Beet in pregnancy: benefits and harms

In the diet of expectant mothers must be present vegetables and fruits. They contain enough vitamins, macro- and micronutrients that are necessary for the improvement of the condition of the woman and the proper development of the fetus. One of these products is considered a beet or borage. This maroon root vegetable helps to cope with many ailments during the period of carrying a baby, so the statement that the future mother should give up borage is incorrect. In this article, let's find out who will have to limit the amount or give up the vegetable altogether, and who can eat it daily.

Composition

The benefits of beet product is explained by the composition. The vegetable replenishes the body of a pregnant woman with fiber, minerals and vitamins, and most importantly - satiates it. Beets are low-calorie, so you do not have to worry about extra pounds. Many people think that the burgundy root vegetable is useful only in raw form, but not in boiled or baked form. This is a wrong judgment. Thermal processing can reduce the presence of important nutrients in the vegetable, but the nutritional properties and benefits do not suffer from this.

The stew, boil, bake, pickle, etc. It can be used to prepare a wide variety of dishes that will be beneficial to human health, and even more so for the future mother and her baby. For example, the well-known vinaigrette. In it, in addition to beets, there are other vegetables, which will also bring only benefits to a woman in an interesting position.

Let's consider the composition of the burgundy root vegetable and find out what is the reason for its popularity. Of the vitamins, we should highlight the B group, vitamins C, E, PP and others. In beets are present:

• pectins;
• amino acids;
• glucose;
• fiber;
• fructose, etc.

Minerals in the burgundy rootstock include:

• iron;
• phosphorus;
• iodine;
• potassium;
• magnesium;
• copper;
• zinc;
• manganese, etc.

Undoubtedly, these substances will benefit not only the woman who is expecting a child, but also her unborn child. And it is useful to take burgundy vegetable at all stages of pregnancy.

If we talk about the caloric content of the product, then there are only 40 kcal per 100 g. In beets there is no fat, but there are proteins and carbohydrates. This allows you to consume the vegetable without fear of gaining extra pounds, and in some cases - even lose weight. Sometimes experts in the late stages of pregnancy advise expectant mothers to reduce weight, so as not to complicate childbirth.

Main properties:

• perfectly cleanses the intestines;
• Helps to cope with constipation;
• relieves swelling;
• Improves the immune system;
• normalizes bowel activity;
• Due to magnesium has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system;
• Prevents the emergence of anemia;
• Has a diuretic effect, etc.

This is not a complete list of useful properties of the fruit from the garden.

I would also like to draw your attention to the fact that borage can relieve depression. And this is very important for pregnant ladies, because they often have mood swings.

Can I eat beets during pregnancy?

Due to its composition, beets will benefit not only the health of the pregnant woman herself, but also the fetus. It is not only possible, but also necessary to include it in the daily diet.

The early term

Mommy-to-be, especially at the beginning of the term, is constantly tired, feeling a loss of strength. She needs to replenish the lack of nutrients in the body to cheer up and normalize her well-being. It is beets that will be able to change the situation and improve it. The root vegetable is considered to be an excellent energizer, which can affect the hormonal background and return vitality to the woman in the position. Therefore, it is believed that beets can relieve the future mother from depression and raise her mood.

Due to its composition, the vegetable from the garden activates metabolic processes in the body and has a positive effect on the work of almost all organs.

And for the future child will benefit from the daily use of beets. B9 is folic acid, which is present in the root vegetable. It will get rid of unwanted birth defects. That is why it is recommended to take beet drink or the vegetable itself in any form from the first trimester.

In the late term

Beets will help pregnant women at all stages. Its help will be invaluable in the last terms, when there is active preparation for childbirth. The most common problem of pregnant women in the third trimester is constipation. Beets are a perfect solution to this problem. It will also help to relieve swelling, which is peculiar to pregnant women in the late term. Since not all medications can be taken during pregnancy, we have to look for natural products. Beet can be safely attributed to the category of natural medicines that can solve many health problems of a pregnant woman.

It is known that the red root vegetable helps to normalize blood formation, and this, in turn, reduces the risk of hypoxia in the fetus.

Another argument in favor of the vegetable is its low caloric content. Thanks to this, the pregnant woman will be able to cope with the problems of excess weight, and if necessary - even lose weight. Arrange yourself a day of discharge without compromising your health and the health of the future baby will not be difficult. To do this, observe the following menu:

1. Drink as much water as possible in a day, at least a glass before meals.
2. As a liquid, use rosehip teas, compote of dried fruit, morsels.
3. It is desirable to consume 1 liter of sour milk products per day, such as ryazhenka, kefir, etc.
4. As a basic food, prepare a beet salad or eat it in any form in the amount of 1 kg. It is clear that such an amount at a time is not enough, so you should divide it into several meals.
5. As a supplement to the beets will be good cheese, it will be useful to combine the root vegetable with cottage cheese.
6. Of fruits, apples or grapes will be useful, vegetables - carrots.

