• Sunflower seeds during pregnancy: pampering or a healthy product? Can pregnant women have seeds?

    06.08.2019

    People chew seeds, often without even thinking about whether this product is beneficial. But expectant mothers during pregnancy must be sure that they are not harming their baby.

    Today we will find out whether it is possible to eat sunflower seeds, especially when fried.

    Expert opinion of doctors

    From the first days of registering a pregnant woman, the local gynecologist compiles a list of products that are beneficial in their composition to both the mother and the unborn baby. He also prescribes the complex necessary for normal development fetus and maintaining the health of the mother. Among the essential vitamins and nutrients are: vitamins A, E, magnesium, zinc. Seeds are a natural source of all these substances.
    Quite often, throughout the entire period of pregnancy, a woman is accompanied by heartburn, which is difficult to get rid of. Doctors, instead of taking any medications, advise eating a handful of seeds: thanks to the oil and fatty acids in the composition, they will soothe the mucous membrane and remove the feeling of discomfort.

    But to the question: is it possible for pregnant women to gnaw seeds - doctors will answer negatively. Under no circumstances should you chew them; you should clean them by hand. During the gestation period, the fetus is taken from the mother, so tooth enamel is too susceptible to damage during this period.

    Did you know? Mexican Indians grew sunflowers as early as the 3rd century BC. The plant came to Europe in the 16th century, but at first it was grown as an ornamental crop, decorating gardens and greenhouses.

    Why are they useful?

    Regular consumption of sunflower seeds enriches the body with folic acid, which is important for the formation of the embryo and, subsequently, the development of all organs and systems in the fetus. This element is important for hematopoiesis and mental development child.
    Phytosterol and magnesium in the plant protect the fetus from toxins, regulate the amount of cholesterol in the mother’s blood, normalize the functioning of the nervous system and protect against.

    The seeds are a source of calcium, necessary for the formation of bones in. When there is a shortage of an element, the fetus pulls it from the mother’s bone tissue: as a result, the bones become brittle, the enamel deteriorates, teeth are destroyed, nails break, and deterioration occurs.

    The product also contains zinc, which is important for cell growth, immune system, tissue regeneration. A deficiency of the substance can lead to low birth weight and even miscarriage. To have an optimal supply of zinc, it is enough to eat 100 g of sunflower seeds per day during pregnancy or 50 g of pumpkin seeds.

    Selenium contained in sunflower affects the functioning of the thyroid gland, the reproductive system, and is involved in the formation of muscle and bone tissue. Selenium deficiency, especially on latest dates pregnancy - the reason severe toxicosis, joint pain and brittle hair and nails.

    Beneficial properties of sunflower for women:

    • seeds help with and during pregnancy;
    • dulls nausea;
    • stimulate appetite;
    • regulate the acid balance of the stomach;
    • normalize work of cardio-vascular system;
    • are a preventative against diseases of the gallbladder and kidneys;
    • help strengthen nails, hair, and give the skin a healthy appearance.

    Did you know? According to the entry in the Guinness Book, the largest sunflower has a height of more than seven and a half meters, and the smallest is a little more than five centimeters; the largest flower of the plant is 82 cm in diameter.

    Which seeds should you prefer?

    In addition to sunflowers, pumpkin seeds are also useful during pregnancy. This product is also rich in vitamins B, E, PP; microelements: phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, manganese and zinc. On early stages during pregnancy, grains help cope with nausea during toxicosis, have a beneficial effect on metabolic processes, and support the heart muscle.
    Pumpkin or sunflower is a purely individual preference: both are useful if consumed correctly and in normal quantities.

    The seeds are most useful in raw or dried form; when heat treated (frying), they lose most of their beneficial properties.

    Important! When purchasing, it is better to give preference to raw seeds and dry them yourself. If you buy ready-to-eat ones, then look for a good manufacturer.

