Pregnant women try to revise their diet and include as many useful products as possible for normal health and development of the baby. Many wild berries have long been known for their benefits to the human body. The inhabitant of the swamps - cranberries - will also be useful for expectant mothers.

Is it possible for pregnant cranberries

This culture is rich in vitamins and minerals necessary during pregnancy. Most of all it contains vitamin C, in the presence of B vitamins (including folic acid), vitamins E, H, PP, K, A and carotene. Among the minerals there are:

• potassium;
• calcium;
• iron;
• copper;
• manganese;
• magnesium;
• silicon;
• phosphorus;
• sulfur and others

Pregnant women have a large load on the urinary organs, leading to problems with their normal functioning. Cranberries are known for their beneficial effects on the urinary system - it has a diuretic effect, which helps to get rid of edema.

Flavonoids contained in cranberries inhibit pathogenic microflora, activate metabolism, increase immunity. It helps fight colds. Its use is well reflected in the work of the cardiovascular system, can serve as a prophylaxis of cancer, and is also acceptable in the presence of diabetes.

Important! Before consuming cranberries and lingonberries, especially in large quantities, you should consult a doctor, since these berries can bring not only benefits, but also harm.

By the way, lingonberry has a very similar effect, which belongs to the heather family with cranberries - Heathers. Both cultures are very similar in appearance to each other, and, of course, such healthy berries will bring many benefits to pregnant women.

Useful properties for pregnant women

If there are no contraindications (they will be described below), cranberries can be consumed during the entire period of expectation of the baby. This berry can be beneficial in different trimesters.

In the early stages

At the beginning of pregnancy, many women experience symptoms of early toxicosis, such as nausea, vomiting. Sour cranberry fruits and fruit drinks from them help to cope with these unpleasant phenomena. In addition, at the beginning of pregnancy, it is very undesirable to get sick and take some medications, including aspirin. .

Cranberries will increase the body's defenses and prevent them from getting sick, and if a woman is already sick, they will help fight the infection

In the 3rd trimester

The last months of bearing a child are characterized by the fact that, due to the increasing size of the fetus, the load on the internal organs and the cardiovascular system increases. Substances in the berry strengthen the walls of blood vessels - this will help reduce the risk of varicose veins and improve the blood supply to the fetus.

Important! They have a good anti-inflammatory effect. cranberry fruit not heat treated. Therefore, the most useful will be the use of drinks and dishes from this berry without cooking.

Pressure on the kidneys leads to swelling. In the later stages, cranberry properties such as the diuretic effect and the ability to normalize the body's water balance are appropriate. Along with this, this berry acidifies urine, which is able to prevent the appearance of infection in the urinary organs. Therefore, cranberries should be immediately included in the diet for those women who have a tendency to cystitis.

How to use cranberries during pregnancy

Red sour berry has a beneficial effect on the body in any form. Fresh fruits are tasty and healthy, but you can enjoy them only at the beginning of autumn. To saturate the body with the necessary elements will be enough 10-25 cranberries per day.

From cranberries, you can prepare healthy drinks, or dry the fruits to add them to different dishes to give acidity.

Cranberry Compote

From this berry you can make an excellent compote. When boiling, although some of the valuable substances are lost, but still this drink is very useful. Such a drink improves the brain and blood circulation, helps to cope with nausea and toxicosis, eliminates swellinghelps with dyspeptic disorders, against infection in the urine.

Compote preparation process:

1. Take 4 tbsp. tablespoons of berries and leaves.
2. Pour raw materials 1.6 liters of water and bring to a boil.
3. Stew on a quiet fire for 8-10 minutes.
4. Add sugar to taste.

Compote should be drunk 4-5 times a day for 1/2 cup.

Did you know? Cranberry fruits contain benzoic acid, which allows the berries to be stored until the next harvest, or even for 2 whole years.

Cranberry tea

To make tea, not only berries, but also leaves are suitable. These ingredients are used as an additive to black or green tea. Cranberries and berries can be drunk with vitamin mixtures with other medicinal plants. - mint, chamomile, rosehip, raspberry, currant leaves.

Making cranberry tea is simple and easy: knead 10 g of fruit with a spoonful of sugar and then add hot green or black tea.

Such a drink is recommended to cool to a warm state and then drink. It tones well and gives a boost of energy, helps with nausea, has anti-inflammatory effects

Cranberry juice

Cranberry juice is very effective in treating many diseases, but this drink is too acidic, it causes burning and soreness on the teeth, and can even damage tooth enamel. Therefore, cranberry juice is recommended to be diluted with water.

Did you know? Taking cranberry juice helps reduce nervous stress and depression.