Such a discharge day will not give the body "hungry" and will allow you to get rid of extra pounds.

How to eat beets correctly

Not only the beet fruit is useful, but also the beet tops. It contains no less valuable and important elements for the human body. The leaves can be stewed, eaten raw, added to salads or soups.

The root vegetable is also consumed in different forms: baked, raw, boiled, etc. It all depends on the goal to be achieved as a result. For example, to get rid of constipation, it is better to prepare a salad and dress it with oil. And when it is necessary to raise the level of hemoglobin, then beets with sour cream will do.

The best option for a woman in an interesting position is a boiled root vegetable. Boiled product will digest faster and will have a gentle effect on the digestive system. It is not necessary to worry about the fact that during heat treatment beets lose their value. It will reduce a small amount of useful elements, which will not affect its properties. The most delicious version is baked. It also preserves all the substances necessary for health and vitality.

The most useful option is a raw product, but it is worth remembering that not everyone will be able to tolerate it. First, in terms of taste, for someone such a beet will not be suitable. And secondly, eating the root vegetable fresh can cause instant upset stomach in some women. Therefore, before switching to raw vegetables, it is necessary to conduct a test meal.

Beets with garlic.

Beloved by many beet salad with garlic is not recommended for pregnant women. It often provokes uterine tone, which, in turn, can lead to miscarriage. This condition is especially dangerous in the early stage of pregnancy. Yes, and in the final stages of pregnancy, the use of beets with garlic can have a negative impact on the development of the future baby. It is clear that everything is relative and depends on the health of the future mother and her individual characteristics, but is it worth the risk? Therefore, it is recommended to completely exclude such a salad from the diet and replace garlic with other products.

Excellent combines the burgundy vegetable with gooseberries. Of course, such a taste sensation, as from garlic, will not work, but the sourness in the salad will be present. You can combine the beet product with currants, lingonberries, cranberries, etc.

How much you can eat per day

Beets are a versatile vegetable that can rarely cause allergies in anyone. For this reason, it can be consumed in any state. But on the limitations, there is a norm. In order not to cause diarrhea and not to drive the body to dehydration, you should limit the amount of daily intake of borage. It is recommended to take no more than 80-100 g per day. Otherwise, it will cause undesirable consequences and can lead to the threat of losing the baby.

You can eat them at bedtime or on an empty stomach

At night and on an empty stomach, it is not desirable to eat beets. The ideal is to prepare a light salad dressed with oil, and eat it 2-3 hours before going to bed. This way you will not allow your body to "get hungry" and will sleep well until the morning.

But it is not recommended to eat beets on an empty stomach. The vegetable contains acids, such as oxalic acid, which will irritate the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, you should make a light snack and only after that eat beet or drink beet juice.

Another reason why you should not, especially in the morning and on an empty stomach, take a burgundy root vegetable is the presence of fiber included in the product. It will not be able to quickly be processed by a "sleeping" and "hungry" body.

The benefits of beets in pregnancy

The benefits of beets for pregnant women are proven, but this is only if they are not abused. Overeating any vegetable or fruit will not benefit anyone, but will deliver a lot of unpleasant moments.

In ancient times, the root vegetable was used as a medicine, not as food. They treated various ailments, especially when the disease was associated with infectious infections. Even then the beet was found to have antiseptic abilities. The vegetable instantly destroys pathogenic bacteria in the intestines. It was recommended for colds, high blood pressure and frequent headaches.

Today all the possibilities of the burgundy vegetable are known. The most popular use of beets received as a vegetable that eliminates constipation. It is worth noting the fact that the composition of the product is unique and it is difficult, almost impossible, to find a replacement for it in such applications.

Since beets are a low-calorie product with no fat content, it will be effective for cleansing, as well as restoring metabolic processes in the body and digestion.

The vegetable is especially useful for women suffering from hypertension and constipation. If you take 70-100 grams daily in a boiled or raw state, you can forget about health problems.

Boiled beets will relieve the feeling of hunger and prevent pregnant women from gaining excess weight. Another argument in favor of the burgundy vegetable will be that with its help you can raise hemoglobin and improve immunity.

Beets are also suitable for treating colds, especially when the nose is stuffy. It is enough to squeeze the juice of the vegetable and drip it into the nostrils 4 times a day for 3 drops. If your throat hurts, then the gargle with the juice, diluted with water in a ratio of 1:2 will do.

Women in the pregnancy constipation is a common problem. It will help to cope with it not only the use of the product in food, but also microclysters with vegetable juice.

Are boiled beets useful?

As we have already noted above, when cooked, beets do not lose their value to the body of the pregnant woman and her future baby. Therefore, the daily use of boiled product is recommended by specialists, if a woman has no contraindications. It is allowed to eat boiled root vegetable at all stages of pregnancy, because it:

• normalizes the level of hemoglobin;
• improves digestion;
• Normalizes metabolic processes;
• relieves constipation;
• saturates the body with minerals and vitamins;
• eliminates the constant feeling of hunger.

