Apples in pregnancy: the benefits and harms

While waiting for the baby, expectant mothers are interested in the benefits and harms of each product that is included in the diet, because the health of the child depends on it. Most often, questions about the possibility of using during pregnancy relate to sweets, baked goods, various pickles and pickles, a number of fresh vegetables that can provoke an allergic reaction. In the same list are fruits, even the most seemingly innocuous apples are sometimes questionable. Currently, there are about 10 thousand varieties of this fruit, which differ from each other in external characteristics, as well as in taste.

So, in this article we will talk about the benefits and possible contraindications for the consumption of apples during pregnancy.

The composition of apples

Regardless of the variety, taste and external characteristics, the apple is considered a useful and quite tasty food product. Almost 80% of the fruit consists of chemically active water. The remaining 20% is taken up by organic acids and enzymes. In addition, 1% are vegetable fats and protein compounds. It is because of the low content of the last two components of this product is included in various diets.

The apple pulp contains a range of vitamins and minerals. So, there is ascorbic acid, thiamine, tocopherol, vitamins F, H, K. All these valuable substances have different functions in the human body. They can improve the appearance by nourishing the skin. In addition, these components help to prevent dangerous diseases such as thrombophlebitis, cancer, etc.

Of the minerals we should mention iron, which plays an important role in the transport of oxygen through the body and the prevention of anemia.

Biologically active substances that take part in the synthesis of hormones and enzymes have also been found. These include phytonutrients, flavonoids, tannins and anthocyanins, which are contained in the skin of the fruit.

Useful properties of apples

Experts recommend including apples in the daily diet of a pregnant woman. However, in order to prevent future development of allergies in the baby, red varieties should be eaten with caution. So, you should familiarize yourself with the so-called rule of allergic exposure to a certain product, taking into account its color: the redder the fruit or vegetable, the higher the likelihood of allergy. That is, the red color indicates that the product is characterized by a strong allergenicity, with yellow fruits this indicator is 50%. As for the green fruits, the possibility of allergy is reduced to zero.

This does not mean that red apples should be completely excluded from the diet. You only need to limit their use and, if possible, remove the rind, because it is there that a lot of pigment is concentrated.

1. Apple tree fruits regulate intestinal peristalsis, preventing the occurrence of constipation, retention of food in the lumen of the digestive tract.
2. It should also be noted that apples are considered an excellent antitoxin. They provide removal of toxic substances from the body and help to recover from poisoning.
3. In addition, this fruit affects the rate of acetylcholine, which is involved in the processes occurring in the brain, namely improving memory and concentration.
4. Due to the high concentration of flavonoids, apples are characterized by anti-inflammatory effects.
5. Green varieties of apples help reduce blood cholesterol levels. This is due to the high content of ascorbic acid, which stabilizes this index, as well as the amount of fatty acids in the body.
6. It is also known to have a positive effect on the organs of vision. Phytonutrients in the composition of apple peel prevent premature aging of the retina, improve the function of the lens and prevent the occurrence of inflammation within the eye. These components are the basis of some medications that are used to treat keratitis.

Can I Eat Apples During Pregnancy

Most experts recommend women in the position of pregnancy to eat several apples a day, because this type of product is characterized by high nutritional value and has a lot of other positive characteristics that facilitate the pregnancy.

Everyone knows that expectant mothers should not consume sweets, because they contain many harmful carbohydrates. In this case, various candies and cakes can be replaced by fruit salads based on apples.

Such fruits contain pectin, which can remove toxins from the body. In addition, the apple stimulates the production of gastric juice, which improves intestinal peristalsis. Acids found in the fruit strengthen the blood vessels. Fiber in the product is necessary for the proper activity of the gastrointestinal tract.

In the early term

The introduction of apples into the diet of a pregnant woman in the first trimester can have a beneficial effect only if she is not allergic to this product and there are no contraindications to their use. During this period apples can be eaten fresh. In addition, they can be baked, cooked on their basis compotes and jams. It is important to remember that the fruit should not be overeating. For example, you can eat about 600-700 grams per day, because otherwise you will damage your body instead of benefits.

In the second trimester

In the second trimester, it is also useful to include apples in the menu. This is explained by the fact that such a fruit is an excellent prevention of avitaminosis and the development of iron deficiency anemia. Moreover, the apple is characterized by a low caloric content, therefore their consumption will not affect the girl's weight.

In the third trimester

In the late stage of fetal delivery, pregnant girls often face edema and heartburn. In such cases, it is recommended to eat apples, because they help to eliminate excess fluid from the body without harming your health. In addition, they reduce the likelihood of toxicosis and help to cope with heartburn.

