Chemical composition and beneficial properties
Strawberries are a tasty and healthy summer berry, which is used to make fruit salad, preserves, compote, jam, as a filling for baked goods, consumed fresh or used to decorate various dishes.
Ripe strawberries
The berries contain:
- vitamins: A, beta-carotene, group B (except B12), C, E, H, K, PP;
- minerals: potassium, calcium, silicon, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, iron, cobalt, manganese, copper, molybdenum, chromium.
Calorie content per 100 g of product is 41 kcal.
Share of BZHU in calorie content:
- proteins - 1 g (9%);
- fats - 0 g (10%);
- carbohydrates - 8 g (82%).
Such a rich composition of vitamins, macro- and microelements has the following benefits for the body of a nursing woman:
- increasing the elasticity of blood vessels;
- strengthening the immune system;
- improving the condition of skin, hair and nails;
- increased visual acuity;
- strengthening the nervous system and emotional background;
- positive effect on all body systems;
- prevention of vitamin deficiency;
- normalization of blood pressure;
- elimination of uterine bleeding;
- combating obesity;
- elimination of diarrhea;
- improvement of hematopoiesis.
The benefits of strawberries for mother and newborn
Supervising doctors recommend that pregnant and lactating women take vitamin supplements so that vitamins and microelements are transferred to the baby through milk.
We recommend reading: What fruits can you eat while breastfeeding?
Perhaps in some areas where there is little sun, women do not have enough nutrients from berries, fruits, and vegetables. Such cases are corrected with the Complivit-mama, Materna, Elevit, Vitrum-prenatal complexes; these prescriptions are necessary for the mother. But if there is an opportunity to eat fresh berries, and even from the garden, you absolutely cannot miss this opportunity.
Unfortunately, strawberries do not contain vitamin D, which is necessary for children under one year of age, as well as other berries, fruits, and vegetables. But it contains vitamin C, 60 mg per 100 g of berries, more than in lemon. A large amount of folic acid B9 - 0.01 mg, PP - 0.38 mg and β-carotene - 0.03 mg.
The mineral content in strawberries indicates its undeniable usefulness for the baby. Every 100 g of berry contains K - 150 mg, Ca - 16 mg, Mg - 13 mg, Fe - 0.4 mg. A caring mother knows that a lack of calcium leads to fragility and bone fractures. And also to irritability, cramps, sweating, and sleep disturbances. Iron improves blood composition and prevents anemia. Magnesium calms, normalizes intracranial pressure, participates in the functioning of the nervous system and muscle contraction.
When breastfeeding, parents take into account the content of vitamins and minerals in foods, mothers use the vitamin and mineral wealth of vegetables, fruits, and berries. Strawberries contain more calcium than all berries and fruits. It is useful for its rich iron content - incomparably more than even in grapes.
Is it possible to eat strawberries during breastfeeding?
Many nursing mothers wonder whether it is possible to eat strawberries during lactation and how this will affect the baby’s well-being. Yes, you can, and it’s also beneficial to eat strawberries during pregnancy.
The peculiarities of eating berries by month are described below.
At 1 and 2 months
Experts do not recommend introducing fruits and berries into your diet in the first month after childbirth, but adhering to a special diet for nursing mothers. This is due to the fact that the child’s digestive system has not yet become stronger, which means that any new product in the mother’s diet can lead to diarrhea in the baby.
In some cases, you can try some strawberries when the baby is already 2 months old. At the same time, it is important to monitor its reaction; if signs of allergies or diarrhea appear, then the berry should be removed from the diet.
At 3 and 4 months
This period is the most favorable time for a nursing mother to eat strawberries for the first time. By this time, the baby’s digestive system has already become stronger and almost easily accepts the food that is present in the mother’s diet.
To begin with, strawberries should be consumed in small quantities, no more than 1 piece every 2-3 days. If the baby’s body accepts it calmly, then the amount can be increased and also continue to observe the baby’s reaction.
At 5 and 6 months
The fifth and sixth months after childbirth are the safest for eating berries. If a nursing woman has not eaten strawberries before this time, then she should not immediately eat them in large quantities.
