Can I eat apples when breastfeeding and what restrictions exist?

The diet of a nursing mother is undergoing significant changes. This is due to the fact that, on the one hand, the products should provide the mother and child's body with essential elements, on the other hand, the fact that some food is not yet suitable for the uncooked digestive system. About the benefits and contraindications of the use of apples in the period of lactation are real legends. We will understand whether there is truth in them.

Apples and breastfeeding - a combination like this causes a lot of judgment, most of which are scientifically untenable. Consider the most popular myths associated with the use of apples during lactation.

Apples help get rid of iron deficiency anemia, often occurring after childbirth. The truth of this statement is that anemia, in fact, often occurs during this period. The content of iron in apples is so small (per 100 g accounts for 0.1 g of iron), that by themselves they cannot defeat the disease.

But thanks to the acids and vitamin C in the composition, the absorption of iron improves, so it is useful to combine iron-containing products with apples (red meat, liver). It is fair to note that with a strong decrease in hemoglobin, it is not the products that help, but medications, usually injections, help. Iron that comes with food only helps maintain this hemoglobin level achieved by treatment.

Red apples are dangerous on HB, and the development of allergy from green ones is impossible. This statement is associated with the presence of anthocyanins in red fruits, which provide a special shade of the skin, allegedly causing allergies.

Today, experts tend to think that if, before the pregnancy, the mother did not suffer from allergies to the red fruits, then the child will normally perceive them. Protect yourself by eating red apples, you can, removing them from the skin.

The beneficial properties of apples during lactation are due to the presence of vitamins and trace elements. They contain vitamins B, as well as vitamins A, E and C. The high content of ascorbic acid in the first place allows apples to strengthen the immune system.

Strong immunity is a guarantee of the body's resistance to the effects of infections and viruses, adverse environmental influences. We must not forget that a woman’s body depleted by pregnancy, childbirth and lactation needs an increased dose of vitamins to strengthen immune forces. Due to the content of vitamins, recovery of a woman after childbirth will be faster.

Vitamins E and C also remove toxins from the body of the new mother, demonstrate a rejuvenating effect, prevent the development of tumors. Vitamin A is necessary to maintain visual acuity, reduces the risk of developing diseases of the organs of vision. This vitamin is necessary not only for the mother, but also for the newborn.

B vitamins perform many functions in the body, one of the most important of which is the maintenance of metabolism. It is violations of metabolic processes that cause serious diseases and the appearance of excess weight. The woman's endured birth stress is more susceptible to such negative changes in the breakdown and interaction of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

The situation is often aggravated by the need for a woman to keep a strict diet, because of which a deficiency of certain vitamins and microelements is found in the body. Vitamin B-rich apples make it possible, at least to a small extent, to eliminate such metabolic “distortions”.

In addition, B vitamins are involved in blood formation, normalizing blood viscosity and contributing to the production of red blood cells. These red blood cells are the "transport" for oxygen, delivering it to organs and tissues.

During feeding, there are frequent cases of iron deficiency anemia in the mother.B vitamins in part help to prevent its formation, but it is important enough content in the body of iron.

This trace element is contained in apples, and thanks to the “tandem” with organic acids, it is almost fully absorbed from the fruit. Moreover, the combination of apples with other iron-containing products improves their digestibility. In other words, apples useful to combine with pomegranate, buckwheat, beef liver, to avoid anemia.

Finally, B vitamins are essential for normal functioning of the CNS. They strengthen the nerves, accelerate the transmission of nerve impulses, normalizes sleep. Naturally, in the postpartum period, especially when it comes to the birth of the first child, the woman’s life is full of anxiety and stress. Regular consumption of apples helps to eliminate them, gently affects the emotional background of the mother.

Included in the potassium and magnesium improve the work of the heart muscle, relieve arrhythmia, normalize blood pressure. The positive effect of the fruit on the vessels is reduced to an increase in the vascular walls, strengthening the vessels, reducing the values ​​of "bad" cholesterol in the blood.

Phosphorus in the composition is necessary for the brain to work, it has a positive effect on the functions of the brain, nervous system, organs of vision. Iodine, also present in the composition, is important for the activity of the thyroid gland, which is responsible for the production of hormones. Finally, calcium, also present in the composition of apples, helps to strengthen the bones and teeth of the mother and child, this element is also needed for blood formation.