How to consume apples correctly

In order for apples to benefit a woman's body while she is expecting a baby, it is important that they are homemade. Store fruit is usually treated with special chemicals to extend its shelf life. However, these components can have a negative impact on the body of the expectant mother. For this reason, store-bought apples should be thoroughly washed several times.

You can eat both fresh and baked fruits. In these apples is also preserved a lot of useful substances.

It is recommended to remove the skin from the fruit, as it can lead to colic and bloating of the stomach. Often these unpleasant symptoms occur when apples are not in season.

Pregnant women are advised to drink freshly prepared apple juice. It contains a lot of vitamins. In addition, such a drink perfectly quenches thirst. From the factory production is better to give up, because it has no useful substances, instead it is concentrated a lot of preservatives, stabilizers, dyes and aromatic components.

You should not eat a lot of apples, otherwise it will lead to diarrhea and other unpleasant consequences.

You should rinse your mouth after eating apple fruit. This is because they contain high levels of sugar, which can provoke the development of tooth decay.

It is not recommended to wash down fresh apples with fermented dairy products or water, or to eat them together with bread and other flour products. This is dangerous with the occurrence of increased gas.

How much you can eat a day

During pregnancy, a woman can eat no more than four apples a day. If this amount is exceeded, there is a high probability of diarrhea.

Can I eat apples at night and on an empty stomach?

You should eat apples half an hour before a meal. Otherwise, the body will not get any benefit from such a product. Immediately after a meal, the fruit should also not be eaten, because they quickly pass through the stomach and linger in the intestines. Thus, if you eat an apple right after a meal, it will linger in the digestive tract, where it will be affected by enzymes, as a result of which such food will begin to ferment, losing its valuable qualities.

It is also important to consider that these fruits stimulate the appetite. Therefore, in order not to lose control, you need to watch yourself.

Surely everyone knows that the consumption of food before going to bed has a negative impact on the quality of sleep, in particular this applies to fatty, spicy and heavy dishes. However, there is one product that, on the contrary, provides the production of minerals and vitamins responsible for sound sleep. We are talking about the green apple. If you eat one such fruit at night, you can get rid of hunger, and no harm will be done to your figure.

In apples are found vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are responsible for a healthy sleep.

Is it possible to eat apple seeds

Apple seeds also have beneficial properties.

1. The main benefit of eating the seeds of this fruit is the presence of vitamin B17. Scientists say that this substance helps to slow the growth of cancer cells. Specialists in the field of oncology advise eating the seeds of the fruit when there is a suspicion of a tumor.
2. Such a substance as letril reduces fatigue.
3. Another valuable property of apple seeds is that with their help you can make up for the lack of iodine in the body. If this mineral is lacking, the pregnant woman has headaches, decreases appetite, worsens her mood and memory. The person's general condition goes downhill.
4. Potassium is necessary for the cardiovascular system. This substance normalizes blood pressure, feeds the brain with oxygen, reduces the load on the heart, and cleans the blood vessels.
5. Apple seeds are widely used in cosmetology. This is due to the fact that the components of such a product help to effectively fight wrinkles.

The norm for a healthy adult is considered to be 5-6 grains per day.

It is not necessary to eat the whole fruit. You can simply cut it into two parts and extract the seeds. The collected kernels can be ground to a powder and taken as a dietary supplement, mixed with honey, kefir, porridge and yogurt. It is also allowed to use in pure form. A teaspoon-sized portion is consumed.

Despite the fact that such seeds contain a lot of iodine, which is necessary for the expectant mother, the body of a woman in the position in some cases does not react very well to such a product. The seeds can cause severe toxicosis, worsen the well-being of women and lead to headaches.

The benefits of apples during pregnancy

The fact that the apple is a useful fruit is known to many. After all, it contains organic acids, tannins, fiber, pectin and a number of vitamins. At the same acids help to strengthen the walls of blood vessels. Magnesium, phosphorus, sulfur, iron and potassium are necessary for the normal functioning of the body as a whole. Fiber in the product ensures normal metabolism, and pectin removes toxic elements.

When eating apples there is an active secretion of gastric juice. For this reason, they should be eaten 20-30 minutes before a meal.

As for the baked fruits, they improve intestinal peristalsis and eliminate constipation. It should be noted that baked apples are a tasty dietary product, which is very important during pregnancy, because it is quite easy to gain extra pounds in this position.

