Pumpkin seeds during pregnancy: benefits and harms

Most people prefer to eat pumpkin seeds instead of the usual sunflower seeds. And this is not surprising at all. The fact is that such a product contains a mass of valuable substances that have a beneficial effect on human health and his health in general. Such seeds are famous for their antiparasitic properties, and are also used to eliminate other diseases. To learn about the virtues of pumpkin seeds and the likely side effects, it is necessary to study this product in more detail.

Undoubtedly, every girl in an interesting situation wants her child to be healthy, properly developed and get a lot of useful elements. Therefore, women during pregnancy try to adhere to a healthy lifestyle, that is, eat a balanced diet, get rid of bad habits, do allowed exercise. As for the right habits, special attention should be paid to the choice of healthy, fresh and safe products. Whether pumpkin seeds are acceptable during the period of carrying a fetus, what properties are characteristic for them, how much such a delicacy can be eaten - all these questions will be disclosed in this article.

Composition of pumpkin seeds

People have been growing pumpkin since time immemorial. The pulp together with the seeds has found wide application both in the human diet and in medicine as a medicine. Such grains are used only after drying. The caloric value of this product is about 560 kcal per 100 g.

Pumpkin seeds are rich in B vitamins, as well as ascorbic acid, retinol and tocopherol. The mineral composition is also impressive. In addition, it contains polyunsaturated acids and amino acids.

Of the B-group vitamins, thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, pantothenic acid and folic acid are found in the seeds. All these substances are necessary for the normal functioning of the central nervous system, as well as the metabolism of proteins and fats. In addition, these vitamins stimulate the production of nucleic acids, which are needed to improve memory and skin health.

Most women suffer from folic acid deficiency. It is manifested by general weakness, rapid fatigue, dizziness, headaches, anemia, reduced immunity, irritability, etc. Deficiency of this vitamin can also lead to a detached placenta, premature birth and even fetal death. Insufficient intake of vitamin B9 in the body has a negative impact on the development of the baby. The neural tube formation of the unborn child may be disturbed, which is detrimental to the central nervous system.

Retinol in combination with tocopherol has a positive effect on the reproductive system. In addition, these vitamins strengthen the body's defenses and have a rejuvenating effect.

It should be noted and the mineral composition of pumpkin seeds. For example, there is a high concentration of zinc. This substance improves the immune system, is involved in the synthesis of various hormones and enzymes that are necessary for the production of collagen, the prevention of allergies and the complete absorption of vitamin A. The body of a pregnant woman should receive a sufficient amount of this mineral to reduce the likelihood of miscarriage or the occurrence of abnormalities in the child.

Copper is involved in hematopoiesis, insulin, and sex hormones. Lack of this trace element leads to impaired iron absorption and weakening of the cardiovascular system. Impaired absorption of iron can lead to a decrease in hemoglobin in the blood. This often occurs due to the fact that in a woman's body at this time increases the volume of blood.

Magnesium is also involved in various metabolic processes. This substance helps to maintain blood glucose levels, in addition, it is used to prevent the formation of kidney and gallbladder stones. Deficiency of this component affects the state of the NS, and also leads to joint pain. For this reason, women throughout pregnancy feel nervous tension. At the beginning of gestation, this is due to the fact that the body is undergoing hormonal restructuring. By the end of the gestation period, there is additional fear of the impending birth and anxiety about the baby's condition. Often pregnant women also develop insomnia due to the fact that it becomes more difficult for them to choose a comfortable sleeping position. Pumpkin seed contains magnesium, which has a calming and relaxing effect. Increased body weight and changes in posture put additional strain on the joints. This mineral will also help to solve this problem.

Phosphorus and calcium are necessary for the health of bones and teeth. This complex of minerals is also necessary for normal brain function, metabolism, and muscle tone.

Manganese provides the absorption of vitamins, the synthesis of hormones and various enzymes. Its role in the formation of the skeleton, digestion of food and strengthening the nervous system cannot be overlooked. This substance is also used as a preventive measure to prevent atherosclerosis and cancer.

Pumpkin seeds contain 12 essential and 8 substitutable amino acids. It is sufficient to eat about 100 grams of seeds to get a daily allowance of these valuable compounds. Some of these amino acids are considered as building material for cells. During pregnancy, the future baby takes from his mother's body all the substances that are required for its proper formation and development. Therefore, a woman must constantly replenish these components.

Also pumpkin seeds contain omega-3 and -6 acids, as well as oleic and linoleic acids. They ensure fat metabolism. During pregnancy, due to the restructuring of the hormonal background, some women are faced with the fact that they become overweight. These polyunsaturated acids protect the body from excess fatty tissue.

