Onions are a very common and beloved vegetable by many. Its advantage is its specific pungent taste, but it is also a disadvantage, having an aggressive effect on the gastrointestinal tract. Expectant mothers are especially sensitive to various food irritants, so the question of whether it is possible to eat green onions and onions during pregnancy needs to be clarified.
There are many areas of application for this product - from cooking to cosmetology and traditional medicine. In order not to harm your health during such a crucial period, you need to familiarize yourself with the rules for using onions, precautions and contraindications.
Benefits and harms
What can be said about the beneficial properties of onions? This vegetable is a real storehouse of vitamins and microelements. It contains:
- vitamins of group B, as well as A and C;
- calcium;
- iron;
- potassium;
- phosphorus;
- selenium;
- phytoncides;
- Sahara;
- nitrogenous substances;
- essential oils.
Of particular value are the phytoncides present in large quantities in onions. These compounds are capable of destroying bacteria and viruses. That is why onions are often used to prevent respiratory infections.
In addition, when consumed in reasonable quantities, it stimulates the production of gastric juice, improves the digestive process and the functioning of the cardiovascular system. Bone tissue is also strengthened and there is a positive effect on the nervous system.
But overusing onions, especially fresh ones, is dangerous. It enhances fermentation processes in the intestines and can cause exacerbation of chronic gastrointestinal diseases, nausea, vomiting, heartburn and other unpleasant symptoms. An allergic reaction is also possible. During pregnancy, this is possible, even if the woman tolerated the product well before conception. Read more about the signs and consequences of allergies in pregnant women→
Red onion: can pregnant women eat it?
A variety with purple skin and flesh with a reddish tint. Anthocyanins give it a special color - substances that help with bacterial diseases, inflammation, and slow down cell aging. In addition, it contains a lot of quercetin, a flavonoid with anti-inflammatory, diuretic and antihistamine properties.
When consuming onions, it is better for expectant mothers to give preference to red onions. It contains twice as much antioxidants as any other variety.
Of the microelements, red onions contain a large amount of chromium. Its characteristic feature is a decrease in blood sugar. This vegetable also contains a large amount of sulfur, necessary for the synthesis of amino acids, which stimulate the production of collagen, improve blood composition, and support the activity of the cardiovascular system.
Indications and contraindications
Eating onions is recommended in cases of lack of appetite, vitamin deficiency, constipation, a tendency to colds, and hypotension. It also helps prevent the appearance of cholesterol plaques, iron deficiency anemia and malfunctions of the immune system.
But eating fresh onions in large quantities is unacceptable if a person has:
- hypertension;
- asthma;
- diseases of the kidneys, heart, gall bladder and liver;
- peptic ulcer;
- heartburn.
It should be borne in mind that onions provoke the release of excess gases, so they are not recommended for flatulence. An absolute contraindication to eating this vegetable internally and externally is an allergy to it. Read more about how to cope with flatulence during pregnancy→
Hazardous substances
Despite the fact that onions contain a huge amount of useful vitamins, they contain substances that cause concern. Onions contain fairly difficult-to-digest fiber and caustic juice, which, in case of diseases of the gastrodigestive tract, can irritate the walls of the stomach mucosa, causing inflammation and discomfort.
In addition, it includes a large number of allergens, sometimes even leading to asthma attacks. That is why there are some contraindications to its use.
Can pregnant women eat onions?
Due to changes in taste preferences, the taste and smell of onions during pregnancy can cause an unbearable desire to eat it. However, expectant mothers have to be very selective about food so as not to harm the baby. In this regard, the question arises: is it possible to eat onions during pregnancy and, if so, how much and how to eat them? In itself, a woman’s new position is not a contraindication, but caution still does not hurt. Let's consider the features of eating green and onions during pregnancy.
Bulb
A healthy person is allowed to eat up to 100 g of fresh onions per day. It's better to add it to salads or snacks. Onions can also be added to soups and main courses or eaten as a snack. This will support the immune system and saturate the body with natural vitamins. But with constant use or exceeding the permitted amount, there is a risk of developing gastritis and heartburn.
Boiled onions are also useful. During heat treatment, it loses some of its vitamins, but is able to lower blood sugar levels and also improve the functioning of the pancreas. Pregnant women suffering from chronic pancreatitis or gestational diabetes are recommended to eat 1 boiled or baked medium-sized onion daily on an empty stomach.
Green
Green onion shoots are rich in folic acid and vitamin C. Its use is not only not prohibited, but is even recommended for expectant mothers. Green onions during early pregnancy reduce the risk of developing congenital anomalies in the fetus and prevent vitamin deficiency in women.
Of course, this does not mean that you need to eat onions in bunches. It is enough to add 2 tbsp to food. l. fresh chopped shoots.
In order for green onions to bring maximum benefits, it is important to choose them correctly. The shoots should not be too long, limp or darkened. You shouldn’t store it in the refrigerator for a long time - green onions quickly wither, and the beneficial substances go away with the moisture. It is much more practical to grow it at home yourself.
Can pregnant women eat onion vegetables?
