Quince: benefits and harm for the human body

Every nursing mother knows that the health and well-being of the baby directly depends on what she eats. Nutrition during breastfeeding requires close attention. After all, the menu should be varied with meat, fruits, vegetables, cereals and dairy products. Fans of fruits will be interested to know whether a nursing mother can have quince and how to introduce it into her diet without harming the baby.

No time to read? free list of allowed and prohibited foods during lactation

The benefits of quince for breastfeeding

Undoubtedly, quince, like any fruit, has its own beneficial properties. Namely:

• Reduces inflammatory processes in the mucous membrane of the digestive system;
• Normalizes the activity of the gastrointestinal tract;
• It has a fixing property, which is excellent for diarrhea and enterocolitis;
• Strengthens the immune system due to the high content of ascorbic acid;
• Has a love spell and choleretic effect;
• In the lumen of the large intestine it acts as an adsorbent, that is, it removes heavy metals and toxins from the body;
• Has a beneficial effect on the nervous system;
• Balances and normalizes all types of metabolism in the body;
• It can prevent the occurrence of iron deficiency anemia, as it contains Fe. 

Features of the fruit

The fruit is popularly called a “false” apple, since its shape is similar to it. The fruit has a hard skin, and underneath it is dense, dry pulp. In the middle there are brown seeds, which under no circumstances should be eaten, as they contain a high concentration of amygdalin and can cause poisoning. Quince for breastfeeding is consumed mainly in boiled or stewed form: as preserves, jams or compotes. In its raw form, it is very tough and has a pronounced astringent effect.

The effect of quince on lactation

This fruit does not in any way affect milk production in a woman’s body. Therefore, it is not able to enhance or suppress this physiological process. However, given that the fruit is a storehouse of vitamins and microelements, it will only benefit both mother and baby. And the ability to calm the nervous system will come in handy during this difficult period for a woman.

Possible effect on the baby

If your baby has a tendency to constipation, then you should put quince aside for a while. Undesirable reactions on the part of the baby include:

• long period of absence of stool;
• the appearance of a skin rash;
• redness and swelling of the mucous membranes;
• bloating or worsening rabbit. 
• restlessness or crying of the baby. 

All these signs may indicate that you should give up trying to diversify your diet. If the mother and baby do not experience any changes in well-being when eating quince, then you can gradually increase the serving size to 1 fruit per day.  

The opinion of pediatricians on the use of quince by a nursing mother

Pediatricians have different opinions about the use of quince by nursing mothers. The older generation of doctors is more conservative in this matter, and therefore many breastfeeding specialists recommend avoiding it. However, modern science suggests that a woman should not exclude any foods from her diet during breastfeeding. You can eat anything, but within reasonable limits. At the same time, it is worth observing the child’s well-being and behavior. Therefore, quince is not prohibited during breastfeeding. Everything is individual. If the fruit is not a curiosity for a nursing woman, and she consumed it regularly without any consequences, then there can be no restrictions. If this is your first acquaintance with the fruit, then this should be done very carefully.

What are the benefits of quince during pregnancy?

Quince (also known as “pseudo-pear” and “false apple”) is a fragrant fruit that looks like a mixture of pear and apple. Quince has a yellow-green dense skin, covered with fluff, under which there is a hard, low-juicy pulp. If you cut the fruit in half, you can see the seeds, like an apple. By the way, they, like apple ones, contain the substance amygdalin, which is why many doubt whether expectant mothers can eat quince.

Some experts claim that quince is allowed during pregnancy and its use will have a beneficial effect on the health of the woman and her child. Of course, we are talking about eating exclusively the pulp, without seeds.

The fruits are considered local to us; they are grown in the gardens of our country, which means they are picked ripe, and are rarely treated with chemicals to speed up ripening or increase shelf life. In addition, the vitamin and mineral composition of the fruit is rich and varied, and the beneficial substances present in quince are necessary for the normal growth and development of the human body. To understand whether quince is useful for pregnant women, it is worth learning about its chemical composition and nutritional value.

Interesting: there is an ancient belief that says that quince was given to a pregnant woman by the goddess of love. The shape of the fruit resembles a heart, and the benefits of quince for pregnant women are invaluable.

Beneficial features

Not many people know how quince is useful during pregnancy. Meanwhile, it contains a lot of folic acid - the main women's vitamin. Taking vitamin B9 (folic acid) during gestation is the prevention of fetal malformations.

Folic acid is necessary for the proper formation of the neural tube of the fetus, it is involved in the process of cell division, hematopoiesis, and is needed for the development of all tissues and organs. Folic acid is of particular importance in the first trimester of pregnancy, when the formation of the baby’s main organs occurs.

