Prunes for constipation: a recipe for pregnant women and babies

Delayed bowel movements are constipation, insufficient bowel movements. Almost everyone has encountered this ailment, so you should always monitor your diet and lifestyle. And if something has already gone wrong, adding prunes to your usual diet will help to cope with the problem. It is suitable for both children and adults, it is used for stool retention and for prophylaxis. In this article, you can find out details about the beneficial properties of dried fruit, about who and how to use it, and who should refrain from it.

Dried fruit composition

Prunes are dried plums. With proper production and storage, it acquires an interesting taste, structure, retains the overwhelming number of useful vitamins and minerals.

The fruit contains:

• Vitamins: thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, folacin, retinol, ascorbic acid, tocopherol, vitamin K;
• Minerals: sodium, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, iron, magnesium;
• Acids: oxalic, citric, malic, salicylic;
• Cellulose;
• Fructose, sucrose, glucose;
• Antioxidants
• Nitrogenous, tannin, pectin substances.

Calorie content

Prunes are a high-calorie product, 100 grams of fresh dried fruit contains 231 kcal; stewed - 113 kcal; and the smallest amount is contained in canned food - 105 kcal.

Overweight people are not recommended to abuse the berry.

Properties

Due to its abundant fiber content and the presence of mild laxatives, dried plums acts effectively and helps to restore the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, that is, to cope with constipation. It is also in demand during diets, since in moderation it speeds up metabolism and removes toxins from the body. The potassium contained in the composition has a diuretic and choleretic effect, and the presence of polyphenols improves the functioning of the cardiovascular system and normalizes blood pressure.

The presence of vitamins B9 and B1 has a positive effect on the state of the nervous system, helps the body fight stress and anxiety. Due to the antioxidants included in the fruit, it improves the immune system and increases the body's resistance against environmentally hazardous influences. Dried fruit has a high absorption rate of free radicals, this property helps to protect the cells of the body from destruction, which has a rejuvenating effect and can be a prophylaxis against cancer.

The benefits of prunes are very useful during periods of vitamin deficiency, it compensates for the lack of minerals and vitamins. And the amount of energy value helps to restore the reserve of strength.

Prunes for pregnant women and babies

Delayed bowel movements during pregnancy are fairly common. The reason is a change in hormonal levels, diet, decreased physical activity of the pregnant woman and the fetus, which can squeeze the intestines. When carrying a child, women are afraid to take the usual laxative, and some medicines during pregnancy are completely contraindicated. In this situation, the most effective way to combat constipation is dried plum.

The berry is also relevant for delayed feces in breastfed newborns. The treatment is as follows: the baby's mother eats dried plums, and the baby receives the necessary substances along with breast milk. If the baby is already months old enough, after the approval of the pediatrician, decoctions and mashed prunes are gradually introduced into the child's diet. They will help to normalize stool and relieve pain during bowel movements.

But with prunes you need to know when to stop. Eating large amounts of it can lead to allergic reactions in the form of skin rashes and an increase in sugar levels in the body.

Pregnant women have certain indications for its use:

• Fear of overexerting during bowel movements.
• Hormonal disturbances leading to a decrease in uterine tone.
• Displacement of the intestines during fetal growth.
• Disturbed diet.

Contraindications of prunes for infants

Dried fruit is allowed to a newborn from three months. It is necessary to make sure that it does not pose a danger to the child, and the baby does not have problems in the form of diabetes or allergies. The fetus is also contraindicated in children with a low level of hemoglobin in the blood, so the first step is to contact a specialist who will assess the child's health and tell you what to do.

How to choose prunes

A good dried fruit for babies should be fresh, matte black, and leave no residue. The taste is sweet, with a slight sour aftertaste, without bitterness. The consistency is elastic and not rigid. To finally make sure that the fruit is natural and of good quality, you need to leave it in boiled water for half an hour. If the prunes do not turn white in places, this will indicate thermal or chemical processing of the fruit.

Methods for preparing dried fruit for newborns

Prune recipes are simple and can be prepared by any parent. The simplest:

1. Broth. Ingredients: 10 prunes, 200 ml of water. Clean and washed dried fruits are poured with cold water, brought to a boil and left to cool. Drink on an empty stomach.
2. Infusion. The ingredients and their volume are the same. Boil water, wash the berries, pour boiling water over them and cover with a lid. Brew for at least a couple of hours or leave overnight.
3. Puree. Ingredients: 3 prunes, 10 g sugar, 150 ml water. The berries are thoroughly washed, the seeds are removed, and the rest is soaked in hot water for two hours. After that, the water is changed, and the berries are set to cook for another 20 minutes. Next, remove the skin, and beat the pulp with a blender or pass through a sieve. In mashed potatoes, you can pour water from boiling berries. Add sugar to taste.

Eating the fruit in any of the types, the baby will receive vitamins and necessary substances, which is very useful for the intestines. But do not forget - first of all, the berry is used as a laxative, you cannot abuse it.

Eating prunes for adults

The daily rate of dried fruit is individual, on average it is 5-10 pieces. Having eaten at first 3-4 pieces and not noticing the negative consequences, gradually increase the rate. Specifically, in the case of constipation, you need to eat 15-20 pieces. In addition to eating the fruit fresh, it can be steamed or served with a dish.

However, three other ways to quickly and tasty prepare dried plums will now be provided:

1. With kefir. Ingredients: 8 prunes, 1 glass of low-fat kefir. The dried fruit is washed, the bones are removed, the pulp is chopped with a blender and mixed with kefir. The resulting drink should be consumed before bedtime, it will work in the morning. The recipe is also diuretic.
2. With honey. The berries are washed, the seeds are taken out, soaked in water for a couple of hours, and ground in a blender. Add honey to taste. Drink the mixture in the morning and on an empty stomach, one spoonful.
3. Compote. Ingredients: 50 g dried apricots, 100 g prunes, 1/2 cup sugar, 3 cups water. Rinse the berries thoroughly, stir the sugar in a saucepan with water, add the prunes and leave to simmer over low heat for 15 minutes. At the end, dried apricots with raisins are added, and the drink is cooked for another 5-10 minutes. Drink the drink a couple of times a day on an empty stomach.

Advantages, disadvantages and contraindications of prunes

The beneficial properties of the product have already been mentioned, but prunes also have many advantages over the drug treatment of constipation.

List of predominant properties:

• There are no side effects in the form of loss of energy.
• It is nutritious and tastes good.
• Not contraindicated in pregnant women and children.
• The composition includes fiber.
• After constipation is eliminated, it further improves the processing of food by the body.

When neither a properly used fetus nor medications help against constipation, it is necessary to consult a specialist.

If there is even such a useful product in large quantities, it can lead to problems.

List of complications:

• The high calorie content of the fetus threatens to increase weight, which is contraindicated for obese people.
• The berry increases blood sugar levels, which is contraindicated in diabetics.
• The onset of diarrhea.
• Increased gassing.
• Allergic reaction.

Even after stool normalization, constipation prunes for prevention purposes will still not be superfluous. After all, it is better to prevent the problem than to spend a lot of time and effort on fixing it.