    Keep it in moderation

    To the question about seeds during pregnancy - is it possible or not - the answer is positive, but you also need to know how and in what quantities to use them so as not to harm yourself and the child.
    The product is rich in fatty acids, fiber, protein and, if overdone, can cause nausea, vomiting, severe heaviness in the stomach, and constipation. In addition, sunflower seeds are high in calories—two hundred grams contain 500 kcal. Excess weight in interesting position nobody needs.

    If necessary or desired, the optimal dose is 100 grams of dried sunflower kernels and 50 g of pumpkin kernels per day.

    What threat can they pose?

    Sunflower seeds should not be consumed in large quantities during pregnancy: firstly, the product is high in calories and can contribute to weight gain, which is undesirable during pregnancy.

    Important! Grains may become unsafe for women who have had allergic reactions on sunflower or pumpkin products before pregnancy.

    After eating a large amount of grains, thirst appears. During pregnancy, it is not recommended to drink water without measure, as the kidneys are under heavy load and cannot cope with removing fluid from the body. As a result, swelling appears.

    Eating too many kernels may also cause nausea and vomiting due to a feeling of fullness in the stomach.
    The desire to “meditate” while chewing seeds can lead to damage to tooth enamel. There are many fried products on sale, but not all manufacturers diligently clean the beans before roasting; due to the remaining dirt, microbes can enter the oral cavity and cause stomatitis.

    You also need to know how to eat correctly

    You need to prepare pumpkin or sunflower seeds for yourself. You can find raw, peeled seeds on sale: smell and taste them when purchasing. You should be scared off by an incomprehensible coating, the smell of mold or rot, a brownish color and any debris that comes across. A good product it smells nice and looks presentable. At home, the grains should be washed and dried.

    The seeds can be added to salads, sprinkled on porridge, baked goods, and main courses. By adding them to food, it will be easier for you to control your daily dose.

    Roasted seeds... They relax, relieve stress, tone up, help pass the time, and finally, give our demanding body an amazing taste. For most of us, refusing them is akin to punishment, but it is necessary. In any case, this is what experienced mothers and grandmothers say, who give a lot of examples describing their harm in practice: someone, according to them, had a whiny baby because of the seeds, someone had a snotty one...

    Is there scientific evidence to support these claims? I propose to figure it out together, finding out along the way once and for all whether pregnant women can have roasted sunflower seeds?

    During times of absence scientific facts people were guided only by signs. One saw it, passed it on to another, and the third wrote it down. Thus, many “truths” were born, which some still blindly believe. These include: the danger of raising your arms above your head later, a ban on cutting hair, stroking animals and, of course, eating sunflower seeds.

    According to folk experts, it was forbidden to click them in an interesting position, otherwise:

    • the child was born whiny;
    • drooling;
    • snotty;
    • dark;
    • childbirth or pregnancy was difficult: the uterus softened, tests worsened, etc.;
    • developed in women.

    At the moment, the origins of these beliefs have not been established. Scientists can only guess about the reasons for their appearance, but they know one thing for sure: women with a belly can chew the seeds, because it is healthy. Moreover, our ancestors also had opinions that were close to the truth: from this product, babies were born with large and strong hair. It’s not difficult to explain: sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds contain special substances that have a positive effect on hair and nail growth and skin condition.

    In other words, if you really want to treat yourself to a forbidden product from the point of view of grandmothers and mothers, do it without a twinge of conscience. In the end, the important thing is not only that their opinions are not scientifically supported, but also that some of them are, in fact, completely contrary to science. But more on that below.

    Benefit

    There is a reminder about nutrition during pregnancy, which includes a list of foods and drinks necessary for the expectant mother. According to doctors, they contain a lot of vitamins and microelements, without which normal fetal growth is impossible. Do you know what's most interesting? It also contains sunflower seeds.

    It turns out that this product has a rich composition. Judge for yourself, it revealed:


    The most interesting thing is that the benefits of seeds do not end there. They also:


    Harm

    For all their amazing properties, seeds are useful in moderation. First of all, because it is a fairly high-calorie product: 1 glass contains 500 kcal. Considering that the daily norm during pregnancy is 2000 - 2400 kcal, depending on the woman’s lifestyle, the harm from overeating is obvious, and this is excess weight.