This is where the beneficial properties of the fruit just begin. Quince contains:

• vitamin B1 – is needed for the normal development of the child’s brain and nervous system, promotes the proper formation of muscle tissue, and for the expectant mother it prevents pain in the lower back and legs, especially in the last weeks of pregnancy;
• vitamin B2 - its sufficient intake into the body of a pregnant woman is the prevention of preeclampsia, as well as various skin diseases, including seborrheic dermatitis;
• vitamin B6 – promotes the absorption of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, alleviates the symptoms of toxicosis in women;
• vitamin A – is represented by beta-carotene (this means that in the form of retinol it does not accumulate in the body and does not pose a threat to a woman’s health, is not teratogenic and is not toxic to a child), is necessary for visual acuity, beauty of skin and hair;

• vitamin C – activates the expectant mother’s immunity, accelerates recovery from colds, improves iron absorption;
• vitamin PP – prevents skin pigmentation, ensures mental balance, increases the female body’s resistance to stress, protects against the development of depression;
• vitamin E – is an antioxidant, regulates the production of hormones in the female body, prevents the appearance of stretch marks on a woman’s skin; it is also very important for the development of the fetus: it is necessary for the formation of the respiratory and nervous system of the child, ensures the maturation of the placenta;
• potassium – maintains water balance in the body, prevents the formation of edema, normalizes blood pressure;
• calcium - needed for the formation of strong bones and nails, the formation of teeth in a child, it also reduces the risk of miscarriage during pregnancy and bleeding during childbirth;

• phosphorus – activates fetal growth, promotes normal functioning of the heart and blood vessels, supports immunity;
• iron – participates in the supply of oxygen to tissues, prevents the development of fetal hypoxia during pregnancy and during childbirth;
• magnesium – participates in the formation of the child’s bones, regulates the functioning of the nervous system, maintains normal blood sugar levels; during pregnancy, a woman’s need for magnesium increases by 35%;
• sodium – regulates the functioning of the urinary system, normalizes salt balance, stabilizes osmotic pressure.

Quince for pregnant women can be a good source of vitamins and microelements, improve the overall health of the expectant mother and have a positive effect on the development of the child. Its regular use will provide a woman with energy and nutrients.

Quince as a medicine

Due to its vitamin and mineral composition, quince is used not only as a food product, but also as a medicine. It is recommended to eat it for colds, make compotes and decoctions from it, and brew tea with the pulp. It is also useful to include quince in the diet for anemia. It provides the body with iron, normalizing the woman’s condition.

But traditional medicine recipes that use quince seeds are not recommended for pregnant women. Amygdalin, which we talked about earlier, can have an adverse effect on the course of pregnancy.

Possible harm

We have said a lot about the benefits of quince for expectant mothers. It is worth talking not only about the benefits, but also about the harm.

During pregnancy, you can eat quince and prepare various dishes and drinks from it. However, it is worth keeping in mind that any product can turn from useful to harmful if it is abused. Quince is no exception.

The fact is that it contains tannins, which have a fixing effect on the intestines. If you eat too much of it, it can disrupt the bowel movement process, in other words, lead to constipation. Many pregnant women, especially in later stages of gestation, already suffer from this problem. Quince can make it worse. The maximum amount of tannins is contained in the peel of the fruit.

Note: in case of diarrhea, this property of the fruit can be used for good. The binding effect of quince will allow you to normalize stool without taking medications.

In addition, the answer to the question whether you can eat quince will always be individual. Despite the fact that this fruit in our country is considered local, widespread and accessible, individual intolerance to the product and the development of an allergy to it are still possible. Quince is a product with a low likelihood of developing allergic reactions, but there is always a risk.

If a woman has never tried quince before, her first acquaintance with the product should not be scheduled while she is pregnant. It is better to postpone it until the postpartum period. You should not eat quince for the first time while breastfeeding, so if a woman plans to breastfeed her baby, it is recommended to introduce a new product into her diet after lactation ends.

In what form and quantity should pregnant women eat quince?

The answer to the question whether it is possible to eat quince while carrying a child will be positive, with one caveat: it is important to observe the measure. Expectant mothers can eat quince 2-3 times a week in small quantities. In order to saturate the body with vitamins and microelements that the fruit contains, without creating trouble for the body, you can eat 100 - 150 g of the product per day.

Note: the product is low-calorie; 100 g of pulp contains about 55 kcal. There is no risk of harming your figure when using it.

Quince is rarely eaten fresh due to its hardness and lack of rich flavor. If you really want to eat the fruit fresh, you need to peel it, grate the pulp on a fine grater, pour honey or sprinkle with sugar. Most often, the pulp is still added to various dishes: baked goods, casseroles, meat dishes, side dishes. By the way, quince is very tasty as part of meat dishes. It neutralizes excess fat content of meat, absorbing meat juice and becoming tender and soft. They also make delicious preserves, jams, and compotes from quince.

