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

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

Is melon included in this list? Bakhcheva 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 microelements that are so important for the normal growth and development of the fetus. Read more about the benefits and harms of melon, the rules for its consumption and how to choose the right tasty and healthy melon in our article.

Is it possible to eat melon during pregnancy?

Melon is included in the list of permitted foods for women during pregnancy, provided there are no contraindications. It is most useful in its raw form after removing the peel, but to diversify the menu it is dried, dried, processed into jam, jam, candied fruits, honey and added to baked goods.

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

Benefits and harms

Melon is used as a food product and medicine.Thanks 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.

Let's look at 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, most often in the kidneys and bladder;
• improves the condition of skin, hair and nails;
• neutralizes free radicals;
• increases immune defense;
• eliminates hormonal imbalance;
• reduces high blood pressure 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 conditions, 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 for maintaining electrolyte balance, the formation of the normal structure and composition of the skeletal system, the mineralization of dental tissue and the transmission of nerve impulses. Cosmetic masks and scrubs are prepared from the pulp of the fruit at home, and the face is wiped with melon peels to get rid of blackheads and fine wrinkles and even out skin color.

Melon juice is no less beneficial for the expectant mother’s body. It helps fight edema, increases the rate of urine formation and the removal 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.

Advice. To get the maximum benefit, it is recommended to use unpeeled fruits for preparing juice, since the peel contains biologically active substances that enhance the medicinal properties of melon.

Widespread in folk medicine and cosmetology got pumpkin seeds. Dried seeds are taken for urolithiasis and cholelithiasis, prolonged cough, for skin rejuvenation and as an effective antioxidant.

Like all foods, melon has its drawbacks: it is difficult to digest, consuming it in large quantities can cause bloating, increased gas formation, a feeling of discomfort and heaviness in the stomach, and swelling.

Composition and nutritional value

Melon contains a large number of biologically active substances that are important for the normal development and functioning 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 acids;
• vegetable fats;
• cellulose.

Melon is a low-calorie product: 100 g contains 35 kcal, 7.4 g carbohydrates, 0.6 g protein, 0.3 g fat.

Content of vitamins and minerals

Regular consumption of melon satisfies the body's need for rubidium by 77%, cobalt by 20%, boron by 16%, vanadium and calcium by 10%, magnesium, phosphorus and chlorine by 2%. 100 g of 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.

Rules of use

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

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

Contraindications and precautions

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

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

Melon is introduced into the menu of a nursing woman with caution, so as not to provoke an allergy in her. baby and do not overload the gastrointestinal tract. It is not recommended to eat melon on an empty stomach, with fermented milk and dairy products, or to drink it with water.

It is better to use it as a snack between main meals. People suffering from diarrhea should not eat melon, as it has a laxative effect and can aggravate the condition.

Tips for choosing melon

To get the most benefits, it is best to grow your own melon without using nitrates - this way 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 optimal time to buy.

Reference. In Russia, the most popular variety is “Kolkhoznitsa” (cultivated in local agricultural areas) and “Torpeda” (imported variety).

What you should pay attention to when buying melon:

1. Ripe melon has a sweet, honeyed, rich aroma without any foreign odors of rot.
2. The peel must be intact, without damage, cracking, or signs of damage by pests.
3. A dry tail and a dull sound when tapped are signs of fruit ripeness. A melon harvested ahead of schedule will have a green tail.
4. A base that is soft to the touch 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 a whole melon, since it is unlikely that the sellers’ knives 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, then you can’t eat it, the fruit is saturated with nitrates.

Conclusion

Melon in moderate quantities will only benefit the body of the expectant mother and child.It provides the need for zinc, potassium, calcium, fluorine, 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 your health, it is necessary to exclude possible contraindications before use. And most importantly, eat only ripe and properly grown fruits without any signs of containing nitrates harmful to the body.