    Needless to say, it not only negatively affects female forms, but also on health: the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases increases, shortness of breath appears, and the load on the back increases.

    We must not forget that seeds can be allergens. In order not to feel their negative impact on yourself, it is enough just not to abuse them. The same applies to situations where women are saved from toxicosis with the help of seeds in the first trimester. Everything would be fine, but the product complicates the process of removing acetone from the body, which in an interesting situation increases significantly. As a result, the problem does not go away, but gets worse: nausea expectant mother becomes even more pronounced.

    Information about inflammation of the appendix from seeds is nothing more than a myth. This can only happen if they are eaten together with the husk, which the stomach is simply not able to digest. But it’s unlikely that anyone will think of such a thing.

    Now about the ancient beliefs that contradict science: according to them, the seeds softened the uterus. Meanwhile, scientists have found that in large quantities the product can, on the contrary, increase the tone of the uterus. What does this mean? Miscarriage, but again, this applies to cases of non-stop eating of seeds.

    Finally, the last thing is negative impact on the condition of the teeth. But it can only manifest itself if the mother cracks the seeds with them: tooth enamel simply becomes thinner over the years and is easily damaged. True, there is a way out here: you should put the delicacy in your mouth and eat it, having first removed the husk with your hands.

    How much can you eat

    In order to enrich yourself with useful substances without harm to your figure and body, you should eat about 100 g of the product per day. Moreover, the duration of pregnancy does not matter. And in the first, and in the second trimester, and even in the third, this is enough. 100 g of seeds is a whole handful. Exceeding the dose is not recommended.

    If the expectant mother has uterine tone, it must be reduced completely so as not to aggravate the situation.

    Which ones to choose

    The most useful are the seeds that have not been subject to heat treatment. In other words, raw, but dried. In this case, they are washed with water and then laid out in the sun or placed in a microwave or oven, carefully laid out in an even layer. Everything takes 3 - 4 hours (in the open sun) or 25 minutes (in the oven at 180 degrees), but in the end the seed lover gets safe, clean, maximum useful product.

    By the way, you need to choose seeds only in the husk. Why can’t they be peeled without it? Because in this case it is easy to become infected with something. Worms, infectious diseases– this list can be continued endlessly, and all due to the fact that we immediately put the cleaned delicacy into our mouth, putting ourselves in danger. At the same time, manually peeling sunflower or pumpkin seeds minimizes the risk of unpleasant consequences. The main thing is to wash your hands before eating.

    It is not recommended to take salted seeds. Firstly, they may contain harmful additives, and secondly, salt is now useless. It increases the manifestations of toxicosis, increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, kidney and liver diseases, and causes complications in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy (most often edema).

    Summarizing all of the above, we can answer positively the question of whether women with a belly can eat fried seeds and whether they are useful during this period. Therefore, treat yourself with pleasure, but do not forget about the rules! In the end, Negative consequences No one has canceled overeating!

    Can pregnant women eat pumpkin seeds?

    Pumpkin seeds during pregnancy can bring considerable benefits with their “ability” to calm the nervous system. Ladies in an “interesting position” tend to worry a lot and often, which is due to the hormonal storms raging in the body and the expectation of emergency dramatic changes in life.

    It has long been proven that performing monotonous movements that do not require intense thinking has a relaxing effect on the psyche. Some knit, some cross-stitch, some crack seeds.

    But seriously: can you eat pumpkin seeds during pregnancy? Let's figure out why these seeds are useful and in what form they are best consumed.

    • Is it possible to eat pumpkin seeds during pregnancy?
    • Why pregnant women should not eat roasted pumpkin seeds
    • Features of use in the early stages - in the 1st trimester
    • Prevention of helminthic infestation with pumpkin seeds
    • Potential Harm

    Pumpkin seeds during pregnancy: composition, properties

    Pumpkin seeds contain a huge amount of useful substances. They contain many vitamins:

    • Group B;

    Vitamin A has a positive effect on the quality of vision. Benefit pumpkin seeds during pregnancy, it will undoubtedly be noticeable primarily for those expectant mothers who, even before the period of expecting a child, could not boast of vigilance. Pumpkin seeds will help them prevent the problem from worsening. And the seeds will not harm others: vitamin A helps maintain eye health.

    B vitamins are involved in metabolism, without them it is impossible.

    Vitamin C prevents viruses and bacteria from entering the body, and if they manage to destroy the barrier erected by the protective cells, vitamin C quickly disappears.

    Vitamin E is necessary for skin regeneration. Stretch marks, a sagging belly - these troubles that await a young mother can be avoided by consuming more vitamin E while expecting a baby.

    There are also enough microelements in the seeds. This:

    • potassium;
    • calcium;
    • magnesium;
    • iron;
    • selenium;
    • zinc.

    Each of the microelements is necessary for expectant mothers for normal metabolism. During the period of bearing a child, a woman’s body needs increased doses of calcium to ensure the strength of the musculoskeletal system for both herself and the baby. Magnesium and potassium are needed for the heart muscle: their deficiency provokes arrhythmia. Iron is necessary for hematopoiesis. Zinc and selenium maintain the normal functioning of the reproductive system.

    Pumpkin seeds are also good for pregnant women because they contain a lot of polyunsaturated acids, including:

    • oleic;
    • linoleic;
    • omega-3;
    • omega-6.

    These acids normalize fat metabolism, preventing excess deposits. Women during pregnancy often worry about weight gain. So, polyunsaturated acids regulate the process, “not allowing” “excess” to accumulate. Despite this, you should not eat them at night: so that extra calories are not stored in reserve.

    The seeds contain amino acids. This:

    • histidine;
    • arginine;
    • lysine;
    • cysteine.

    Amino acids serve as building materials for cells. The benefits of pumpkin seeds for pregnant women are obvious: the developing fetus takes “material” for its body from the mother, which means she needs to replenish her reserves.

    It is useful for pregnant women to eat pumpkin seeds dried or slightly fried throughout their entire pregnancy.

    The fat component predominates in pumpkin seeds: if you take 100 g of the product, you can sort them “on the shelves” like this:

    • fats – 49 g;
    • protein – 35 g;
    • carbohydrates – less than 5 g.

    In what quantities can pregnant women eat pumpkin seeds? The optimal amount is up to 100 g per day.

    The ideal option is dried seeds. But we love everything that has a brighter taste! During pregnancy, the desire to eat spicy, fried, or smoked foods increases. Therefore, a pregnant woman often eats fried or salted sunflower seeds.

    This is where the danger lies: it turns out that pumpkin seeds can bring not only benefits, but also harm during pregnancy. When frying, they form harmful substances– carcinogens. They are unsafe even for healthy people, and in a special situation you should not get carried away with fried foods. Carcinogens provoke the development of oncogenic processes. During pregnancy, immunity decreases, which means the potential for harm increases.

    In addition, the seeds are very high in calories. 100 g of product contains more than 500 Kcal. When frying in oil, this amount increases.

    So, pumpkin seeds are fraught with both benefits and harm for pregnant women: after all, you can seriously gain weight, and even without noticing it.

    Salted pumpkin seeds should be consumed with great care during late pregnancy: they provoke fluid retention and.

    Pumpkin seeds during early pregnancy

    The first trimester often turns into real agony for the expectant mother. A woman suffers from... Pumpkin seeds will help: they will reduce suffering. Your appetite will increase and your mood will improve.

    The 2nd trimester is characterized by a calmer state of the expectant mother. But she may have:

    • back pain due to pressure on the vertebrae and joints.

    The seeds will come to the rescue again: they help cope with troubles.

    The 3rd trimester again evokes not the most pleasant emotions in women. Women complain of constipation, which occurs due to pressure from the growing uterus on neighboring organs. To make it easier for you in later stages, eat seeds, but not salted ones.