For her diet, the expectant mother should choose dishes with quince that have low fat content and are prepared from healthy ingredients. It could be chicken baked with quince, or rice with stewed quince pulp. You should not get carried away with quince jam, despite its wonderful taste. This product may promote rapid weight gain.

How to properly introduce quince into the diet during breastfeeding

This question worries many young mothers. Let's figure it out together. Introducing quince into the diet should be done with extreme caution. Start acquaintance with 1 teaspoon in the first half of the day, and then carefully observe the child’s behavior for 48 hours. If everything is in order, then you can gradually increase the volume of your daily serving to 1 piece of fruit per day. But we still recommend adding quince to the diet no more than once every 14 days, since the fruit can cause constipation in both mother and baby.

When consuming, you need to consider the method of preparation. The fruit must be pitted and peeled and simmered over low heat with the addition of a small amount of honey or sugar.

It is worth remembering that under no circumstances should you eat the seeds, as they contain a high concentration of amygdalin, which can harm a newborn baby.

Is it possible to have quince while breastfeeding in the first month?

The answer is clear - no. Since during this period the baby is most vulnerable, it is worth refraining from the presence of this fruit in the diet of the nursing mother. In addition, many young mothers suffer from constipation after childbirth, and quince can worsen them. Therefore, in order not to aggravate the situation, it is worth postponing the new product until better times.

Can a nursing mother have quince at 2 months?

Breastfeeding experts recommend waiting a little and postponing the introduction of quince during breastfeeding until the baby is 3 months old.

At 3 months

It is impossible to answer this question unambiguously. Once your baby reaches three months of age, you can taste the fruit with caution, but you must adhere to the above rules. This will help avoid unnecessary reactions from both the baby and mother. It is worth closely monitoring the baby’s behavior, as quince can aggravate colic. Therefore, if possible, it is better to abandon the product idea.

At 4 months

During this period, you can introduce quince into the diet of a nursing mother, but you should not lose vigilance and strictly follow all the rules. Precautionary measures will never be superfluous. This will allow you to get the maximum benefit and avoid unnecessary consequences.

At 5 months

Has no obstacles. You should not overuse quince dishes while breastfeeding in order not to harm the baby.

Consumption of quince in subsequent months

Also has no restrictions.

Rules for choosing quince when breastfeeding

It is worth giving preference to ripe fruits with a pleasant smell. They have a uniform yellow color, without spots. A green tint indicates that the fruit is not ripe. The surface must be smooth, without dents. Quality is determined by density and hardness.

Beneficial features

Understanding how broad the chemical composition of a natural product is, you need to know how quince is useful. The main feature of the fruit is its pronounced general strengthening properties. When consumed, the body’s natural defense reactions improve and stress resistance increases.

Quince has a negative effect on pathogens and fights inflammatory processes in the human body. Fruits are recommended to be included in the diet during periods of seasonal infections. Quince is able to inhibit parasites in the body and prevent their reproduction. It improves a person’s condition in case of poisoning, as it promotes intoxication.

The fruits contain a large amount of dietary fiber. When eating them, the following is noted:

• Strengthening intestinal motility.
• Normalization of bile outflow.
• Reducing the level of bad cholesterol in the blood.
• Elimination of gastrointestinal disorders.

Other beneficial effects when using quince in fresh and steamed form:

• Normalization of the liver and pancreas.
• Prevention of acute respiratory infections and cardiovascular diseases.
• Stabilization of the respiratory system.
• Reduced blood pressure.
• Mild diuretic effect.

Polyphenols contained in fruits are powerful natural antioxidants. They effectively fight free radicals, which minimizes the risk of developing malignant tumors. When consuming quince, it is possible to slow down the aging processes associated with the age factor.

Reviews from nursing mothers about eating quince

Can be found on numerous forums. And they are contradictory. Here are a few of them.

Elena, 32 years old: “I used quince while breastfeeding from 5 months. No changes were noted in the well-being of oneself or the child.”

Ekaterina, 23 years old: “I tried quince jam while visiting. In the evening the child was very capricious and cried because his stomach hurt badly. Therefore, I had to give up this fruit.”

Every breastfeeding woman has the opportunity to enjoy healthy fruit. It is worth approaching this issue wisely and following these rules. Then the diet will be enriched with essential vitamins and microelements, which will benefit mother and baby.  

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Contraindications and harm

Understanding what quince is, it can be argued that due to its rich chemical composition, the natural product has contraindications for use. In certain situations, it can harm the body.

You should avoid consuming quince if you have an individual intolerance. In this case, serious allergic reactions may occur. It is prohibited to include fruit in the diet in any form for people who suffer from:

• Frequent constipation.
• Pleurisy.
• Entercolitis.

You should use quince with caution if you have inflammation or ulcers in the digestive tract, as well as with increased blood clotting. Fresh fruit has an irritating effect on the vocal cords and larynx. This can cause a sore throat and cough, so it is not recommended to eat quince before public speaking.