There is no limit on the amount of food eaten per day, but it is worth remembering about moderation. Overeating can lead to such unpleasant things as diarrhea. And this, in turn, will cause dehydration, which may have a negative impact on the development of the child in the womb. Therefore, more than 100 grams of beets per day should not be consumed.

It is known that plant foods will be better absorbed if they are combined with lipids. For this reason, it is recommended to include the burgundy root vegetable in salads and dress such dishes with vegetable or olive oil. Borage goes well with sour cream and cheese. Some people prefer to mix it with cottage cheese.

You should know! Boil beets in the skin on moderate heat to preserve all the value of the vegetable. Cooking time can take up to 30 minutes. If the size of the root vegetable is large, the cooking time will increase accordingly.

What is the usefulness of beet juice

Beet juice is especially valuable because it contains B vitamins, in particular B9, the so-called folic acid. It contributes to the proper development of the nervous system of the unborn child, and also takes part in the formation of the placenta. The iodine present in the drink will help the proper development of the baby's brain in utero.

The main advantage of juice is that it is not able to cause allergies in pregnant women, which means that you can take it without fear. He will always come to the rescue of constipation, will take part in the purification of the body, will reduce swelling, will raise the level of hemoglobin.

Juice from the burgundy root is desirable to dilute. This can be done with plain water, but not everyone will be satisfied with such a variant, because the result will be not quite a pleasant taste drink. Therefore, it is recommended to dilute it with other juices, such as carrot, pomegranate, apple, etc. Such a version will be both healthier and tastier.

You can take 60-70 ml per day. It is better to do it before lunch or in the afternoon.

There are several ways to prepare it. To make your own beet drink, you need to grind beets on a grater with fine teeth, wrap the resulting pulp in gauze and squeeze the juice into a glass. You can also use a juicer.

Immediately take the juice is not allowed. The freshly prepared liquid will contain undesirable "volatile" substances that can harm the body of a woman in the position. He should give a couple of hours to stand in the refrigerator. Only after this time, the drink will be ready and it can be consumed by mixing it with water or other vegetable or fruit juice.

Can beets harm the mother-to-be?

Beets can harm you only if they are consumed in unlimited quantities. There must be a measure for everything. But there are also restrictions for certain categories of expectant mothers. Despite the usefulness and value of the composition, it is advisable to limit the amount of the product or exclude it from the diet at all for pregnant women who suffer from

• intestinal dysbacteriosis;
• colitis;
• diabetes mellitus;
• hypotension;
• gastritis;
• cholelithiasis.

Expectant mothers with diabetes should be especially careful, since the vegetable contains fructose and glucose.

In addition, beets can harm both the mother and the unborn child if they are abused. This can cause intestinal upset, lead to diarrhea, dehydration of the body and the occurrence of hemorrhoids. Such unpleasantness should by no means be allowed to pregnant women. Frequent stools can provoke uterine tone, which means a threat of miscarriage. To avoid this, you should follow the recommendations.

Limit the consumption of beets should also be those women whose body is prone to diarrhea. The vegetable has a laxative effect, so to avoid trouble and the development of chronic diarrhea it is worth refraining from using the useful root vegetable.

In all situations, the doctor's recommendation will not be superfluous. It is better to be insured, so as not to regret what you have done. A specialist will determine how much beets can be eaten per day or prohibit its consumption altogether.

How to choose a beet

In order for the vegetable to be not only tasty, but also useful, it should be chosen correctly. The root vegetable should not be soft. It is better to stop at a medium-sized vegetable. Pay attention to the color, so that the color was burgundy or dark red. The rind should be smooth, without wrinkles and rot.

There are several varieties of beets:

• Fodder.
• Table beets.
• Sugar beet.

While the first type goes to feed livestock, the other two are intended for human consumption. In our case, it is better to opt for the table product. It can be easily distinguished by its appearance. Weighs such a vegetable about 500 g, and its diameter - no more than 13 cm. Sugar and fodder root crops have a more impressive size in comparison with the table one.

When cut, such a product has a single color, without pronounced rings. The presence of rings indicates that its ripening manufacturers have used chemicals. So it is better to refrain from such a beet, because the benefit from it certainly will not, but it can bring harm.

Determine the freshness you can by the condition of the tops. If the leaves are not dried out, then the root vegetable is fresh and will be tasty.

It is desirable to store such a product in the refrigerator, having previously cut off the leaves. And the tops can be useful in the preparation of soups or salads. It gives dishes a special zest or sourness. It is desirable to put the fruit in a paper bag.

Conclusion
It is necessary to consume pregnant beets in order to save yourself from a mass of unpleasant moments that can occur during the period of pregnancy. But one must not forget about moderation. Any product in excessive consumption can cause harm, and for the future mommy and her baby it is not good at all.