    Pumpkin seeds for worms

    Another fact speaks in favor of the use of pumpkin seeds by pregnant women: they “work” as a natural anthelmintic. Are there signs of helminthic infestation, but many medications are prohibited? Try this recipe:

    • seeds (100 g);
    • milk (2 cups).

    Prepare a mixture of finely chopped and peeled seeds and milk. You should drink 2 tablespoons on an empty stomach, and then take a mild laxative.

    There will be no harm as such from controlled consumption of seeds. You just need to observe moderation so as not to gain excess weight, and save

    During pregnancy, women often crack roasted sunflower seeds. In their opinion, this helps fight the manifestations of toxicosis, as well as heartburn. And what is the opinion of doctors on this matter, is it possible for pregnant women to have fried sunflower seeds, from the point of view of experts.

    Compound

    Sunflower seeds have a large number of useful substances not only for the expectant mother, but also for her baby. Therefore, doctors do not prohibit pregnant women from cracking roasted seeds. It is because of this that it is necessary to control the amount of food eaten so that the body does not become oversaturated with vitamins and minerals and vomiting occurs.

    Substances included in the seeds:

    1. folic acid;
    2. vitamins A, B, D, and E;
    3. polyunsaturated fatty acids;
    4. magnesium;
    5. calcium;
    6. protein;
    7. phosphorus;
    8. zinc;
    9. potassium.

    These substances are required by the female body for the full development of the fetus. Therefore, you can eat roasted seeds during pregnancy. But it is recommended to dry the delicacy rather than fry it. It is better to do this yourself, rather than buy a finished product in a store of dubious quality, which may contain additives harmful to the development of the fetus.

    Before drying, you need to wash and clear the seeds of debris. Then dry it at a low temperature in the oven, and if possible, take it out to a ventilated sunny place. Such fried seeds will only bring benefits during pregnancy.

    Benefit

    Sunflower fruits are an indispensable product for expectant mothers. Many women do not part with them throughout pregnancy, and this is no coincidence.

    What benefits do the seeds provide:

    • relieve the feeling of heartburn;
    • activate intestinal function;
    • fight constipation;
    • eliminate feelings of discomfort in the stomach;
    • contribute faster recovery soft tissues, as well as bones;
    • normalize acidity in the stomach;
    • improve appetite;
    • fight symptoms of nausea;
    • prevent the development of atherosclerosis;
    • are a preventative against diseases of the heart, blood vessels, and liver.

    Are seeds good for pregnant women? From a long list that lists everything beneficial features sunflower fruits, it becomes clear that eating fried sunflower seeds is beneficial for pregnant women.

    Roasted seeds for pregnant women help maintain healthy nails and hair in good condition.

    The healthiest delicacy is washed, dried and peeled seeds. The daily intake should not exceed 100 grams, so as not to harm your health and intrauterine development baby.

    Harm

    Despite the enormous benefits of sunflower fruits, there are still restrictions on consumption. You can’t overeat otherwise, from a delicacy that fights nausea, the seeds will turn into a product that provokes an intensification of this process.

    Dentists prohibit chewing roasted seeds with your teeth, as tooth enamel is severely damaged. For this reason, it is better to clean them by hand. Often, eating treats causes allergic reactions. Therefore, people who are prone to allergies need to be careful.

    During frying everything useful material, found in the product, are broken down, and they become useless, not providing the body with any vitamins. They also use oil during the frying process, which adds additional calories to an already nutritious product.

    Sunflower fruits are a high-calorie product that provokes speed dial excess weight, especially in the early stages. Gynecologists prohibit such ladies from eating sunflower fruits.

    If you want roasted sunflower seeds during pregnancy, it is required not to exceed the permitted daily allowance, that is, 100 grams. product that contains 500 kcal. If a pregnant woman eats more every day, she will soon discover extra pounds. And this is bad for both her and the baby.

    It is recommended to use some of the sunflower fruits for preparing various dishes. The seeds add a piquant taste to your food. A pregnant woman can eat sunflower fruits if the daily intake and preparation technology are followed.

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