Is it possible to eat a melon during pregnancy: benefits, harms and contraindications

Often, pregnant women have a question: what can you eat while carrying a baby? Opinions about the permitted list of products are very controversial. First of all, you need to understand that food should be varied, and the restrictions apply to foods that can cause a negative reaction in the body of the expectant mother.

Does this list include melon? Melons culture is included in the menu of a pregnant woman mainly in the first and second trimesters. It saturates the body with vitamin A, folic and ascorbic acids, calcium, potassium, zinc, sodium, fiber and other beneficial trace elements that are so important for the normal growth and development of the fetus. Read more about the benefits and dangers of melon, the rules for its use and how to choose the right tasty and healthy melon in our article.

Can you eat melon during pregnancy?

Melon is included in the list of permitted products for a woman during pregnancy, provided there are no contraindications. It is most useful raw after removing the peel, but for a variety of menus, it is dried, dried, processed into jam, jam, candied fruit, honey and added to baked goods.

In order not to harm the body of the mother and the unborn child, before using it, you must make sure that there is no allergy to the product and possible contraindications.

Benefit and harm

Melon is used as food and medicine. Due to its rich chemical composition, it has a beneficial effect on the body, supports the general condition and functions of the cardiovascular, digestive and nervous systems.

Consider the benefits of melon for the body:

• cleanses the digestive tract;
• normalizes metabolic processes;
• promotes losing weight;
• is an effective means of preventing atherosclerosis;
• improves mood, relieves anxiety and depression;
• has a calming effect;
• prevents the formation of cancer cells;
• slows down the aging process;
• takes part in the production of hemoglobin;
• dissolves and prevents the formation of stones in various parts of the urinary system, more often in the kidneys and bladder;
• improves the condition of the skin, hair and nails;
• neutralizes free radicals;
• increases immune protection;
• eliminates hormonal imbalance;
• reduces high arterial pressure.

The benefits of melon for pregnant women are determined by the presence of folic acid in its composition, which ensures normal growth and development of the immune and circulatory systems. In addition, folic acid is necessary to prevent hypovitaminosis, create new cells and maintain their health, and improve the absorption of iron in the body.

Potassium contained in the pulp of the fruit improves the condition and functionality of the myocardium, calcium is necessary to maintain electrolyte balance, the formation of a normal structure and composition of the skeletal system, mineralization of dental tissue and transmission of nerve impulses. Cosmetic masks and scrubs are prepared from the pulp of the fruits at home, and the face is rubbed with melon crusts to get rid of blackheads and small wrinkles, to even out the skin color.

Melon juice is no less useful for the body of the expectant mother. It helps fight edema, increases the rate of urine formation and excretion of salts and water along with it, and reduces the fluid content in tissues. It has a slight lymphatic drainage, tonic and anti-inflammatory effect.

Council. To get the maximum benefit, it is recommended to use unpeeled fruits for juicing, as the peel contains biologically active substances that enhance the medicinal properties of the melon.

Widespread in folk medicine and cosmetology got pumpkin seeds. Dried seeds are taken for urolithiasis and gallstone diseases, lingering coughs, for skin rejuvenation and as an effective antioxidant agent.

Like all products, melon has its drawbacks: it is difficult for digestion, its consumption in large quantities can cause bloating, increased gas formation, a feeling of discomfort and heaviness in the stomach, swelling.

Composition and nutritional value

The melon contains a large number of biologically active substances that are important for the normal development and life of the body:

• minerals: silicon, rubidium, cobalt, boron, calcium, potassium, vanadium, chlorine, magnesium, phosphorus;
• trace elements: manganese, iodine, iron, zinc, fluorine, sulfur;
• vitamins of groups A, B, C, E;
• organic acids;
• starch;
• sucrose;
• folic and ascorbic acid;
• vegetable fats;
• cellulose.

Melon belongs to low-calorie foods: 100 g contains 35 kcal, 7.4 g of carbohydrates, 0.6 g of protein, 0.3 g of fat.

Vitamin and mineral content

Regular consumption of melon satisfies the body's need for rubidium by 77%, cobalt - 20%, boron - 16%, vanadium and calcium - 10%, magnesium, phosphorus and chlorine - 2%. 100 g of the product contains 82 mg of silicon, which is three daily norms of its consumption.

The list of vitamins is more modest and is represented by carotene (vitamin A), ascorbic acid (vitamin C), vitamins B and E.

Terms of use

If the melon in the first and second trimesters in moderation is absolutely safe, then in the later stages it can cause an unwanted tone for the child: eating it in large quantities causes a laxative effect and bloating. The health of a pregnant woman at all stages is threatened by a melon grown with the use of nitrates, which creates a risk of food poisoning.

In the diet of the expectant mother, measure is important, and melon is no exception. It is better to eat it every day, but in small portions. The optimal daily rate without harm to the body is 200-300 g (2-3 slices). If today you have already drunk juice or ate seeds, then you can no longer eat the pulp.

Contraindications and precautions

Absolute contraindications include a history of such diseases and pathological conditions as:

• individual intolerance to the product;
• diabetes;
• gastritis with high acidity;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract in an acute form or stage of exacerbation;
• intestinal inflammation;
• stones in the urinary system.

Melon is carefully introduced into the menu of a nursing woman, so as not to provoke allergies in baby and not overload the digestive tract. It is not recommended to eat melon on an empty stomach, with fermented milk and dairy products, wash it down with water.

Better to use it as a snack between meals. Melon should not be eaten by people suffering from diarrhea, as it has a laxative effect and can aggravate the condition.

Melon tips

To get the most out of your cantaloupe, it's best to grow your melon yourself without using nitrates so you can be sure of its quality. Otherwise, you need to be able to choose it correctly. The fruits ripen in August-September, so this is the best time to buy.

Reference. In Russia, the most popular varieties are Kolkhoznitsa (cultivated in local agricultural areas) and Torpedo (imported variety).

What to look out for when buying a melon:

1. Ripe melon has a sweet, honeyed, rich aroma without extraneous odors of rot.
2. The peel should be intact, without damage, cracking, traces of damage by pests.
3. A dry tail and a dull sound when tapped are signs of fetal maturity. Melon harvested ahead of time will have a green tail.
4. A soft-touch base indicates that the fruit is overripe.
5. The sweetest varieties have many gray lines on the peel, which are formed when the pistil is pollinated by bees.

It is better to buy the whole melon, since it is unlikely that the knives from the sellers are kept in accordance with sanitary standards. Before use, it must be washed with running water and soap. Pay attention to the veins of the cut melon: if they are voluminous, loose and yellow, that is, it cannot be, the fruit is saturated with nitrates.

Conclusion

Melon in moderation will only benefit the body of the expectant mother and child. It provides the need for zinc, potassium, calcium, fluoride, magnesium, folic acid, carotene and other substances that are important for the normal course of pregnancy, growth and development of the fetus.

In order not to harm health, before use, it is necessary to exclude possible contraindications. And most importantly, there are only ripe and properly grown fruits without signs of the content of nitrates harmful to the body.