Apricots in pregnancy: benefits and harms

The diet of any woman who is preparing to become a mother, should be not only balanced, but also safe. But it is during this period that pregnant women have different gastronomic "whims": some crave salty foods, and others crazily want sweets. Of course, there is no arguing about tastes, but all women in a delicate situation should pay attention to dried fruits, particularly apricots.

Naturally dried slices of apricot fruits in the sun is a valuable natural product. During pregnancy apricots can become a safe source of vitamins and minerals, which the mother's body and the developing fetus need in this special time. We will tell you about the advantages and disadvantages of the "sunny" berry, consider options for its use during pregnancy.

Can I eat apricots during pregnancy

For a long time, dried apricots for pregnant women were on the forbidden list. And this attitude of doctors and nutritionists explained by the high content of carbohydrates in the product. But, thanks to a thorough study, scientists proved that apricots are still more useful than harmful. The natural nature of the origin combined with a pleasant sweet taste makes the dehydrated fruit an excellent alternative to store-bought sweets. Therefore, in the absence of contraindications and a normal course of pregnancy, future mothers with the permission of the doctor can supplement the daily diet with this type of dried fruit.

The uniqueness of apricots is that its composition concentrates almost all the elements that are necessary for human health. Given the fact that with the onset of pregnancy the mother's body begins to experience a huge deficit in many indicators, the presence of dried fruits in the diet will help to compensate their lack.

In the 1st trimester

The first three months from conception is the most important period in the development of the fetus. Barely conceived life needs support, and dried apricots contain everything necessary for the formation of the skeleton, muscle tissues, other organs and systems of the fetus. After all, apricots are considered a record-breaker in potassium content, which regulates the water-salt balance, and dietary fiber will help women to cope with such a delicate problem as constipation.

A fruit treat in the early stages is the best way to combat nausea and heartburn. There are many vitamins in dried fruit, which is also of high value. Tocopherol or vitamin E is especially important for a normal course of pregnancy, the lack of which can lead to miscarriage and even abnormalities in the development of the child.

There are a lot of antioxidants in apricots, which provide purification of the body from toxic products.

In the 2nd trimester

If after the first three months of pregnancy toxemia disappears from the list of major problems, heartburn will immediately take its place. Compote with apricots or tea with a few pieces of dried fruit will help to get rid of this unpleasant symptom.

By the end of the second trimester edema and mood swings become apparent. The majority of expectant mothers notice a deterioration in the condition of the nails, and in many people the hair begins to fall out intensively.

But the most serious losses are in the teeth. After all, the body of the pregnant woman tries to use the available resources to maintain the new life. Therefore, all stores of minerals and vitamins through the placenta are sent to the fetus.

Correct the situation will help the same apricots. By including in your diet nutritious drinks and light meals will be able to make up for the deficit in a short time. A compote of dried fruits will help to get rid of edema, as apricots have a pronounced diuretic property.

In the 3rd trimester

In the last three months of pregnancy, the most abnormalities are noted in the emotional state of the expectant mother. Mood swings, tearfulness, feelings of inexplicable anxiety are supplemented by sleep disorders. Some women in the late term have a "herculean" appetite, they begin to gain weight intensively. Ironically, apricots are able to balance the emotional background, as well as to normalize the state of the nervous system and moderate appetite.

Another problem of the last three months of pregnancy is edema and blood pressure fluctuations. However, all of these factors are closely linked, so their elimination is usually addressed comprehensively. But in this case, apricots can make a significant contribution, because the product has a diuretic and hypotensive effect.

We must not forget that the process of childbirth is accompanied by a lot of blood loss, and dried apricot fruits have a lot of iron.

As we can see, apricots with a reasonable use of its useful potential can become a real friend and helper for the future mother for the entire period of pregnancy. It is only necessary to remember the allowable rates and other rules of consumption of the product.

How to properly use apricots

The sweet delicacy will bring maximum benefit only if the pregnant woman will use it correctly. Therefore, it is necessary to remember a few simple rules:

Competent choice of the product
Quality dried fruits are supplied to the market in Turkey. When choosing dried fruits, you should pay attention to large copies of dark yellow or brown color with a matte surface. The fruit should not show signs of rot and mildew.

Pretreatment
This procedure is necessary to remove dust, debris and all kinds of pests in the form of small insects. It is enough to soak dried apricot slices in warm water for 15-20 minutes to clean them of unwanted impurities and chemical preservatives. After soaking, you need to drain the dirty water and rinse the fruit again under running water.

Control of diet
Do not forget about the norms and rules of cooking, if it is intended to add apricots to them.

Options for use
Here the choice is more free, because dried apricots, after careful processing, can be consumed pure or combined with the following dishes:

• yogurt;
• cottage cheese;
• muesli;
• porridges;
• fruit salads.

apricots are perfectly combined with chicken and beef, very tasty baked goods with the addition of dried fruits. At signs of colds and severe fatigue, you can add a couple of pieces of apricots to tea. Decoction with apricots is an excellent remedy for food poisoning and constipation, and an aqueous infusion of dried fruit quickly copes with edema.

How much you can eat per day

Of course, the maximum benefit for the body will give the use of a raw product, because even the minimum heat treatment deprives the product of some of the useful components. But at the same time you should not be too fond of dried fruits, you should not replace apricots with other products that are necessary for the body. The optimal daily portion for pregnant women is 100 grams. This is about a handful of pure product. If you exceed the specified norm, adverse reactions are inevitable. But the daily portion of the treat can be divided into two meals.

Is it possible to eat at night and on an empty stomach?

Apricots are a self-sufficient product. Therefore, it can be consumed on an empty stomach. By the way, this method of use during pregnancy will get rid of morning bouts of nausea, and on the later terms will help to cope with the indomitable appetite. Just a few halves of dried apricots will dull your hunger for a while. Therefore, dried fruits are ideal for a quick but nutritious snack. Dried apricots take quite a long time to digest by the digestive system, although they are well digested. Therefore, pregnant women can eat a few slices before going to bed. Evening intake is all the more useful, given that the composition of the product contains components that soothe and relieve stress. But to complete a plentiful meal with apricots is not allowed, it is better to enjoy the taste of a natural treat in between meals.

Important: To combat constipation, it is useful to eat a few slices of fresh apricots at night. During the night's rest, the product will be processed and intestinal motility will improve.

Do I need to wash them before eating them?

Eating unprocessed foods is extremely dangerous, especially for pregnant women. The only case when you can allow the use of unwashed apricots in food is when eating home-dried apricot fruits. If the technique of moisture removal is strictly followed and the finished dried fruit is properly stored, you can eat the fruit treat without pre-treatment with water. But if the product is bought at the market or in a store, such apricots must necessarily be soaked and then rinsed. This will remove sulfur dioxide, a chemical compound, high concentrations of which can cause birth defects in the fetus. Manufacturers use this composition for the preservation of perishable goods. Often, to give dried fruit an attractive marketable appearance, it is dyed. Therefore, washing apricots is still a mandatory procedure that will ensure the safety of the food product.

Note: apricots should be stored in a dry place and closed containers. Under these conditions, the product will be suitable for consumption within a year.

The benefits of apricots during pregnancy

Dried seedless apricots are a miniature pantry, in which there are several dozens of useful for the health of future mothers and fetus individual substances and complex compounds. It is important that in the process of drying the fruit does not lose with water some of its composition. On the contrary, after dehydration in many positions, the concentration of substances increases. Let us list the main active components:

1. Potassium. A daily portion of apricots is able to satisfy 50% of the body's need for this element. Potassium is responsible not only for the water-salt balance, it supports the normal functioning of the heart and muscles. With a lack of potassium, pregnant women often experience muscle cramps. Deficiency of this element may lead to miscarriage.
2. Iodine is necessary for normal functioning of the thyroid gland.
3. Magnesium in tandem with potassium and vitamin D promotes the absorption of calcium, which is necessary for the formation of the fetal bone skeleton. In addition, magnesium relaxes the uterine muscles, which reduces the risk of miscarriage and premature birth.
4. Silicon regulates blood clotting and takes part in the formation of cartilage and nervous system of the baby.
5. Iron is also an important participant in the processes of hematopoiesis: this element is responsible for the formation of red blood cells, which supply oxygen to the developing fetus. Lack of iron in the expectant mother causes anemia, and in the fetus - hypoxia. This is a very dangerous condition that can lead to the intrauterine death of the fetus.
6. Beta-carotene is considered a powerful antioxidant. This compound is subsequently converted into retinol, that is, vitamin A. Beta-carotene has the ability to neutralize the harmful effects of free radicals.
7. Vitamin B1 (thiamine) maintains the normal state of the nervous system of the mother and unborn child.
8. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is a stimulant of the immune system.
9. Vitamin E in early pregnancy is essential to reduce the likelihood of miscarriage. This substance is involved in the formation of the respiratory and vascular system of the fetus, stimulates the production of the hormone cortisone, supports normal skin condition, which is important for every woman.
10. Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) stimulates tissue regeneration, is involved in the formation of bone and muscle tissues of the fetus, increases immune resistance.
11. Pectins are useful in that they bind salts of heavy metals and provide their removal from the body.
12. Fructose and sucrose form the taste of dried fruit without increasing insulin levels. These natural sugars are well absorbed by the body.
13. Fiber, which is also rich in apricots, improves intestinal peristalsis, helping pregnant women to establish regular stools.

Such a diverse composition of dried apricots during pregnancy, if used rationally, will be a reliable support for the woman herself and the future child. But at such a tremendous benefit a serious disadvantage is a rather high caloric content of the product - 240-250 units in 100 grams of dried fruit. Moreover, taking into account that apricots have practically no fat and only 3 g of protein, carbohydrates account for most of the composition. So it is not worth it to get carried away with this delicacy.

Is the apricot compote useful?

Regarding the useful properties of such a popular drink as compote, the debate has not subsided for several decades. Doctors consider the dried fruit compote purely a culinary dish, although they do not deny some therapeutic effects. Nutritionists argue that apricot compote promotes good digestion and improves metabolism. But if you combine the opinions of experts, you get quite a positive characteristic. Indeed, apricot compote has a pleasant taste. In summer, it quenches thirst in the sweltering weather, and in winter it replenishes the supply of vitamins. This drink is very useful for pregnant women in the position, suffering from constant constipation. But it must be properly prepared.

A classic recipe for compote
For 1 liter of water you will need to take the following components:

• sugar - 20-30 grams;
• apricots - 50 g;
• Prunes - 60 grams.

Sequence of actions:

1. First of all, soak dried fruits for a quarter of an hour in warm water, but not boiling water.
2. Then rinse, again pour cold water.
3. Put a container on the fire, bring to a boil.
4. When the water begins to boil, turn down the heat to minimum and simmer dried fruit for another 10 minutes.
5. Let the compote infuse for an hour, and then you can drink it.

Recipe for compote with raisins
In fact, this is also one of the variants of the classic recipe. In general, dried apricots and raisins always sound good in one fruit duet. The drink is refreshing and can be topped with a slice of lemon or a mint leaf. But what makes this drink different is that it does not need to be boiled. But everything in order.

For 1 liter of water will require:

• raisins, apricots - 90 grams each;
• Lemon - 1 slice.

How to cook:

1. Pour the washed dried fruits in a thermos.
2. Pour boiling water, cover tightly.
3. Several times the vessel shake, and then leave for the night to insist.
4. In the morning you can drink.

Such a variant of cooking allows the maximum preservation of the valuable composition of dried fruit. By the way, berries can also be consumed as a light fruit dessert.

A dried apricot for constipation during pregnancy

To solve the problem of constipation during pregnancy will help apricots in pure form, but you can prepare a compote according to the following recipe:

1. Take 0.2 kg of apricots and 250 g of prunes.
2. Fill dried fruits with hot, but not boiled water.
3. After 20 minutes, drain the water, rinse the fruit.
4. Place the fruit mass in a saucepan, add 2 liters of water.
5. Make the composition for 10 minutes on low heat.
6. To drink effectively, insist at least 1.5 hours.

With a tendency to constipation expectant mother should drink at night 100-150 ml of laxative decoction. To improve the taste, you can add a slice of lemon and honey to the drink.

Fruit mixture

This recipe will also help to regulate the stool. But, in addition to the directed action, this remedy is also characterized by a pleasant taste and high nutritional value. You will need to take figs, apricots, prunes (each type of dried fruit by 200 grams). The mixture should be soaked beforehand, then washed to remove harmful substances and debris. When the fruits are dry, pass them through a meat grinder. In the finished product, add honey. Take the medicine before going to bed with 1 tbsp, drinking plenty of water.

Dried apricots from swelling during pregnancy

Almost all dried fruits have a moderate diuretic effect. Therefore, they are quite suitable as a natural remedy for the problem of edema, which most often complicates the course of pregnancy in the second half of the term. For this purpose, you can prepare two versions of the drink: a compote and an infusion. It should be understood that these are two completely different products, so the preparation process will be different.

Recipe for an infusion from swelling

1. A handful of apricots pour hot water (1 l).
2. Cover the container with a lid.
3. Insist for 2-3 hours, but you can leave it for the whole night.
4. Before using the berries rubbed through a sieve.

We get a juice with pulp, which should be drunk during the day. A drink prepared in this way in the early term will help to cope with the symptoms of toxicosis.

In addition to drinks, apricots will have a diuretic effect, if you add them to a light fruit salad. Berries can be consumed in a monoversion, drinking such a snack with a glass of plain clean water.

How to drink compote properly

Since a concentrated infusion, like decoction, which is called in common parlance compote, has a certain therapeutic effect, you need to be aware of the rules of consumption of such a drink.

1. In order that the fight against constipation or edema does not turn into another problem, the future mother when consuming the drink from apricots should check the sugar level. If the figures will be higher than normal, the drink should be limited or discontinued.
2. Sugar or honey is better for future moms to add on the minimum because of the risk of increased blood glucose levels. Berries already have a lot of fructose.
3. It is not recommended to add to the drink components that can cause allergies.
4. You need to drink the compote fresh, so you should not prepare a large portion of the drink.

Note: Pregnant women need to be sure to monitor the volume of fluids you drink. It is also not allowed to overuse compote, as it may aggravate edema.

Can apricots harm the future mother?

Undoubtedly, apricots are a very valuable and nutritious product. But a woman during pregnancy should be selective when drawing up a nutrition program. Any product that can harm the future child should not appear in her diet. The complex composition of apricots includes some components that may adversely affect the woman herself and the fetus. Therefore, the absolute contraindications to use during pregnancy, regardless of the term, are the following conditions:

1. Hypotension or hypotension. This condition is characterized by consistently low blood pressure. If in normal life hypotension does not give much discomfort, then during pregnancy a woman feels weakness, dizziness. apricot can only worsen the condition, because it has a pronounced hypotensive property.
2. Tendency to allergic manifestations. If you are individually intolerant to the product, you should not even try to introduce it in your diet, especially during pregnancy. But even those women who used to consume dried apricots can have rashes, itching and other allergic reactions. Therefore, when the above signs appear, the future mother should immediately stop eating dried fruits in any form.
3. Bronchial asthma. Sugary sweet taste of dried apricots in some women causes a feeling of farting. If there is a history of bronchial asthma, this side effect can provoke an attack.
4. The high content of dietary fiber in the product promotes the softening of stools, which may cause diarrhea.
5. Also on the list of absolute contraindications are diabetes and obesity of any degree.
6. Sugar-rich product, especially if it is consumed without measure, will only contribute to weight gain, which can complicate the course of pregnancy.

Note: Some women during pregnancy force themselves to eat foods they don't like just because they are healthy. But from the violence on themselves will be of little use. A worthy alternative to apricots in terms of calcium content will be almonds, and potassium and magnesium - greens and vegetables.

Conclusion
It is not difficult to conclude that apricots, if used rationally, will not only decorate the diet of the future mother, but also help her to cope with the problems of this period. The natural product is saturated with vitamins and minerals, that is, everything that is necessary for the development of the baby and the health of the woman herself. apricots are a universal product, they can be used as a snack and added to other dishes. A compote of dried fruits is considered one of the most effective diuretics. Using the drink in combination with medicines will help to relieve intoxication, remove toxins from the body and in general ease the condition of the woman at any stage of pregnancy.