It should also be noted that for several centuries pumpkin seeds have been used as a anthelmintic. If a mother-to-be faces such an ailment, you can use a natural remedy. To prepare such a remedy, you need to combine 0.5 liters of milk with 100 grams of crushed kernels. The resulting composition should be consumed by 2 spoons on an empty stomach. The seed of this vegetable contains such a substance as cucurbitin. It is safe for humans, but it kills parasites. After taking such medicine for 4 days, the problem disappears.

Is it possible to eat pumpkin seeds during pregnancy

Based on the composition of pumpkin seeds, we can conclude that it is useful to eat them even during the expectation of a baby. But is it acceptable to eat them all the time? The kernels of this fruit are quite caloric, so you should not get carried away with them. The recommended portion is an average of 100 grams of peeled kernels a day. It is best to eat them before dinner.

Another disadvantage of pumpkin kernels is the possibility that they damage the tooth enamel. If you chew hard peels frequently, you can ruin your teeth. This will cause them to be sensitive to cold and hot food. Cracks in the enamel of the teeth a young mother does not need, so it is best to peel the seeds with your hands or with a small knife.

It should also be taken into account that pumpkin seeds can cause allergies, and they occur quite often. If a woman tries such a product for the first time, it is better to start with small portions. At the same time, it is necessary to constantly monitor the reaction of your body. If there is a rash, changes in stool, bloating, from the use of such a delicacy have to refuse.

In the early term

In the first months, women are very often faced with irritability, weakness and the appearance of anxiety. A mass of valuable substances contained in pumpkin seeds helps to strengthen the body of the expectant mother and contributes to the normal development of the fetus. In addition, this product gives you strength.

To eliminate the feeling of nausea, pregnant women are advised to eat a fractional meal. In this case, pumpkin seeds can replace snacks and most importantly - sweets, which have a lot of carbohydrates and few valuable elements.

The components found in pumpkin seeds are useful throughout the whole period of pregnancy. In addition, by the end of the first trimester, the fetus is already pressing on the internal organs. Due to this, some girls have edema and constipation. This product will help to remove excess fluid, remove swelling and normalize the stool.

It is recommended to dry the seeds of this vegetable, extracting them from fresh pumpkin. It is best to use a product grown with your own hands. During drying, it is important to set low temperatures, so as not to lose most of the vitamins. Dried products are able to retain their useful characteristics for up to three months.

In the later terms

As already mentioned, the main disadvantage of seeds is their caloric content. Therefore, it is important to control the amount eaten, otherwise it will lead to gaining excess weight, as well as complications in child development. However, if the grains are consumed regularly and at the same time control the amount, it is possible to improve memory as well as cognitive abilities.

It is important to include such an ingredient in your diet at the end of pregnancy and just before giving birth. Pumpkin seeds contain oils, vitamins, minerals and acids that will help the dermis adapt to stretching, soften the cervix and restore metabolism.

During the late gestational period, the baby's pressure on the organs only increases. This leads to the fact that most girls have heartburn. Pumpkin seeds can help cope with this problem.

How to eat pumpkin seeds correctly

Nowadays, both raw and roasted pumpkin seeds are available for sale. Specialists recommend buying raw, unprocessed product. Such seeds should be pre-washed and dried. You can use them as a separate product for a snack or use them to add to salads. This ingredient significantly increases the energy value of the finished dish, as well as giving it a nutty flavor. With such seeds, even the simplest vegetable salad will acquire a special taste.

How much you can eat per day

If a pregnant woman does not suffer from excess weight, the seeds of this fruit can be eaten in dried form, without adding salt every day. The main thing is to regulate their quantity. Since in 100 grams is concentrated 20% of the daily requirement for calories, so it is necessary to limit their consumption. As noted above, it is recommended to eat 100-120 g of the product per day.

Pumpkin seeds are a popular product that helps to stabilize intestinal activity and normalize heart function. However, we must remember that the useful characteristics of this raw material are determined by their quantity and the absence of contraindications during pregnancy.

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

Given the high degree of caloric content of kernels, you should not consume them before going to bed. But at the same time, every rule has its exceptions. As you know, the raw product contains magnesium and tryptophan. These substances can gently calm the nervous system and stimulate sleep. In addition, such an amino acid as tryptophan stimulates the synthesis of serotonin, which is converted into melatonin, that is, the sleep hormone.

Therefore, if you have anxiety, irritability after a hard day's work, you can treat yourself to a small handful of pumpkin seeds, combining them with honey or fruit. Such a snack is allowed one hour before bedtime. It will help to relax and sleep.

