Everyone knows about the many beneficial properties of seaweed. Not everyone loves it for its specific taste and smell, but those who like them cannot resist the temptation to feast on kelp. It can be especially useful during pregnancy. In this article, we will talk about whether pregnant women are allowed to eat seaweed, how to do it correctly, and what else kelp can be useful for the expectant mother.
What it is?
The scientific name for seaweed is Laminaria. By origin, these are algae that are directly related to the class of brown. Kelp are of different types. Japanese grows in the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk, sugary, most often used in cooking, grows in the White and Kara seas. In their natural habitat, kelp form extensive, impassable thickets where there is a constant intense current, mainly along the coast. Therefore, it is not surprising that algae are harvested after the last storm.
The Japanese were the first to think of using such a "catch". They were surprised to find a lot of useful properties in the seaweed washed ashore. In Russia, they learned about algae in the 18th century. The product was described by members of the Bering expedition.
The amazing seaweed contains a large amount of mineral compounds and vitamins. The main advantage of the product is the record content of iodine, which is necessary for the normal functioning of the thyroid gland and metabolic processes. In addition, kelp contains ash, vitamin PP, beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamins B1, B2, B6, B9, as well as vitamin C. The product is rich in potassium, magnesium, sodium and calcium. There is also phosphorus and iron in it.
Benefits for pregnant women
During pregnancy, seaweed can be used for food, but, of course, in reasonable quantities, since an overdose of iodine is quite dangerous for human health. If you eat it without fanaticism, then the benefits of the product will not be long in coming.
First of all, it is a source of valuable dietary fiber. Laminaria tends to collect moisture in itself, and therefore in the stomach and intestines, it somewhat increases in volume. The intestinal walls begin to irritate at the level of the mucous membrane, and this is what helps to normalize peristalsis. As a result, increased gas production and constipation, which often plague expectant mothers, recede.
A large amount of iodine not only supports the thyroid gland, but also helps prevent vascular diseases. Another useful substance, lecithin, will also take care of the condition of the blood vessels of the expectant mother. Due to the presence of fatty acids, the product does an excellent job of removing toxins from the body.
Iron in the composition of kelp helps to increase the level of hemoglobin, which is very important for a woman "in an interesting position". Doctors of ancient China fed pregnant women and women in labor with seaweed, sincerely believing that this product increases the quality and quantity of breast milk.
Thus, you can eat seaweed while carrying a baby, at least because this product:
- promotes softer and more delicate digestion;
- compensates for the deficiency of iron and iodine in the body;
- removes toxins, the impact of which in the modern world, alas, is inevitable;
- normalizes metabolism;
- helps to restore water-salt metabolism;
- carefully protects blood vessels from sclerosis and blood clots;
- prevents constipation;
- compensates for calcium deficiency, promotes the development of the fetal bone skeleton and the process of hemostasis of the mother and fetus (especially important in the 1st and 2nd trimester);
- enhances immunity;
- normalizes blood pressure levels;
- reduces the likelihood of spontaneous miscarriage in the 1st trimester due to the increased content of folic acid;
- has a beneficial effect on the nervous system of a woman (due to magnesium);
- helps to control their own weight and will be an excellent dish for those who need to eliminate pathological weight gain during childbearing.
Who is it contraindicated for?
Laminaria is useful, but with all its advantages during pregnancy, there are contraindications to eating such algae. It can be harmful to women who are prone to allergic reactions, especially to seafood. And iodine itself is a pretty strong allergen, you shouldn't forget about it.
Doctors point out that you should not get carried away while carrying a baby with seaweed for women who had hemorrhoids before conception or it manifested itself after pregnancy. Also, dishes with algae should be abandoned for women who, in the process of carrying a baby, have exacerbated chronic diseases of the stomach and pancreas. In a state of remission, it is possible to eat it, in an acute period it is impossible. If you have kidney problems, you should also avoid eating seaweed.
If a woman has an excessive functioning of the thyroid gland with increased production of thyroid-stimulating hormones, then she can not use either iodine preparations or seaweed.
Temporarily, expectant mothers are not recommended to eat seaweed if a runny nose has worsened or signs of cystitis appear.
Also, we must not forget that it is not so much the seaweed itself that can cause harm, but the conditions for its growth and collection. Brown algae absorb fluids, and we have already learned this. They also absorb harmful liquids, especially if there are environmentally unfavorable factors where they grow (it is unlikely that the expectant mother and her baby will benefit from seaweed from the coast of the Japanese Fukushima contaminated with radiation).
Spill of oil products into the sea, radiation, chemicals - all this immediately affects the composition of the product, and therefore you need to choose and buy only the "right cabbage". We will describe how to do this below.
Using
Laminaria is used by pregnant women in several directions at once.
In gynecology
Thin sticks made from dried kelp - a means for rhodostimulation. They are used if by the end of the pregnancy the woman has an immature cervix or the pregnancy is already post-term. The doctor inserts the sticks into the cervical canal of the cervix and leaves it there for several hours. Laminaria swell and begin to mechanically expand the cervical canal from the inside, helping to soften the cervix and its early opening.
The use of such sticks causes a lot of controversy among doctors. According to some information, kelp increases the likelihood of infection of the uterine cavity after childbirth, their effect is quite painful for the woman in labor, and the desired effect is not always achieved. Therefore, some obstetricians consider its use unjustified and inappropriate, and some are very fond of administering kelp to pregnant women who cannot start giving birth, and are very pleased with the results. The opinions of women in labor are also mixed.
For food
Seaweed can be available in a variety of forms. A woman can buy frozen seaweed. Then they will need to be defrosted and rinsed very thoroughly. Dried seaweed is pre-soaked in clean water for 12-14 hours. A salad is prepared from the resulting product, added to fish soup, and added to side dishes.
But pickled cabbage canned in vinegar is better not to buy. Preservatives, sugar and additives will not do the pregnant woman any good, as will the ready-made kelp salads from the store.
The daily norm of seaweed for a pregnant woman is from 30 to 100 grams, no more.
In cosmetology
Soaked dry or thawed algae can be used to prepare homemade masks for the face and hands. The gruel of them is an excellent anti-inflammatory local remedy for wounds, scratches and cuts.
Selection rules
Do not be shy, feel free to ask the store representative for a quality certificate for seaweed. This is important in order to understand where the product is collected and packaged. Please note that kelp collected near Japan is undesirable until all the consequences of the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant have been eliminated. With a light heart, choose Chinese products, Far Eastern kelp. A product from the Barents Sea is also not worth buying yet - environmentalists pay attention to its strong pollution.
The packaging should be transparent, the label should not include such additives as E220, E621. Cabbage should not be yellow.
If you can add a little potato starch to the purchased product, this will help determine the fake - the real kelp will turn blue. The fake will remain unchanged.
For information on how to eat right during pregnancy, see the next video.
