Is it possible to watermelon during pregnancy? Benefit and harm of watermelon in pregnancy
Pregnancy for a woman is rather difficultperiod. Especially it concerns the summer season, when you want to eat something light, cool and non-nutritive. Many people prefer to eat watermelon. This berry refreshes, quenches thirst. But is it always possible to eat watermelon during pregnancy? This is a question that worries future mothers.
Are women worth eating watermelon?
Watermelon during pregnancy not only can be eaten, but also necessary. It contains a large number of vitamins and trace elements, which favorably affect the fetus. Among them we can mention:
a complex of vitamins A, B1, C, folic acid;
magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, sodium;
zinc, iron, copper, iodine.
Separately it is necessary to talk about folic acid, which is so important in the formation of the fetus in the first trimester. Thanks to it, it is possible to exclude neural tube defects in a baby.
If folic acid is vital onthe initial term of pregnancy, then iron is required before delivery. It directly depends on the oxygenation of the baby's body. If the mother has anemia of blood, then the benefits of watermelon during pregnancy are huge. The only point: do not use this striped berry as the only source of iron. Preparations containing this element should also be present.
Fiber, which is part of watermelon, helps to cope with constipation, which often affects women in the situation.
Useful properties of the striped berry
Many are interested in: "Why is watermelon useful in pregnancy?". The answer to the question is given by leading nutritionists:
This is an excellent diuretic that helps to cope with natural swelling.
Due to the fact that the berry has a good choleretic property, watermelon can bring down a low temperature.
150 grams of sweet pulp is enough to completely replace the daily dose of folic acid.
Berry is absolutely non-nutritive, which is very important for pregnant women.
3 kg of watermelon replaces daily iron requirements for blood anemia.
Excellent thirst quencher.
For those who are wondering whether it is possible to eat a watermelon during pregnancy, the answer is unambiguous - yes. But still there are situations when it is better to refrain from eating this berry.
In what cases is watermelon contraindicated in pregnancy?
If in general to consider the question of whether the watermelon is harmful during pregnancy, it can be stated with certainty that no. But nevertheless there are cases when it is undesirable to eat it:
Individual intolerance (manifestation of allergic reactions).
It should be noted that this berry contains a large amount of fructose and sucrose, therefore it is undesirable to use it in food for women with diabetes during pregnancy.
Is urolithiasis? Problems with outflow of fluid? Then watermelon is absolutely contraindicated to you, so as not to burden the kidneys even more.
Problems associated with the digestive tract (pancreas, intestines).
Watermelon promotes flatulence, the intestine presses against the bottom of the uterus, which can lead to tonus. If you see similar problems on ultrasound, it is better to give up the watermelon slice.
As you can see, there are not too many contraindications, if there are any doubts, can you eat a watermelon during pregnancy, it is worth consulting with a doctor.
Watermelon and swelling, are they compatible?
Edema is a common occurrence in pregnancy. As a rule, they occur in the 3rd trimester. To understand whether it is possible to eat watermelon with swelling during pregnancy, it is necessary to find out their cause. They can be caused by natural processes occurring in the body (the kidneys do not cope with the load associated with pregnancy), climatic features (high temperature, humidity), a disease called "gestosis."
In the first two cases, watermelon during pregnancy iscan. It will help to cope with edema, remove excess water from the body. If a woman has preeclampsia, the berries should be abandoned. Otherwise there may be deplorable consequences.
What to do if you get poisoned with watermelon
Many prefer to eat watermelon during pregnancyin later periods, it is non-nutritive, quickly quenches thirst. Is it possible to poison this berry? Infectiologists claim that at the beginning of the season this risk is large enough.
First of all, you need to list the signs of poisoning, so as not to confuse them with the common cold:
Vomiting, diarrhea, loss of consciousness. All this speaks of intoxication of the body.
Sudden attacks of migraine, dizziness.
Loss of strength
Increased body temperature.
Convulsions.
Watermelon poisoning during pregnancy - prettycommon phenomenon, so in the event of these symptoms, you must call an ambulance. Unscrupulous manufacturers, in order to improve their product, resort to the forbidden methods: the use of nitrates and chemicals to impart taste and sweetness, a rapid increase in yield. These substances accumulate in the body with a new piece eaten. If you do not take action in time, the consequences can be dire, even to a miscarriage.
It is possible to relieve the condition before arrivalwith the help of activated carbon or other sorbent, which is allowed for pregnant women. Many advise to make a solution of potassium permanganate and drink a few glasses, in no case can this be done, the same goes for enemas. Remember: treatment can and should be prescribed only by a doctor.
How to choose a watermelon
If the question of whether a watermelon can be eaten during pregnancy, the doctor gave a positive answer, you need to know how to choose it correctly. To do this, inspect the appearance of the berries. Note:
Watermelon should not be too large and very small, try to take a medium-sized berry.
Is there a dry tail? You can be sure that this fruit is fully ripe.
Strips should be bright, glossy, contrast.
A characteristic feature of a ripe fruit is a yellow spot on its side, on which a watermelon lay.
Try to pierce the peel with your fingernail. If you easily managed to do this, it is better to leave such a watermelon on the counter. It will be immature and lethargic.
Ripe fruit makes a dull sound with a slight tapping.
Buying watermelon during pregnancy, it is better to ask the sellers to incise the fruit. At the site, you can make sure it is ripe or not.
Signs symbolizing that it is better not to use watermelon
So, watermelon bought, it remains to cool andenjoy the sweet flesh. There are ways to check at home whether it is possible to eat this fetus for pregnant women, or it is better not to risk it, as it contains nitrates. To find out it is not necessary to do a special test every time in the laboratory, it is important to know some tricks:
Cutting the watermelon, note the color of the pulp. If it is uniform, you can safely eat. Often you can see the saturation of the color gamut closer to the crust, this suggests that the fruit was tinted with a chemical method.
Streaks should be in the form of thin white threads, if they are thick with a yellowish tinge, it is better not to eat such watermelon.
The pulp of nitrate watermelon is perfectly smooth to the touch. But the pulp of the fruit, not treated with chemicals, will be with grains.
Pour cold water into a glass, cut a littlepulp and mash it. If the water becomes cloudy, but this does not change its color, the watermelon was tested. Is the water pink? The striped berry is crammed with nitrates.
Eating watermelon during pregnancy, you need to be extremely careful and pay attention to the above points. Remember: you are responsible not only for yourself, but also the health of the future baby.
How to eat watermelon pregnant
Doctors and experienced moms give advice on how to eat a watermelon:
If you prefer to eat fruit with bread, it is worthchoose only white varieties. Borodino bread in combination with the pulp of watermelon causes flatulence, which can lead to problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
Cut fruit should be stored in the refrigerator, and not more than a day.
Watermelon during late pregnancy can be consumed only during the day, not at night, so as not to overload the bladder.
Know the sense of proportion, do not overeat. 500 grams of pulp a day will be quite enough.
It is not necessary to eat a skibka to cover, always leave 3-4 cm of pulp.
It is better to eat watermelon after 3-4 hours after someone has already tried it.
Observing these simple rules, you can safely eat watermelon during pregnancy.
On a note
Finally, I want to share tips on what you shouldn’t do if you are pregnant by buying a watermelon:
You can not buy watermelons before mid-August, wait until the season, and only then try a delicious berry.
Cut or nadbitny watermelon - a source of bacteria.
You can not buy watermelons along the tracks. First, the quality is dubious, and no one did sanitary tests, and secondly, the berry quickly absorbs automobile exhausts.
Before cutting the watermelon, it must be thoroughly rinsed with hot water and wiped dry. Then divide into slices, slightly separating the flesh. In this case, the probability of hitting the bacteria is minimal.
When purchasing a watermelon, you can safely ask for a document on laboratory research, there must necessarily be a conclusion regarding the content of nitrates and other chemical elements, if any.
So, what is useful for watermelon during pregnancy? First, it is a source of vitamins. Secondly, it relieves swelling, quickly quenches thirst. And thirdly, it is just a tasty berry, which everyone eats with great pleasure and appetite.