It is also necessary to start with 1-2 berries every 2-3 days. If there are no side effects in the baby, the amount can be gradually increased. But it is not recommended to overeat strawberries, as in this case there is a high probability of skin rashes and digestive disorders.
At 7 and 8 months
Is it possible to eat strawberries during breastfeeding when the baby is 7-8 months old? Yes, in the absence of allergies it is completely safe, but at the same time you should remember about moderation, since excessive consumption of the product can cause a rash in both the baby and the nursing woman.
Woman eating strawberries
Useful properties of strawberries and strawberries
Whether it is possible to eat strawberries or wild strawberries while breastfeeding is easy to understand if you analyze the components of these berries. Even the most useful compounds may not be suitable for a baby in the first stages of life. Let's consider the chemical composition of these fruits and determine whether it is possible to eat strawberries or strawberries in the first month after childbirth. They contain:
- Ascorbic acid, that is, vitamin C, and it is an allergen. Even many adults have an allergic reaction to citrus fruits.
- Vitamins group A, B. Should enrich the baby’s body from birth.
- Pectins and fiber. A useful, but rough component.
- Folic acid. It is prescribed to be taken as a dietary supplement throughout pregnancy.
- Microelements: phosphorus, calcium, potassium, iron, iodine.
Strawberries and strawberries during breastfeeding have a positive effect on digestive processes. It also increases the elasticity of blood vessels and has a beneficial effect on the heart muscle. Microelements perform the function of building and developing internal organs, and simply ensure the normal functioning of the entire body. Strawberries during breastfeeding help cope with the following diseases and ailments:
- Constipation and diarrhea.
- Obesity and weak metabolism.
- Hypovitaminosis and vitamin deficiency.
- Uterine bleeding.
- High pressure.
- Infections.
- Problems with blood circulation.
- Weak immune system.
Those mothers who feed their baby with breast milk and are not allergic to this fruit can include it in their diet. We will consider the attitude of pediatricians to jam during breastfeeding and other variations of this product below.
Rules for choosing strawberries
To maximize the benefits of eating strawberries, you should only consume a high-quality product. Read below about how to choose it.
It is best to buy strawberries in season, if possible from summer residents or at the market. The one sold in stores is usually treated with various chemicals for rapid ripening and long-term storage.
A high-quality berry has a characteristic smell and red color; it has no dents, scratches, cracks or other signs of damage.
Strawberries should be purchased when they are in season. Some of its varieties ripen by June, while others ripen by July.
The berries can be frozen to be used in winter for making compote, desserts or filling for dumplings, pies and pies. But it is worth remembering that the most vitamins are contained in fresh strawberries.
The need for proper nutrition for a nursing woman
It has been repeatedly said and written that a woman needs to follow a strict diet during the period of feeding a child. After all, the baby’s health depends on proper nutrition, rich in vitamins and microelements. And the health of the nations of the planet depends on how the women of the world eat while breastfeeding.
Therefore, if fresh fruits, vegetables, and vegetable fats prevail over simple carbohydrates and excess animal fats in a mother’s diet when breastfeeding, she will have a healthy child. Otherwise, the baby will be frail and painful.
Recipes
Below are recipes for making strawberry compote and jam.
Strawberry jam
You will need:
- strawberries - 1 kg;
- granulated sugar - 1 kg;
- citric acid - 2 g.
How to cook:
- Wash the strawberries, place in a colander, sort and remove the sepals.
- Add 0.5 kg of sugar to the berries. Leave for 3 hours.
- Drain the juice, add the remaining sugar to it. Place on low heat and wait until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Pour syrup over berries.
- Bring to a boil, simmer in the syrup for five minutes, skimming off the foam, and cool.
- After cooling completely, bring to a boil again, boil for 5 minutes and cool. And repeat this 3-6 times.
- Add citric acid for the last time, which must first be diluted with water in a 1:1 ratio. Cook the jam for a quarter of an hour.
- The finished hot jam must be poured into sterilized jars, rolled up with sterilized lids, turned over and left to cool.
- It is advisable to store jam in the refrigerator.
Strawberry compote
You will need:
- water - 2 l;
- strawberries - 0.4 kg;
- granulated sugar - 0.15 kg.
How to cook:
- Wash and sort the berries, remove the stems. Cut large berries in half.
- Pour water into a saucepan and put it on fire.
- After the water boils, place the strawberries in it.
- Add sugar and cook the compote until done.
- After a couple of minutes of boiling, turn off the heat.
- Cover the pan with a lid and let the drink cool.
- Strain the infused compote through a sieve. The drink is ready.
Healthy recipes with strawberries and strawberries
You can prepare a lot of dishes from fresh or frozen berries that the whole family will like and that mothers are allowed to eat during breastfeeding. Let's look at the most popular and healthy recipes:
- Kissel. When cooking the fruit, a little starch is added for thickness, but granulated sugar can be omitted. For jelly, you can use other fruits to create a mix.
- Are dumplings pies with frozen or fresh fruit. To do this, you should knead yeast-free dough and bake the products in the oven.
- Dessert in the form of jelly. To do this, you need to put several berries in bowls and fill them with gelatin. After complete hardening, you can enjoy it.
You can’t do without traditional jam, so finally, consider an easy recipe for this dish. You need to purchase 2 kg of berries and 1 kg of sugar. Cover the fruits with granulated sugar for 5 hours. Then put on low heat and bring to a boil. Boil for no more than 10 minutes. Then repeat the procedure two more times. After the mixture has cooled, distribute into a clean container.
A child should receive vitamins from an early age, especially if he is breastfed. To do this, it is not enough to drink a vitamin complex in tablets. Don’t be afraid to eat strawberries and wild strawberries, but don’t forget that the product should be introduced into the diet gradually. Do not eat too much of it and at the first negative reaction of the baby, consult a pediatrician.
Reviews
Ekaterina, 28 years old
In the second month after giving birth, I ate strawberries under guards. The next day the child broke out, the redness went away only after 3 days. As the pediatrician explained to me, it was an allergic reaction in the baby to the introduction of a new product into my diet. The next time I tried strawberries only after lactation was complete.
Marina, 32 years old
At 3 months after giving birth, I immediately ate 0.5 kg of strawberries. This did not affect the child in any way.
Evgeniya, 35 years old
When the baby was 5 months old, I tried strawberries for the first time during lactation. Before this, I followed a special diet, since my child is prone to allergies. At first I ate 1 berry once every three days, then I increased the quantity to 3 pieces. The child did not develop any rashes or upset bowel movements.
Strawberries are a juicy berry that enriches the body of a nursing woman with all the necessary vitamins and minerals. To maximize the benefits of consuming it, you need to eat the berry in small quantities, and at the first signs of an allergic reaction or deterioration in health, immediately exclude the product from your diet.
Berry in the diet
Doctors point out that the risk of developing allergies in a baby is much lower if his mother regularly ate strawberries during pregnancy. In this case, the baby’s body is, to a certain extent, already adapted to the allergens contained in the product.
You can try adding berries to the menu only after the baby reaches two months of age - you need to wait until his digestive system gets a little stronger and is ready for new foods. If a child is prone to allergies, the experiment with strawberries during breastfeeding should be abandoned.
To track the baby's reaction, eat a berry (one large or two small) in the first half of the day, preferably immediately after feeding the baby. For two days, you need to carefully monitor the baby’s behavior and the condition of his skin.
An allergic reaction is indicated by lacrimation, sneezing, skin rashes (diathesis), and redness of the skin. The baby may have a stomach ache (in this case, the child behaves restlessly, pulls his legs towards his stomach, groans and cries). If such symptoms are noted, the mother will have to refuse strawberries in her diet.
If eating the berry does not affect the baby’s well-being, it is allowed to increase the amount of berries in the menu to three to five pieces per day. It is important to understand that some types of allergens have a “cumulative effect” - the reaction to them does not appear immediately, but only after reaching a certain concentration of the substance in the body.
This means that even if mother and child are not allergic to the careful introduction of the product to the menu, this product should not be abused under any circumstances, and you will have to stop eating kilograms of strawberries.