It should be prepared like this:

1. Squeeze the juice from the berries.
2. Dilute with boiled water in a ratio of 1: 2.
3. Add a little sugar or honey for taste.

Such a drink well reduces fever, helps with colds, cystitis, increases immunity, strengthens blood vessels

Cranberries with sugar

If you do not like sour berry, then it can be grated with granulated sugar. Despite the fact that such a product becomes more high-calorie, it is no less useful, and also longer stored. This is a good preparation for the winter. Fresh berries grated with sugar retain all their beneficial properties and elements.

The recommended proportions of sugar and cranberries are 1: 1. The resulting mixture can be added to cereal, or make a drink from it: dilute several tablespoons of this product with cool water and mix thoroughly, then strain through a cheesecloth or strainer.

Dried cranberries

The main feature of dried cranberries is an increased concentration of vitamin C. These dried fruits well strengthen blood vessels, give them elasticity, and prevent blood clots. When this product is included in the diet of a pregnant woman, you can solve the problem with edema, normalize high blood pressure, and eliminate the risks of varicose veins that increase during this period. Such berries can be used to prepare various desserts.

Dried cranberry dried fruits can be prepared at home.

Ingredients:

• cranberry berries - 0.5 kg;
• sugar - 0.3 kg;
• water - 300 ml.

Did you know? The scientific name for cranberries — Oxycoccus — Pcomes from the Greek words, which in translation means "sour ball."

Cooking:

1. Wash the berries, put in a colander and let the water drain.
2. Sort the fruits, removing leaves and twigs.
3. Make syrup. To do this, pour water into the pan and add sugar. Bring to a boil and keep on fire, stirring constantly, 2-3 minutes.
4. Toss the berries into boiling syrup and cook for a couple of minutes, constantly stirring. Fruits should be completely covered with a sweet liquid.
5. Remove the pan from the stove and allow to cool for 3 hours. Then again put on a small fire, bring to a boil, and then remove from the stove.
6. Bring the mixture to a boil again and set aside again. Repeat this procedure 3 times.
7. After cooling, discard the berries in a colander, under which put a container for draining the syrup.
8. Cover the baking sheet with parchment paper on which to spread the fruits. Place the baking sheet in the oven for 1 hour at a temperature of + 100 ° C. The cabinet door should be opened slightly so as not to dry the fruit.
9. Pour the cooled product with powdered sugar.

Dried cranberries

Dried berry contains less vitamins than fresh, but it contains more antioxidants that help suppress the activity of harmful viruses and bacteria lower blood cholesterol. Such a product contains a lot of fiber and carbohydrates. Dried berries are available in winter when there are no fresh berries and fruits. Such dried fruits can be enjoyed throughout the cold period.

The nutritional value of dried cranberries is 125 kcal per 100 g.

To dry cranberry fruits at home is easy:

1. Wash and dry the berries on a paper towel.
2. Place dry fruits on a baking sheet, which to cover with parchment. Put the baking sheet in the oven at a temperature of + 65 ° C.
3. The drying process lasts 7–9 hours. Fruits should be mixed every 1-2 hours to dry evenly. Then pour them into a container or bag and place in the freezer.

This process can be greatly simplified with the help of a special electric dryer. The resulting product is recommended for future mothers to consume 1/3 cup per day, but not more than 30 days. Then you need to take a break.

Contraindications and possible harm

• Despite all the usefulness of cranberries, there are a number of contraindications to its use:
• gastrointestinal diseases at the acute stage (duodenal ulcer, gastritis, increased acidity of the stomach);
• hypotension (low pressure);
• individual intolerance;
• allergy;
• women with an increased tone of the uterus, since a high content of vitamin C can worsen the situation.

It should be noted that moderate consumption of this product cannot lead to a glut of vitamin C. Therefore in small quantities this healthy berry is harmless. However, when taking other products and vitamins containing ascorbic acid, cranberries can cause an overdose of it.

Caution should also be exercised when consuming these berries when breastfeeding., so as not to provoke the appearance of allergies in the child. It is recommended to eat cranberries in this period in small quantities. If the baby does not have any negative reactions, then the number of berries can be slightly increased. But still, these fruits in this period should be consumed in a limited amount.

Important! Cranberries in large quantities are dangerous with poor blood coagulation, as they have the ability to thin it. And this can lead to bleeding and miscarriage during the expectation of the baby.

So, cranberries during pregnancy will be an excellent additional component to the main diet, as it helps to saturate a woman’s body with necessary vitamins and minerals, improves immunity, helps to cope with various ailments without taking chemicals. However, these berries should be consumed sparingly, and also consult a doctor.