Can I use honey during pregnancy?
Since ancient times, people have known sweet, thick amber nectar, which bees extract from flower pollen, processing it with the help of enzymes.Honey is characterized by a unique taste, aroma and, of course, chemical composition.
It contains substances that correct the functional state of the myocardium and prevent its oxygen starvation. It actively destroys and fights viruses, fungi and protozoa, suppresses inflammatory processes, improves metabolism and stimulates the immune system. This natural medicine can eliminate toxins, improve tissue trophism and have a sedative effect, providing deep, healthy sleep.
This honey is rich in various minerals: Na, Fe, K, Mg, Cu, Zn, and so on. Due to its origin, it contains a large percentage of enzymes, organic acids, vitamins and, most importantly, this product is perfectly digested.
Women in the period of carrying a child especially in need of vitamins, minerals and other useful substances. And because they care how this natural sweetness will affect the body of the future mother and fetus, because this product is quite a strong allergen.
Beneficial features
Depending on the type of honey, its basic healing properties differ, for example, the lime product acts more as an antiviral agent and strengthens the immune system perfectly, and buckwheat influences the blood formation system more effectively and effectively fights anemia. Clover has a regenerative property, normalizes the gastrointestinal tract and improves the appearance of the skin. Acacia is also useful for working the stomach and has a beneficial effect on the urinary system.
Acute respiratory viral infection is dangerous during pregnancy, especially in the early stages, when all organs and systems are laid. The outcome of an elementary cold is largely dependent on the mother's body, since in this position the use of most pharmacological drugs is contraindicated. Honey can help to cope with the disease.
Taking it in a small amount, you can not only overcome a cold, but also strengthen the shaken immunity, and most importantly, help the fetus to properly form.
Sometimes a special honey solution is prepared from it and an injection is given. This unusual method is used for protracted labor, affecting the smooth muscles of the uterus and stimulating blood circulation in the pelvis, which also normalizes the transport of oxygen to the fetus. Before birth, taking honey helps to provide the growing fetus with enough oxygen and prevent stagnation in the pelvis.
Toxicosis is experiencing a large part of pregnant women. Dizziness, nausea, vomiting - all this darkens the joyful first months of pregnancy, sometimes leading to serious consequences: dehydration, exhaustion and anemia. To get rid of toxemia will help honey, which has an antiemetic effect, and also stimulates the formation of hemoglobin.
Although sweet amber is sweet in its essence, it has a positive effect on teeth: it effectively eliminates toothache, whitens teeth and strengthens enamel. Honey also treats eye diseases.
The waste product of bees perfectly warns the development of cardiovascular pathologies, it is included in the diet of people with heart disease, for example, after a myocardial infarction. It prevents the formation of atherosclerotic plaques and blood clots, normalizes high blood pressure and helps relieve puffiness.
Contraindications
A contraindication to the use of a beekeeping product is the presence of certain features of the organism.
- Hypersensitivity to apicultural products. Even if there was no allergy before the pregnancy, it may appear. During this period, the woman's body changes, and the reaction to familiar products may be different. If after use, itching, rash, nausea and dizziness appear, honey should be discarded.
- Low blood pressure. Sweetness has a strong hypotensive effect, so if the expectant mother suffers from hypotension, her honey is strictly contraindicated.
- Diabetes mellitus of any type or obesity. The product of bee activity contains a lot of simple carbohydrates, therefore it is contraindicated with excess weight and disruption of the pancreas.
How to use?
The entire period of pregnancy can be divided into several trimesters: 1 trimester - up to 13 weeks, 2 trimester - from 14 to 27 weeks, 3 trimester - from 28 to 40 weeks of pregnancy. At each period in the body of the mother and the fetus there are changes that require additional resources. If a sufficient amount of nutrients enter the body of a pregnant woman, it becomes healthy, and the fetus in the uterus fully develops.
- The use of honey in early pregnancy. The first trimester is responsible for the formation of all organs and systems of the unborn child. The embryo receives all the necessary substances from the maternal organism; therefore, it is important for the woman to receive an increased amount of energy and nutrients. As a rule, at this time, future mothers are willing to eat something sweet, such as cakes, pastries and sweets. However, excessive consumption of confectionery products leads to metabolic disorders, weight gain, and children are often born with diathesis. Therefore, all sweets can be replaced with natural honey, it will satisfy all needs and will not harm health.
When toxicosis is recommended to use honey with hot tea or eat 2-3 spoons at night. About a few days later, the woman normalizes sleep, she will become more active, and also the feeling of nausea will disappear.
- Second trimester honey should be taken no more than two times a day, one spoonful. At this time, the fetus begins to grow, and the woman's appetite increases significantly, honey normalizes it, stabilizes digestion and stool.
- In the third trimester at a later date, honey is often included in a slag-free diet, replacing it with regular sugar. It can be eaten with tea, just a few spoonfuls per day or mixed with cereal. But it is worth remembering that a day you can eat no more than 100 grams of honey, an excess can lead to an allergic reaction.
Recipes
For each ailment, you can pick up your recipe.
- Toxicosis. We take natural honey, lemon juice and pure water. In 1 glass of water dissolve 25 g of honey and the same drops of lemon juice. Mix thoroughly, use when the symptoms of toxemia appear before eating. Or daily in the morning on one teaspoon of a product before meal. This method will restore good health, improve mood and, finally, allow you to forget about the constant nausea and malaise.
