Walnuts in pregnancy

Walnuts during pregnancy can become a valuable source of nutrients. It is not without reason that our ancestors called the nut "the tree of life". People use not only the kernels. For medicinal purposes, the peel, partitions, and walnut leaves are also used. Even unripe nuts are useful.

Research confirms that nuts, when included in the diet, reduce the risk of developing cancer or diabetes, and have a beneficial effect on the heart and circulatory system as a whole. Pharmacists use the antiseptic, hemostatic, anti-inflammatory, regenerating and immunostimulating properties of nuts when creating medications.

Can you eat walnuts during pregnancy?

The kernels contain a full range of useful substances: vegetable protein, minerals and vitamins, unsaturated and saturated fatty acids - everything that is so necessary for the body of a pregnant woman. Vegetable protein of nut kernels contains essential and replaceable amino acids: valine, isoleucine and arginine. Folic acid and vitamin E, which are rich in nuts, play an important role in the balance of hormones.

The content of polyunsaturated fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6 in nuts, the importance and value of which doctors regularly remind us about, breaks absolutely all records. In particular, 100 grams of nuts contain such an amount of omega-6 fatty acids that is 3.5 times higher than the daily requirement of the human body, and omega-3 – as much as 8 times.

B vitamins are involved in regulating metabolism, are responsible for the stability of the nervous system, protect against stress, and have a positive effect on the condition of the skin and the appearance of hair. These vitamins are better absorbed by the body, thanks to manganese, which nuts are rich in. The minerals contained in the kernels provide the body of a woman expecting a baby with copper, silicon, boron, phosphorus, manganese, and cobalt in sufficient quantities. Phytosterols help normalize cholesterol levels and minimize the likelihood of heart and vascular diseases.

Benefits of walnuts during pregnancy

Included in the diet of a pregnant woman, walnuts will have a beneficial effect on her health. Nuts normalize the work of the heart and blood vessels, reduce the likelihood of atherosclerosis. The ability of nuts to relieve spasms is known: they can even be used to relieve headaches. During the period of bearing a child, this is especially important, because at this time almost all analgesics are prohibited. To relieve a headache caused by vascular spasms, it will be enough to eat three or four nuts with honey. Walnuts help to normalize sleep, reduce the effects of stress, and improve memory.

Snacking on a couple of nuts between meals can quickly satisfy the hunger that often occurs in pregnant women. In addition, nuts reduce the desire to eat sweets. Some women, while carrying a baby, face the problem of edema. The gentle diuretic effect of nuts, due to the potassium and magnesium they contain, helps to remove excess fluid.

Everyone knows how important iron is for a pregnant woman's body. Iron is involved in the formation of the placenta and the transportation of nutrients to the baby. And the baby itself needs iron for the circulatory system. Walnuts with honey during pregnancy will help the body get this much-needed element and increase the level of hemoglobin. The best way to do this is to prepare a mixture of honey, lemon zest and ground kernels. If you eat nuts with raisins, this will have a beneficial effect on the work of the heart muscle. Iodine, which nuts are rich in, protects pregnant women from thyroid diseases. In the last days of pregnancy, eating nuts helps improve lactation.

Walnut oil is also known for its valuable properties. In moderate doses, it helps cleanse the body, regenerate cells and normalize digestion. Nutritionists often prescribe this remedy to people suffering from excess weight. Walnut oil during pregnancy is a great way to get rid of toxicosis.

Medicinal properties of green walnuts during pregnancy

Green walnut is an amazing medicine. A mixture of unripe nuts with pericarp is especially useful. To prepare it, pericarp with nuts is ground in a meat grinder and mixed with honey. The resulting mixture should be infused for a month in a dark place. The mixture should be taken before meals, 1 dessert spoon. This composition stimulates the immune system, protects the body from infections and has anti-inflammatory properties.

Green walnuts help to get rid of some diseases of the genitourinary system and gastrointestinal tract. They are used to eliminate spasms in the intestines and to fully cleanse the intestines. In addition, you can make delicious dietary jam from nuts. It is green walnuts and partitions that contain record amounts of carotene and ascorbic acid. Eating such jam will help improve the condition of the skin, without overloading the stomach. Young walnuts are useful during pregnancy due to their rich content of vitamins P and E.

Harm of walnuts during pregnancy

Of course, nuts have a huge list of healing properties. However, everything is good in moderation. An immoderate amount of them in the diet will not only not be useful, but will cause serious harm to health. Especially during pregnancy, women need to be careful. Nuts can cause severe allergies due to the high protein content. Allergies can occur in both the expectant mother and the baby in the womb, and subsequently lead to asthma. During this period, you should not eat nuts every day, and limit the daily intake to four to five kernels per day. If irritation of the mucous membranes appears, tonsils turn red, or an upset stomach occurs, nuts should be excluded altogether. Their use is not recommended for gastritis, colitis, ulcers and other inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract. Due to the high fat content, nuts often provoke constipation. A pregnant woman should remember this effect and observe moderation if she has problems with the intestines.

Walnuts during pregnancy are a real treasure trove of useful substances. However, it is necessary to be careful and observe the measure in the amount of kernels consumed. And then they will bring great benefit to both the expectant mother and the baby.