Pumpkin seeds can also be eaten on an empty stomach. The most effective way to use the seeds is considered their usefulness in eliminating parasites. You can grind 20 g of raw materials in a coffee grinder, add 5 garlic cloves and 2 spoons of natural honey. All these components repeatedly grind and insist for a day. Ready-made medicine to take in the morning on an empty stomach. Already in three days you can get rid of worms.

Is it possible to eat pumpkin seeds with the skin

In the question concerning the possibility of consuming pumpkin seeds together with the husk, the opinions of specialists differ. Some doctors believe that only peeled grains can be useful. This is explained by the fact that the peel can traumatize the walls of the stomach, especially since this part of the seed is almost not digested. It can lead to pain.

Along with this there is an opinion that the husks of pumpkin seeds have useful properties. The skin of this part of the plant can be used as a medicinal and prophylactic agent.

During the fetal period, it is still recommended to peel the pumpkin seeds from the skin.

The benefits of pumpkin seeds during pregnancy

Pumpkin is a valuable product because it contains B vitamins, vitamins A, E, C. In addition, it has a rich mineral composition. Polyunsaturated acids and amino acids are also present here. All this makes the seeds of this fruit useful for the body of a pregnant woman.

1. B-group vitamins are necessary for the activity of the nervous system. Changes in the hormonal background lead to the fact that the future mother is often nervous, anxious, irritable and even tearful. This is especially common in early pregnancy. To prevent this, you should regularly include pumpkin seeds in your menu.
2. Due to the large amount of ascorbic acid, the product is an excellent protection against colds, especially in the off-season.
3. Pumpkin seeds are rich in tocopherol. This substance is responsible for the elasticity of the skin, the production of collagen. It is a reliable protection against stretch marks on the abdomen. Such an oily vitamin helps to preserve the youthfulness of the dermis and the freshness of the face. This means that the girl will look great. You should also eat pumpkin seeds in the second half of pregnancy. This will make the tissues stretch, as a result of which childbirth will be easier, without rips and trauma.
4. Iron in the composition of such raw materials contributes to an increase in hemoglobin levels. This is a prevention of the development of iron deficiency anemia.
5. Usually women during pregnancy are prescribed to take folic acid and magnesium. Without the use of such substances, pregnancy will be difficult. Pumpkin seeds are known to contain both of these components. Regular intake of such a product will help to prevent the development of uterine hypertonicity, as well as relieve pulling pains in the spinal area.
6. Omega acids, which are contained in pumpkin seeds, restore fat metabolism in the body, prevent the recruitment of excess weight. In principle, such raw materials can rightfully be called a healthy snack. After all, a handful of seeds is enough to get a lasting feeling of fullness. This is especially important for those pregnant girls who are worried about changes in the figure.
7. Pumpkin seeds are considered to be a nutritious and useful product. During pregnancy, the future child takes a lot of vitamins and minerals from the mother, from the lack of which the woman herself begins to suffer. Often it is manifested by hair loss, brittle nails, deterioration of teeth, exacerbation of chronic diseases, frequent colds. To prevent all this from happening, you only need to include in your diet such grains.
8. Such plant raw materials perfectly copes with the unpleasant symptoms of the first trimester, namely, it is able to eliminate nausea and intolerance of various smells. To get rid of these problems, it is enough to eat 30 g of seeds on an empty stomach.
9. When consumed in the last months of pregnancy, the seeds also help a woman to feel better. This is due to the fact that they have a diuretic and laxative effect.
10. During the expectation of a child, no small benefit also comes from the oil obtained from pumpkin seeds. Such a remedy should be used externally. The composition protects the skin from the formation of stretch marks and tightens it after childbirth.

Which seeds are more useful

While waiting for the baby, a woman should be careful about what she uses in her diet, in what amounts and how often. You can find fried sunflower seeds in the store, raw. Salted seeds are also sold. The presence of a large amount of salt will only harm, because it will lead to the appearance of edema. This option should be ruled out at once. Roasted raw materials are considered to be more useful compared to salted ones, it is much more pleasant to eat them, because the skin is easily removed. However, heat treatment leads to the fact that some of the valuable components are lost.

Dried

The body of a pregnant woman will receive the greatest benefit from dried and fresh seeds, obtained from pumpkin grown at home without the use of nitrates and other chemical fertilizers. It is best to dry such raw materials in the oven at a low temperature. In this form pumpkin seeds retain the maximum number of valuable components. The degree of caloric content is not increased.

Fried

Thermal processing of pumpkin seeds is undesirable. Roasting improves the taste of the seeds, but reduces their nutritional value. For example, ascorbic acid is destroyed already at 50 degrees. Moreover, the product becomes more caloric, which is harmful to the future baby.