When pregnant women consume apples, it is possible to prevent attacks of bronchial asthma and allergies.

In addition, apples can provide the body of the future mother with all the necessary vitamins and mineral compounds, making up for their shortage even in the winter season.

What apples are more useful for pregnancy?

It is quite a common opinion that pregnant women are better to eat green apples. To some extent, this is true, because such fruits reduce the likelihood of allergies in a girl. In addition, green fruits are high in ascorbic acid and iron, which prevent the occurrence of anemia and improve digestion.

At the same time, experts advise eating fruits that are safe and grow in the area where the future mother resides. Such a product will not cause allergies and will reduce the risk of poisoning. As for imported products, these fruits are often treated with various chemicals to preserve their marketable appearance during transportation.

Green

Green apples are considered the most useful, because they contain less sugar and more iron. In addition, this kind of fruit does not lead to allergies, and the presence of acidity helps to eliminate morning sickness.

It should be noted that one green apple contains a lot of valuable trace elements and vitamins, which are necessary for the normal functioning of the entire body.

Another feature of such fruits is that they can be stored well in winter, so you can get vitamins all year round.

Apple fruits of green varieties help to strengthen the immune system, in addition, they are effective in the fight against obesity. Being natural fat burners, they provide muscle mass gain.

Such a product helps to relieve nervous tension and helps to cope with constipation. One apple kernel contains the daily requirement of iodine.

Red

Red varieties of apples are also useful for future mothers. They have a rich chemical composition. During pregnancy, they are not often used because of the presence of red pigment, which often provokes an allergic reaction. Such fruits can be introduced into the diet of a woman. However, in the last terms of carrying the baby, it is recommended to remove the rind of the fruit. This will protect her from bloating and colic.

What are the benefits of dried apples

If you eat dried apples during pregnancy, you can strengthen your baby's immune system in advance. This will lead to the fact that after birth the baby will have a well-developed immune system. However, it is still important to observe moderation in the consumption of such products.

If a pregnant woman decided to eat dried apples, it is recommended to prepare them yourself, avoiding the purchase of a ready-made product in the store. This will allow you to protect your body from taking unsafe dried fruit, which is unknown how it was prepared and stored. It is also unknown what kind of raw material was used for this. After all, manufacturers often use a variety of flavor enhancers and preservatives in the manufacture of such a delicacy. Such additives can cause negative consequences.

To prepare dried apples with your own hands at home is quite simple. To begin with, you should chop the fruit into slices, no thicker than 1 cm. Next, send the composition to dry. After cooling, the fruit can be used as food. While waiting for the baby, it is allowed to eat no more than 25 g of such raw materials a day.

To promote health, experts advise to brew a useful drink. To do this, in a dish resistant to high temperature, you need to mix 40 g of dried apple slices and the same amount of rose hips. The resulting mass pour three glasses of boiling water. You can use a thermos for this purpose. Take the resulting composition three times a day by 250 ml.

Regular use of dried fruit derived from apples in the future will increase lactation and improve the quality of breast milk. The baby will not have any side effects.

Abuse such a product should not be abused, otherwise it will lead to gaining excess weight.

Benefits of baked apples during pregnancy

If a pregnant girl has heartburn, baked apples in the oven will help. In this form, the fruit contains less vitamin C, which leads to the development of such an ailment during pregnancy. In this case, after heat treatment, the fruit retains all the valuable components.

Baked apples can also help solve the problem of constipation, which also faces the vast majority of girls in the situation. Such a treat speeds up the metabolism without irritating the walls of the digestive tract and without increasing the level of acidity in the stomach.

Apples for constipation during pregnancy

Apple is a valuable product that helps to avoid the use of medications to ensure normal stools. The human digestive system needs a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. In addition, those minerals and vitamins are best absorbed by the body with food, not from medication.

Apples can cause laxative and hardening effects, depending on the variety, method of preparation, and amount eaten.

Apples can restore the normal defecation mechanism. The frequency of emptying is affected by the components contained in the fruit, namely pectin or dietary fiber, converted by bacteria into fatty acids that normally absorb fluid in the large intestine. In addition, such substances help to remove toxic components from the body, restore normal blood circulation. Sorbitol in the composition of such a fruit softens stools, eliminates stagnation.

Cellulose helps to increase the volume of the contents of the large intestine, enveloping the mucous membrane and ensuring painless transport of the feces through the intestine.

An enzyme such as lactulose breaks down food debris and provides an optimal balance of microflora. By the way, this substance is used in the creation of laxatives for children under seven years old.

Useful fruits should be chosen not by their external characteristics, but by their taste and the absence of chemicals used for their processing. It is no secret that shiny red apples are covered with a layer of wax. A wormhole in this case is regarded as a sign of good quality, because the worm cannot "go wrong".

Despite the fact that in fresh apples found a lot of useful elements, in the fight against constipation is still better to use the product in dried or baked form. Such processing reduces the likelihood of increased gas formation as a result of fermentation. Cleansing in this case is painless and soft.

In the baked fruit contains the maximum amount of fiber. The norm in this case is 1-2 apples per day. This helps to protect the body from flatulence and other discomfort. In addition, the baked product eliminates all causes of formation of hemorrhoids.

After heat treatment, the fruit is better absorbed by the body, as there are fewer allergens in such a treat. The product can even be included in children's food.

To prepare a delicious and healthy dessert, it is recommended to mix apples with nuts, cinnamon, various dried fruits. To do this, you will need to first thoroughly rinse and rub the fruit, then cut out the "cover" and remove the core. Next, place the blanks in a baking dish. Fill the central part of them with the filling. After that, cover each fruit with the previously cut out "lid". To cook such a dish in the oven it is enough for 20 minutes.

You can also solve the problem of constipation with dried apples. In this case, dry the raw material in the shade, in a ventilated room. It is also important to take care about protecting the fruit from insects. In this case, you can use netting or gauze.

The laxative properties of apple juice, if you drink it before going to bed in an amount of one glass. Some people prefer to drink such a drink in the morning on an empty stomach. A stronger effect can be achieved by mixing apple juice with plum juice. Such a composition is contraindicated for people suffering from gastritis and ulcers, increased acidity of the stomach.

From the juice based on apples, you can prepare apple cider vinegar. Such a solution is used as a course for cleansing the intestines. In this case, you need to dissolve a large spoonful of vinegar in a glass of water and drink an hour before breakfast.

In what form is better to eat apples during pregnancy

Taking apples during pregnancy is very useful. In order for such a product to be fully digested and not harm the body, it is necessary to observe certain precautions.

To begin with, it is important to remember that you should choose local fruit in season. It has been scientifically proven that apples grown in one's native region usually have a better effect on the blood health of a person living in the same area. It is the fact that the energy of the fruit itself plays a role in the full assimilation of useful substances. In addition, imported varieties are treated with various chemicals to preserve during transport. Such components adversely affect the health of the future child.

You can also eat apples in the form of juice. Such a drink is best made by hand and drunk fresh, pre-diluted with water in a ratio of 2:1. This is necessary for the prevention of gastritis. It is necessary to avoid the consumption of apple juice obtained in industrial conditions, because stabilizers and other chemical additives are added to prolong its shelf life. In addition, during long storage many valuable substances are destroyed.

Baked apples are also useful. At the same time they should not be baked for a long time, because at a temperature above 70 degrees the chemical compounds decay and the fruit loses its valuable characteristics. Therefore, it is best to eat baked fruit slightly underbaked.

If a pregnant woman has problems with teeth or constipation often occur, you can prepare apple puree from fresh fruit. In this case, the product retains the useful components, facilitating the process of grinding the food.

It should be borne in mind that due to the iron in the composition of the apple, the product is quickly subjected to oxidation. Before eating the oxidized part should be cut a few millimeters down from this layer, because oxygen reacts fairly quickly with the iron and penetrates inside the fruit. Fully cut fruit will oxidize in 5-6 hours, even if outwardly there are no changes. Such an apple is better processed, because once oxidized, it can actively attach putrefactive bacteria to itself. And this, in turn, can lead to digestive disorders.

Undoubtedly, the apple is a valuable and delicious product that will help to bear a healthy and strong child. However, it is important to remember about the precautions, consider the possible side effects and some contraindications. Only in this case, the benefits of apples for the body of a pregnant woman will be maximum.

Can apples harm the unborn mother?

Despite the fact that this fruit is very useful for the body, it is still important to remember about some limitations and contraindications while waiting for the baby.

First of all, it is worth noting allergic reactions. In some cases, an intolerance to this fruit develops.

Limit yourself in the intake of apples is necessary in the presence of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, in particular with ulcers.

You should eat apples with caution in case of diabetes. It is important to remember that pregnancy contributes to changes in metabolic processes in the body. During gestation, sugar processing in a woman's body slows down and most often remains in the blood. Consequently, apples can excessively saturate the blood with glucose, which will negatively affect the condition of the future mother, who is diagnosed with diabetes.