In 1st trimester
During this period , onions are recommended for consumption because they contain such an important component as folic acid , which is very important for the formation of the fetus. This acid reduces the likelihood of developing pathologies of the nervous system and is responsible for the process of DNA formation.
Also, due to the content of a large amount of phytoncides, onions help fight colds and viral diseases, to which pregnant women are easily exposed due to reduced immunity. As you know, a mild form of a cold can very quickly turn into a severe one and thus cause irreparable harm to the fetus in the early stages. In such cases, onions are simply irreplaceable, especially in the 1st trimester.
Onions should be eaten in moderation. It can be eaten fresh or added to almost any dish.
During the 2nd trimester
In the second half of pregnancy, onion consumption should be reduced . This plant can cause heartburn, activate the fermentation process in the intestines and cause discomfort.
Methods of application
In addition to being used in cooking, onions are actively used in folk medicine and cosmetology. With its help you can get rid of colds, nasal congestion, cough, hemorrhoids, vitamin deficiency, and improve the condition of your skin and hair.
Here are some common ways to use onion pulp and juice for medicinal purposes:
- Onions during pregnancy and colds. At the first signs of ARVI, it is recommended to do onion inhalations. For this, 3 tbsp. l. chamomile is poured with boiling water and kept on fire for 10 minutes. Then grate 1 onion and lemon on a fine grater. The mixture is placed in a chamomile decoction and inhaled in pairs for 10-15 minutes.
- Onion for a runny nose during pregnancy. If your nose is stuffy, take 1 onion, grate it and squeeze out the juice. To it you need to add 150 ml of water and 1 tbsp. l. honey The product is stirred well and left for 1 hour. During pregnancy, onions are instilled into the nose with a pipette, and every 3 hours, 3 drops are injected into the right and left nostrils. Read more about the treatment of runny nose in pregnant women→
- Onion for cough during pregnancy. Add 1 chopped fresh onion to 200 ml of milk and cook until soft. Then the mass is ground through a sieve and drunk in 2 doses, treatment is continued until the condition improves. Milk with onions during pregnancy is a safe remedy for a dry, debilitating cough.
- Onions for the prevention and treatment of hemorrhoids. Squeeze the juice out of a fresh onion and take 1 tsp. before meals three times a day.
- Onion for dandruff. To get rid of this problem, rub onion juice (2-3 tablespoons) into the roots of your hair and wrap your head with a towel. After an hour, the product is washed off, the procedures are repeated 2 times a week for 1-2 months.
- Onions for health and hair growth. Mix onion juice (2 tbsp), cognac, honey, sea salt, burdock oil and kefir (all ingredients 1 tbsp). Apply the mixture over the entire length of your hair, and after 1.5 hours, wash your hair thoroughly. The frequency of procedures is the same as for dandruff treatment.
- Onion for skin pigmentation. Pigment spots are not uncommon in expectant mothers. To lighten your skin, wipe your face daily with a freshly cut onion ring, then apply sour cream to the treated areas for 10 minutes.
Basic rules of use
A pregnant woman should consume no more than 100 grams of onion per day. This is the maximum norm in the first half of pregnancy; in the second half, the amount of this vegetable should be halved. To avoid heartburn and other stomach problems, you should not eat it every day, but at least every other day or two.
The most beneficial substances are found in raw onions. In this form, it can be added to main dishes or salads, or eaten as a snack. To treat colds, you can make pastes and infusions from it. If you have diabetes, pregnant women are recommended to eat baked onions .
Precautionary measures
Onion juice during pregnancy, like the vegetable itself, is very healthy. But folk remedies must be used with caution. If, when applied externally, severe discomfort, burning or redness of the skin appears, the product is washed off immediately.
You should consume fresh onions internally in moderation, listening to the body’s reaction. If there are signs of an allergy, the product should be excluded and consult a doctor. To protect the future baby, it is not recommended to eat a lot of onions in the second half of pregnancy. This can cause diathesis and food allergies in the baby after birth.
If you really want onions during pregnancy and your health allows it, you shouldn’t deny yourself. Thus, the body gives a signal about the lack of nutrients, and obtaining them from a natural source will only be beneficial. However, moderation is important in everything. Onions are a hot product and to avoid problems with the gastrointestinal tract, their quantity should be limited.
Author: Yana Semich, especially for Mama66.ru
Influence
On the mother
Onions improve appetite, help normalize the digestion process and quickly assimilate food, as it stimulates the production of gastric juice. Greens have a positive effect on the nervous and cardiovascular systems. There is information that onions even improve the sleep of pregnant women. Also, this aromatic spice is a storehouse of vitamins, which are so necessary for the expectant mother.
In addition to its beneficial properties, onions can also cause harm. It is an aggressive product against the gastric mucosa, can affect the cardiovascular system, causing irritation of nerve endings, and also impair the functioning of the kidneys, gall bladder and liver.
For fruit
As already noted, consuming this vegetable in the early stages can reduce the risk of congenital anomalies in the fetus. Thanks to the presence of a large amount of folic acid, the child develops correctly.
Due to the vitamin C content, the process of iron absorption is facilitated, which helps to avoid hypoxia in the unborn baby, and the presence of calcium in the product contributes to the proper formation of the skeletal system.