During breastfeeding a woman can be tormented by constipation, which can be handled by apples that contain a lot of fiber and pectins. Organic acids, through which apples and acquire a characteristic acidity, improve digestion. Eating apples also helps to improve the contractility of the intestines, helps to eliminate toxins and wastes.

A contraindication to consuming apples during breastfeeding is an allergy to apples or their individual intolerance. This is rare, The apples carry the "status" of a hypoallergenic fruit.

But intolerance to red fruits is usually predetermined at the genetic level. That is, if the mother's body does not tolerate apples with red skin, then the child, with a high degree of probability, can say this, such fruits will not bring any benefit.

Increased acidity of the stomach should be a reason to abandon the use of green and too acidic apples, because this only aggravates the situation and can provoke erosion of the gastric mucosa. When exacerbation of gastritis and ulcers, as well as other inflammatory processes of the digestive tract organs, eating apples should be abandoned. Similar recommendations are valid in the acute phase of pancreatitis, cholecystitis, gallbladder disease.

Sour apples also have a negative effect on tooth enamel. If it began to break down already at the stage of carrying a child, or there is an increased sensitivity of the teeth, you should choose sweeter varieties of apples. In case of severe damage, fresh juice can be an alternative to fruit, which should be consumed through a straw. Juice contains in high concentration all the elements inherent in fresh fruit, with the exception of fiber.

Red and some yellow apples contain a large amount of sugar, which can cause skin rash in the mother and fetus. In addition, these fruits are more high-calorie, which may be important if the mother is suffering from excess weight.

From this point of view, green fruits are preferable because they contain less sugars. On the other hand, they contain more acids, which can adversely affect the condition of the digestive organs of a woman. In short, the choice of apples for sweetness / acid should be based on personal preferences and peculiarities of mom's health.

The safest local apples. They contain the necessary for the residents of a particular region, the supply of vitamins and minerals, and most importantly - are not processed by "chemistry" to improve the presentation and keeping quality. The best option, of course, is to use fruits grown in your own garden.

If the apples for digestion of the baby seem to be too coarse food and cause increased flatulence, you can bake them. This will help soften fiber and rid the baby of gases. Despite the fact that in the baked form, apples lose some of the healing elements, such a dish will still benefit the body. The elements contained in it are in easily digestible form, and a delicious and beautiful dessert will help to overcome the craving of a woman for sweets.

Raw fruits are less calories than baked and dried. The energy value of baked apples increases to 80-100 kcal per 100 g (depending on the grade of apples, roasting with or without the peel, honey).

The orientation of the possibility of introducing apples into the mother’s diet, as well as their quantities, should be the state of the mother and the state of health of the child. During pregnancy and lactation, the woman's body undergoes significant hormonal changes, therefore, sometimes even some products previously known to cause allergies.

Despite the fact that apples are considered hypoallergenic product, they should be introduced slowly and with small doses into the diet of a nursing woman. By carefully monitoring your own condition, you can determine where the line between “useful” and “harmful” ends when you use these fruits.

It is also important to follow the reaction of the organism of the infant. The appearance of a skin rash, a violation of the chair, abdominal distention and colic - all these are clear signs of a negative response of the child's body to apples. However, in most cases, not so much on the product as on the excess of its volume.

On average, the allowed dosage for the mother is 150-200 g of fresh apples per day. These are 2-3 medium-sized fruits that can be consumed with or without the peel. However, in the latter case, the fetus is almost completely deprived of one of its merits - fiber.

It is possible to include apples in the diet of a nursing mother by the end of the first month of infancy. Naturally, at first it should be a small slice of fruit. You are afraid of the appearance of gas and colic - remove the skin.

When introducing into the diet of a nursing mother, as in the child's nutrition of new products, you should follow a few simple rules:

• Do not introduce several new products at the same time, as this will become a stress for the baby’s body; in the event of a negative reaction, it will be impossible to determine which product it originated;
• Do not update the diet in the heat, during the illness of the baby, a few days before and after vaccination;
• start to use the new product should be in the morning.

For information on what fruits can be nursing mom, see the following video.