypoxia during pregnancy. Red currant juice helps reduce discomfort during pregnancy toxicosis; take it 1 tsp. after meals every day.
In what form is it better to eat currants during pregnancy?
Black and red varieties are rich in natural pectin. This is a substance that helps thicken jellies, preserves, and jams. Currants are used to make wonderful sweet and sour jam, which can be stored for several years if the following technological techniques are followed.
Canned products have unique tastes and aromas, but the benefits of blackcurrant preparations for pregnant women are significantly reduced. After heat treatment and adding sugar, the berries lose more than a third of their beneficial properties. Jams and jams with high sugar content can significantly change blood counts and increase blood sugar markers.
Nutritionists and gastroenterologists recommend that pregnant women eat fresh fruits. A good option is to add compotes with low sugar content to a pregnant woman’s diet, as well as freshly prepared fruit drinks or jelly.
One option is to use mousses or jellies during pregnancy.Jelly made from freshly picked fruits is especially beneficial due to its natural pectin and antioxidant content. This delicious dessert does not contain much sweetener and is also a great addition to the main menu.
The diet of pregnant women should be balanced. During pregnancy, black berries can be useful in compotes or assorted fruit drinks using other berries that improve the taste of drinks.
How many fresh currants per day can a pregnant woman
If we talk about the benefits of currants for pregnant women, then you need to take into account the frequency and volume of what you eat. Regular consumption of berries leads to overall strengthening of the body, increased defenses, decreased anxiety, and improved mood.
It is recommended to consume no more than 20 - 30 berries daily. This amount is enough to satisfy the daily requirement for ascorbic acid. It is important to choose undamaged fruits, without punctures, cracks, or dry areas. The berry should not be overripe, otherwise some of the beneficial properties will be lost.
Precautions and contraindications
Black currant during pregnancy is a source of vitamins, essential minerals, antioxidants, and organic acids. Due to the high content of vitamin C, its fruits have a sour taste, which is characteristic of both black and red currants. The acids contained in berries can have negative effects when diagnosing stomach diseases during pregnancy.
- This applies to pregnant women who had bowel problems before pregnancy.Citric, ascorbic, and malic acids can irritate the inflamed walls of the stomach with gastritis, ulcers, and cholecystitis. These phenomena often provoke intense production of gastric juice, which, in turn, leads to heartburn. In more complex cases, spasms of the gastric walls occur. Therefore, the consumption of currants during pregnancy is minimized if the normal activity of the gastrointestinal tract is disrupted;
- Currants during pregnancy in the third trimester can have a negative effect if the expectant mother suffers from constipation. At this stage of pregnancy, constipation becomes common. The fetus disrupts the normal structure of organs and creates pressure where there should not be any. In case of systematic constipation in the later stages, currants are excluded from the diet. The berry has a fixing property and is excellent for diarrhea, but is contraindicated for constipation;
- A contraindication to taking blackcurrant during pregnancy may be thrombophlebitis, as well as increased blood clotting. Berries contain unique elements that affect blood counts, the number of blood cells, and help activate blood flow. This property of black currant may become undesirable during pregnancy during the 2nd trimester. The processes occurring in the body of a pregnant woman are often a reaction to familiar things. Activation of blood flow with a slow response of the entire hematopoietic system leads to the appearance of thrombophlebitis, varicose veins, and vascular problems in the second half of pregnancy.
Conclusion
Black currant during pregnancy is recommended for women who have no contraindications.Berries are a real storehouse of vitamins and essential minerals that contribute to the proper intrauterine development of the child. Micro- and macroelements are necessary for the formation of the musculoskeletal system; ascorbic and folic acids, which are contained in red and black varieties of berries, help the mother’s body fight viruses and infections.
