The benefits and harms of lemon during pregnancy. Can future mothers eat citrus?
Lemon is considered one of the most unique products containing many useful substances.
Every pregnant woman needs to strengthen her immunity and consume enough vitamins, and lemon is very rich in vitamin C.
But is it safe for pregnant women to consume this fruit? This article will tell in detail about this.
Can pregnant women eat citrus?
When answering the question of whether it is possible to eat yellow citrus during pregnancy, the difference between the use of lemon in the early and late stages should be indicated.
In the early stages
During the first trimester, the baby’s organs and the placenta are formed, therefore it is very important during this period to carefully treat the baby’s health and carefully monitor their nutrition.If the future mother has no problems with the gastrointestinal tract and allergies, a small portion of lemon will be useful for strengthening immunity and preventing infectious diseases.
Water with a pair of lemon wedges will help to get rid of nausea during toxicosis and improve digestion. It’s very good to start the day with a cup of lemon tea. But if the pregnant woman has an allergy, it is better to refrain from eating fruit.
In late terms
By the end of pregnancy, women gain weight significantly, swelling and heaviness appear. During this period, a small amount of lemon will be very useful for the health of the expectant mother, if there are no contraindications. Due to the abundance of potassium and magnesium in the composition, lemon normalizes the amount of sugar in the blood.
Late pregnant women are often advised to consume calcium, which is not always well absorbed. To fix this, it is recommended to drink the preparations with water or tea with a slice of lemon, which will significantly improve the condition of hair, teeth and nails.
Besides, the body of a pregnant woman needs ascorbic acid, which dilutes the blood well. The natural source of this substance is lemon.
Now you know for sure whether pregnant women can eat lemon or not.
Benefits and indications for use
Lemon has many useful properties and can have significant benefits during pregnancy, if consumed in moderation.
- It favorably affects the gastrointestinal tract, helps get rid of nausea, heartburn and bloating. It is very useful to use lemon to prevent constipation.
- This fruit removes excess fluid from the body, helps to cope with edema in late pregnancy. Water and tea with lemon produces a light diuretic effect.
- Due to the abundance of vitamin C and ascorbic acid, lemon allows you to quickly cope with colds and acute respiratory infections. One lemon contains 40 mg of vitamin C, 2.9 mg of vitamin A, 40 mg of calcium, 22 mg of phosphorus.
Side effects and contraindications
Despite the many beneficial properties of lemon, do not forget that this product is one of the most powerful allergens. If a pregnant woman is allergic to citrus fruits, it is best to avoid drinking lemon.
At the end of pregnancy, an allergic reaction may begin in the baby.. If after drinking lemon the baby begins to actively push, it is better to eat it.
In any case, it is better not to abuse lemon. Doctors recommend eating 2-3 cloves per day. If there are no health problems, you can slightly increase the serving. If a pregnant woman has a tendency to hypertension, it is better not to use lemon, as it increases pressure.
There are several contraindications to the use of lemon.:
- problems with the digestive tract;
- kidneys
- pancreatitis
- caries;
- high blood pressure and allergies.
Before use, it is better to consult a doctor.
How to apply?
- It is best to eat fresh lemon. So it will retain all the beneficial properties and provide the body with vitamin C. It is useful to add lemon to salad dressing, drink water or tea with lemon every morning.
- Lemon can have a positive effect on the body and deal with heartburn. If there are no contraindications, you can drink a glass of warm water with a pair of lemon slices.
- The fruit also helps with burping. In order to get rid of this symptom, you need to add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to a glass of water (250 ml).
- For colds, the best remedy is warm tea with lemon. It will help get rid of cough and improve well-being.
- If the pregnant woman is suffering from edema, you can use homemade lemonade, which is very quickly and easily prepared. You need to take 200 ml of water and add the juice of half a lemon. To make it tastier, you can use a little honey or sugar. If you drink such lemonade in the morning, the work of the digestive tract will normalize and the number of edema will decrease.
Why do you want citrus?
During pregnancy, women often have unexpected taste preferences. The desire to eat lemon is not uncommon. As a rule, this means that the body lacks vitamin C, the source of which is citrus.
Lemon is a very healthy product rich in vitamins and minerals.which are necessary for pregnant women for the normal development of the fetus. With proper use, the use of this fruit will be very useful for both mom and the unborn baby.
Useful video
We offer you to watch a video about drinking lemon during pregnancy: