Chicory during pregnancy: the benefits and harm, the rate of use

During pregnancy, you can eat only those drinks that benefit the expectant mother and her baby, not harm.This article will tell you more about whether chicory can be consumed by pregnant women, as well as about the norms for drinking beverages made from it.

The future mother, who takes her food responsibly, is also sure to follow the drinks she drinks. A frequent problem that appears in many women in both early and late pregnancy is the limitation of coffee consumption. A huge number of expectant mothers can not imagine their life without the use of this flavored drink. However, coffee, unfortunately for many, does not apply to drinks that can be drunk pregnant.

Finding an alternative to coffee drinks is quite difficult. However, the desire to pamper yourself with something tasty or fragrant led to the use of chicory as an alternative to coffee.

The chemical composition of the plant is surprising. It has many components that have a beneficial effect. So, at the root of the plant are present:

• tannins;
• organic acids;
• vitamin B complex;
• ascorbic acid and vitamin A;
• vegetable proteins;
• mineral compounds.

In the first trimester, a pregnant woman may develop symptoms of toxemia. Various factors, including stress, can lead to the development of this pathological condition. Coping with the adverse symptoms of this pathology can be extremely difficult. Various drinks come to the rescue, containing active ingredients that help to cope with nausea and other unpleasant symptoms of toxemia.

So, inulin is present at the root of the plant. This component brings great benefits to the body of the future mother. Inulin is a polysaccharide, very soluble in hot water. In "pure" form, it has a pronounced sweet taste. It is no coincidence that chicory drinks, even without added sugar or honey, have a slight sweetness.

Inulin is able to improve the processes of digestion. This effect ultimately leads to the fact that the toxicosis of the first or second trimester decreases.

However, it helps inulin, which is contained in the roots of chicory, and in the later periods. One of the possible problems that pregnant women may face in the third trimester is the appearance of persistent constipation. In some women, this unfavorable symptom is also accompanied by the appearance of strong gas formation and a feeling of heaviness in the stomach area. Inulin, which is contained in beverages made from chicory, helps to cope with these adverse clinical signs. This component is not able to be absorbed into the blood without residue.

In the process of its metabolism, substances are formed that are capable of performing the function of dietary fiber. These components are able to clean the colon, helping to enhance its contractile function. Inulin is also able to favorably influence the functioning of the small intestine, which leads to an improvement in the absorption of all substances that are in food, as well as vitamins. Such a complex effect on the functioning of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract also contributes to the improvement of the growth of "beneficial" bacteria that live on the intestinal walls. This, in turn, helps reduce the risk of dysbacteriosis - a pathology that is often recorded in expectant mothers.

Doctors say that inulin does not lead to a sharp increase in blood sugar levels. It is no coincidence that this substance is used as an alternative to the usual sugar. The pronounced sweet taste of inulin contributes to the fact that it is often added to various confectionery products intended for diabetics.Thus, women who suffer from gestational diabetes can even indulge themselves with a cup of flavored drink. However, when consuming such a drink, they should remember that it should be drunk without any sweets, since the “fast” carbohydrates contained in the dessert can lead to an increase in blood glucose.

From the second trimester, when the weight of the baby begins to increase, his mother starts to undergo various changes in the work of the kidneys. This is manifested, as a rule, by the fact that a pregnant woman begins to go to the toilet more often to urinate. If the future mother does not have any diseases of the urinary system, then you should not worry about it, as this symptom is quite normal.

Inulin, which is contained in beverages made from chicory, can also have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the kidneys. This component is able to improve renal filtration, which leads to positive changes in the functioning of the urinary system as a whole.

Many pregnant women in the second half of pregnancy are faced with the problem of edema on the body. The accumulation of fluid not only contributes to a change in appearance, but also leads to a deterioration of health. In the future mother, general weakness increases, working capacity and endurance decrease. Frequent urging to the toilet also does not contribute to improving mood.

You can cope with these symptoms by drinking chicory drinks. A pair of cups of this flavored drink per day helps to eliminate excess fluid from the body, and also has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the kidneys. After a few days of taking chicory, the appearance is improved, and swelling is also reduced.