- Outdoor use of honey in the form of applications for varicose veins and for the prevention of the appearance of stretch marks. Perfectly removes stretching massage with honey and essential oil, you need to do them every other day for two weeks.
- Increased blood pressure. We take honey and beet juice, mix with each other in a ratio of 1: 1. Take 1-2 tbsp. spoon three times a day.
- Digestive upset. In 1 glass of water we dissolve 25 g of honey, drink 1-3 glasses per day. The solution helps to fight constipation, diarrhea and gas.
- Cold. With a cold, honey is best eaten with tea, it not only helps in the treatment, but also serves as prevention, strengthens the defense mechanisms and saturates the body with vitamins. Tea should be weak, and the best herbal. Lemon and walnuts can enhance the properties of honey, these products also have a very beneficial effect on the immune system, enrich the body with microelements and vitamins. However, it should be borne in mind that citrus fruits, like honey, are strong allergens, and in the absence of a reaction you cannot overeat them.
- Cough. To get rid of cough, you need half a liter of black radish juice and 1 cup of honey, you need to mix the ingredients thoroughly.How to use: 1 teaspoon twice a day before meals. However, if there is hypertonicity of the uterus muscles and the threat of miscarriage, this tool is absolutely contraindicated.
- The second cough recipe. We take ginger and rub on a fine grater, squeeze juice out of a slurry. Mix ginger juice with lemon, observing the proportion of 1: 1. In the preparation dissolve half a teaspoon of honey. We take antitussive every 60 minutes with a teaspoon.
- Increased body temperature. To cope with the temperature, it is necessary to prepare a special tea with the addition of ginger, honey and cinnamon. Tea will destroy harmful bacteria, relieve inflammation and sore throat, as well as ease breathing.
- Prevention of gastritis. Aloe juice mixed with honey in a ratio of 1: 1. How to use: 1 teaspoon three times a day. The composition envelops the walls of the stomach and protects them from the effects of hydrochloric acid, the production of which is amplified against the background of hormonal adjustment. However, in the first months to use aloe juice is not recommended.
- Treatment of a cold. Take one onion and grind, mix with honey and leave to infuse for 24 hours. After taking the tool for a teaspoon in the morning, afternoon and evening.
Since the Middle Ages, honey is eaten with milk, using the drink as a medicine. And even after many years, honey with milk does not lose its relevance. The combination of these two products has a cleansing effect on the body, removes slags and toxic substances, suppresses the inflammatory process and destroys the pathogenic microflora.
The composition of a pregnant woman is extremely beneficial, it improves the metabolic processes in the body, tissue nutrition and oxygen conductivity. It has a sedative effect, relieves nervous tension, improves sleep and well-being in general.
In this recipe, natural milk is present, which together with honey is a drink with a high content of calories, it nourishes the body with vitamins, minerals and easily digestible protein. For a glass of milk we take one tablespoon of natural honey. Heated honey milk before bedtime facilitates the process of falling asleep, reduces the manifestation of heartburn and serves as prevention of colds. This is only a small part of all the available recipes, a different combination of products and honey can have a unique effect on the body and solve even the most unpleasant problems.
Tips
Choosing honey, experts recommend giving preference to honey collected from different plants. Visually, it is thicker and darker than the single component, while it carries less allergic danger and harm, and also contains a greater amount of nutrients.
Artificial honey is not only useless, but can also greatly harm a pregnant woman. Therefore, it is important to acquire an exceptionally high-quality product. A few rules on the choice of high-quality natural honey.
- Honey can be of different colors and shades, there are even varieties that are called cream-honey, with a dense opaque texture. Standard honey must be clear, without any precipitation. The presence of the latter indicates the presence in the composition of starch, sugar and so on.
- The product, which is made from sugar, has almost no flavor. Natural fragrant, has quite a strong aroma.
- It should be borne in mind that in the autumn-winter period, honey is no longer fresh, so it becomes thick. If at this time of the year there is a liquid product on the shelves, it means that it was diluted with something.
- You can check the quality of the honey by rubbing it with your fingers, the fake just rolls into lumps, and the natural one is absorbed.
- High-quality honey has no foam on the surface, if it is present, the fermentation process is in progress, which means that it is immature.
- The texture of the natural product differs in the elasticity, and when the spoon is immersed, and after it is lifted, it drags after it and is wound.
- There are several ways to check if honey is falsified or not.Dissolving in distilled water, a fake will leave behind a residue. When it comes in contact with vinegar, it foams - it means that chalk is mixed in, it turns blue or bluish with iodine - it indicates the presence of flour or starch.
- In a bowl with honey, you can put a slice of bread, if it became stale - a natural product, if softened - diluted with sugar syrup.
- Honey should be stored in a glass, enamel or clay tightly sealed container at a temperature of + 5 ... 10 degrees in a dark place. With proper storage, the product can be stored for a long time.
In any case, before you eat honey, it is important to get expert advice and ensure that there are no contraindications. Yet honey is one of the strongest allergens, and reckless consumption can lead to the development of an acute allergic reaction in the mother or a congenital allergy in the child.
More information about whether you can use honey during pregnancy, you will learn from the following video.