In the later stages, you should be careful with this vegetable ; excessive consumption threatens the development of diathesis in the baby in the future.
List of alternatives
If you have an intolerance to onions, you can always replace them with alternative products, for example, such as:
They have approximately the same properties and are no less useful.
Thus, eating onions during pregnancy is possible, in some cases even necessary. But there should be moderation in everything; excessive consumption of greens can negatively affect the pregnant body, especially when there are individual contraindications. A small amount of onion during pregnancy will not harm, but on the contrary, will be beneficial. This is an excellent source of vitamins that strengthens the immune system.
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Onion - from seven ailments
First of all, it should be noted that onions contain folic acid, which is necessary for the normal growth and development of the small organism inside you. If there is not enough folic acid, the risks of birth defects in the newborn and premature birth increase. Moreover, even DNA synthesis does not occur without the participation of folic acid. Therefore, at first you cannot exclude onions from a woman’s diet. Onions contain phytoncides, which help fight colds and improve immunity. Due to reduced immunity during pregnancy, the expectant mother is at risk and may develop an acute respiratory viral infection, which is dangerous for the unborn baby. Due to the fact that the usual methods of treatment during pregnancy, as a rule, are not suitable, it is necessary to seek help from traditional medicine and, again, increase your immunity with natural remedies, for example, onions. The presence of chlorophyll in onions ensures the process of hematopoiesis in the human body. This vegetable will help increase appetite, improve food absorption and normalize digestive processes. Some people claim that onions can even improve sleep quality.
How to eat garlic
The vegetable allows a woman to prevent health problems without the use of medications:
- iron reduces the risk of developing anemia in later stages;
- vitamin H prevents exacerbation of pyelonephritis;
- Vitamin C and essential oils protect the body from colds and infectious diseases.
The vegetable also prevents the formation of orange peel on the thighs. During toxicosis, onions reduce the intensity of attacks of nausea and increase appetite.
However, the product cannot be consumed in unlimited quantities. Uncontrolled consumption leads to negative consequences:
- Flatulence. Raw onions activate fermentation processes in the gastrointestinal tract. As a result, gas formation increases, abdominal discomfort and nausea occur.
- The gastric mucosa is irritated. Some elements contained in the vegetable have an aggressive effect on the stomach. Heartburn and vomiting appear. If before pregnancy a woman was diagnosed with gastritis or an ulcer, then during pregnancy the product should be eaten with extreme caution.
- Increased blood pressure, heart rhythm disturbances. In the normal state of the cardiovascular system, the vegetable is safe. However, in people prone to hypertension, it stimulates an exacerbation of symptoms.
In asthmatics, onions cause asthma attacks. Also, some experts argue that eating vegetables in the last trimester of pregnancy increases the likelihood of developing allergies in the child.
Garlic is an acceptable product during pregnancy in reasonable quantities.
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At this time, a woman’s body is very sensitive, it needs folic acid and allicin. Allicin is a natural antibiotic, and folic acid helps build DNA and RNA.
During periods of toxicosis and other health problems during pregnancy, avoid garlic so as not to develop complications.
Garlic will not harm the body in the second trimester. The embryo is already protected by the placenta and amniotic fluid. It is only important to listen to your body, your well-being. You can eat 2 cloves of garlic per day.
In the third trimester, garlic consumption is reduced to a minimum or completely eliminated from the diet. Garlic thins the blood, which can lead to heavy bleeding during childbirth and caesarean section.
In the last months of pregnancy, women face the problem of heartburn, and garlic easily ignites it.
Garlic is an excellent spice for many dishes. Garlic lovers can not only add it to dishes, but also eat it as a snack. This use is not recommended for pregnant women.
Fresh garlic contains a large amount of useful substances. But you can also bake it, then the taste will become much more delicate, and you will not be bothered by bad breath.
Don’t be afraid that these options contain no useful components at all, this is not true. Some of them remain untouched, even during processing.
Answers on questions
What are the benefits of green onions during pregnancy?
Green onions are famous for their abundance of vitamins and microelements. Of these, folic acid is of great importance for pregnant women, a deficiency of which can lead to a pathological course of pregnancy, premature birth, and developmental defects in the fetus. Therefore, it is extremely important for pregnant women, especially in the first trimester, because it is during this period that the formation of all important systems and organs occurs.
Green feathers also contain a lot of phytoncides that can fight viral and colds, which are especially dangerous in the first months of pregnancy and undesirable throughout it. Another important component is chlorophyll, which takes part in the process of hematopoiesis.
Green onions are high in vitamin C, which helps strengthen the immune system. In addition, it helps the absorption of iron, preventing the development of anemia, which so often occurs in expectant mothers.
How to use
- The largest amount of vitamins is in raw vegetables;
- It is added to the main dish or prepared as a salad;
- To treat colds, prepare a paste: grind the vegetable until juice appears and add milk, lemon, honey or other ingredients;
- You can make an onion pie, or add chopped green shoots to an omelet, depending on your taste preferences.
In any case, remember, there must be moderation in everything. If onions do not cause any discomfort to a pregnant woman and do not cause aggravation of gastrointestinal diseases, eat for your health.