Mood swings are another problem that often worries expectant mothers. Changes in the hormonal background contribute to the fact that the nervous system works in a previously unfamiliar mode. Any stressful factors, even minor ones, can lead to tearfulness, anger, or excessive irritation. It also happens that the hormones due to various reasons change so quickly that the nervous system simply does not have time to “tune in”. At this moment, the future mother simply cannot cope with changing her mood.

Herbal remedies can help stabilize the nervous system. The magnesium contained in chicory and the B complex of vitamins help the expectant mother to feel more relaxed and just to calm down.

The plant also contains substances that help improve immunity. During pregnancy, there comes its physiological decline, which is quite natural. The immune system changes its normal functioning so that the woman can bear the child. However, such changes in the female body during pregnancy have a number of negative consequences.

The main one is the reduction of the body's resistance to various infections. Even the usual cold or acute respiratory infections in pregnant women can be quite long and hard. The protracted chronic pathologies that the expectant mother has also lead to the protracted course of such diseases. The use of aromatic beverages made from chicory is a good prevention of various respiratory diseases, which are most often transmitted by droplet infection from an infected person to a healthy one.

The root of this plant contains very important components - phenols. They have a complex effect on the body. So, phenols can affect the work of the myocardium.These substances can reduce the risk of developing dangerous arrhythmias, so drinks made from chicory, unlike coffee, can be used by women suffering from heart disease.

Also, phenols can lower high cholesterol. Hypercholesterolemia is a condition that is characterized by an increase in cholesterol in the bloodstream. Most often, this pathology occurs in women after 35 years. However, hypercholesterolemia may develop much earlier in women with a family predisposition to this pathology.

The danger of this condition during pregnancy is that it can adversely affect the fetal development of the fetus. Cholesterol is deposited on the walls of blood vessels, which leads to a decrease in their lumen. For such narrowed vessels, blood simply cannot enter the children's body in its entirety through the system of placental arteries. Such a condition may eventually lead to hypoxia. Chicory also contains substances that are able to normalize the indicators of fat metabolism. Under their influence decreases the concentration of cholesterol.

Possess drinks made from chicory, and a mild laxative effect. The dose of drink consumed significantly affects the stool. That is why the use of chicory should not forget about the number. Exceeding the recommended dosages may cause diarrhea.

Drinks from chicory can be drunk even to women who are afraid of getting better during pregnancy. They contain a whole range of components that accelerate the removal of excess fluid from the body. The plant also contains substances that contribute to a small decrease in appetite.

Chicory drinks contain substances that may in some cases lead to the appearance of adverse symptoms. In order not to harm your body, such drinks should not be used by pregnant women who have contraindications to their use.

You can not use drinks from this plant when:

• hemorrhoids;
• peptic ulcer disease;
• erosive form of gastritis;
• allergies or individual intolerance to chicory;
• varicose veins, especially with severe venous insufficiency;
• uncontrolled hypotension.

Note that the plant contains many components that can affect the functioning of the cardiovascular system. Pregnant women who have any pathology of the heart or blood vessels, especially those accompanied by a change in blood pressure, should always consult a doctor before using such drinks.

Use healthy drinks from chicory powder for pregnant women can be 1-2 times a day. A portion of the drink can be prepared even in the morning instead of coffee. For the convenience of preparing a drink, it is better to use soluble chicory. It can be bought both in the store and in the pharmacy.

The optimal dose for consuming such drinks is 1-2 cups per day. It is better that the volume of a single portion does not exceed 250 ml. This number practically can not affect blood pressure or somehow worsen the normal course of pregnancy.

Cooking mugs fragrant drink does not take much time. To do this, pour a teaspoon of vegetable powder with a glass of hot water and mix thoroughly. Leave the drink to infuse for literally 1.5-2 minutes. After this time, the healthy drink is ready.

Some women do not like the taste of chicory. In order to change it, when preparing such a drink, they add milk to it. To make such a drink, take:

• chicory powder - 1 tsp;
• hot water - 200-250 ml;
• milk - 40-50 ml.

Pour the chicory into the prepared mug and fill it with a glass of water. Then stir and pour in the milk. If desired, the taste can be changed by adding additional honey. This drink will be a great addition to breakfast and can be a good alternative to coffee.

See if the following video is about pregnant chicory.