Salty

Undoubtedly, salt is a food additive that is necessary for the body. But the use of this substance in large quantities leads to the fact that fluid is retained in the body and leads to the appearance of edema in the lower extremities. In addition, an excessive amount of salt and fluid negatively affects the activity of the heart, which is very dangerous during pregnancy. It should be taken into account that the norm of salt per day is no more than 5 grams. Since it is contained in every dish, adding this ingredient to such a snack is already considered excessive. For this reason, the inclusion of salt in pumpkin seeds should be abandoned.

The benefits of pumpkin seeds with honey

Pumpkin seeds and honey separately are useful products. Their joint use only strengthens their healing properties.

1. Such a composition has anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antifungal effects. In addition, it is able to normalize substance metabolism, restore metabolism, activate the intestines, eliminate digestive disorders, cleanse the body of toxins and toxic substances.
2. Also a complex of honey and pumpkin seeds helps to remove bad cholesterol, improve blood composition, strengthen blood vessels and heart muscle.
3. Such a remedy is characterized by diuretic, choleretic and laxative action.
4. Regular consumption of this composition helps to improve performance, concentration of attention. Moreover, it helps to activate the body's protective functions, normalize the hormonal background, accelerate hair growth, improve the condition of the skin and nails.
5. Healing mixture regulates the digestion, nerves, cardiovascular system, and saturates the tissues of the body.
6. During pregnancy, the composition helps to fight heartburn and toxicosis.
7. The combination of these ingredients is also used in the field of cosmetology. Such a remedy helps to eliminate dandruff, cope with greasy and dry hair.

To prepare this healing mixture, you need to use raw seeds. In terms of taste, they are not as pleasant as fried, but bring the body more benefits. Raw materials should be peeled and crushed with a blender to form large pieces. After that, the ingredients are mixed with floral honey in equal proportions. The resulting mass should be put in a glass container and hermetically sealed with a lid, then send to the refrigerator.

Such a healing potion should be taken several times a day, 1 large spoon 20 minutes before a meal. This will help saturate the body with valuable substances that can normalize the activity of all organs.

Can pregnant women eat pumpkin seed urbache?

Urbech is a paste obtained from the seeds of pumpkin culture. This product has a beneficial effect on the hair and dermis. In addition, it restores the intestinal microflora and stabilizes the digestive processes. Due to the large amount of vitamin E in pumpkin seeds, Urbech is considered a source of antioxidant substances.

To prepare this dish, the seeds are dried, ground on special machines and crushed to a homogeneous consistency. In the process of making pasta do not apply high temperatures, which allows you to save all the valuable substances. The product is consumed raw. It has a liquid consistency, which allows it to be easily absorbed by the body.

The benefits of this dish is that it perfectly quenches thirst and hunger, strengthens immunity, supports vision, heart and vascular activity, helps to get rid of excess weight. Taking this paste is also allowed during the period of carrying a fetus. However, before using it, it is recommended to consult a specialist.

Scientists have found that such a delicacy improves the work of the brain, it is effective for memory problems. The consumption of urbeche for breakfast provides the body with vigor for the whole day.

Regular inclusion of such a product in the menu protects the body against the development of colds, reduces the elevated level of bad cholesterol, and also slows down the process of natural aging of the skin.

It is known that urbeche is practically harmless to health. However, you should not get addicted to such a product either. If you use such a delicacy in large quantities, weight gain is unavoidable. The only contraindication is an allergy to the components of this dish.

Can pumpkin seeds harm the future mother?

Pumpkin seeds have a high caloric value, so you need to limit their consumption. At the same time, it is recommended to use them in raw form, add them to salads, as well as in the first and second courses.

The use of seeds can negatively affect the state of the teeth enamel. Therefore, it is advisable to clean the grains with your hands. You should also consider the possibility of an allergic reaction. With the reasonable use of pumpkin seeds will bring a lot of benefits to the pregnant woman. The daily rate is better divided into several meals. It is not recommended to eat them in the evening, because such a fatty food does not have time to be processed, which will lead to gaining extra weight.

If possible, try to buy fresh product, rinse and dry it yourself. Do not use in food rotten seeds, darkened, as well as those that have a strange odor. When buying, you should pay attention to the expiration date of the product.

It should be remembered that excessive consumption of seeds can lead to abdominal pain. In some cases, there is nausea, constipation. With exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases, it is necessary to exclude such a product from the diet.

It is recommended to carefully clean the husk, since its ingress into the body can provoke appendicitis.

A pregnant girl should constantly monitor the reaction of her body. Pumpkin seeds can be allergic to them. When characteristic symptoms appear, pumpkin seeds are excluded from the diet.

Also, the intake of such raw materials should be limited in case of a feeling of heaviness in the stomach and nausea.