Hawthorn has a unique texture and taste, and there are many food products made from hawthorn on the market. However, it is best for pregnant women to avoid eating hawthorn as it is not beneficial to their bodies.
[Benefits and Effects of Hawthorn]
Hawthorn contains carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamin C, carotene, starch, malic acid, citric acid, calcium, and iron, which are very beneficial to human health. The main benefits of hawthorn are:
1. Treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
The main component of hawthorn is flavonoids, which have obvious pharmacological effects on the cardiovascular system, such as reducing blood lipids, blood pressure, strengthening the heart, and anti-arrhythmia.
2. Enhancing spleen function and promoting digestion.
Hawthorn is a good medicine for invigorating the spleen, stimulating appetite, promoting digestion, and relieving blood stasis. It has a good therapeutic effect on poor appetite, hernia, and blood stasis.
3. Anti-cancer properties.
The flavonoids in hawthorn, such as vitexin, are natural drugs with anti-cancer and anti-tumor effects. They have certain inhibitory effects on the growth, proliferation, and infiltration of cancer cells.
[Hazards of Eating Hawthorn for Pregnant Women]
1. Excessive gastric acid:
Hawthorn has a stimulating effect on gastric acid secretion. During pregnancy, the levels of progesterone and estrogen in the body of pregnant women increase, and the pressure from the developing fetus on the stomach is constant, making the symptoms of heartburn more severe. If hawthorn is consumed excessively at this time, it will rapidly increase gastric acid production and concentration, leading to acid reflux and, in severe cases, digestive ulcers.
2. Indigestion:
Hawthorn contains a large amount of fruit acids, which have a contracting and stimulating effect on the gastric mucosa. After pregnancy, the spleen and stomach functions of pregnant women are poor. Eating too much hawthorn can reduce their digestion ability and cause indigestion. Fresh hawthorn contains a large amount of tannic acid, and excessive consumption can combine with minerals in the body to form gastric stones.
3. Aggravating dental problems:
Hawthorn contains acid-like sugars, which are strong corrosive agents and can corrode the enamel of teeth. Excessive consumption can lead to tooth decay and worsen dental problems.
4. Increased risk of miscarriage:
Chinese medicine believes that hawthorn has the effect of activating blood circulation and dispersing blood stasis, and it has an excitatory effect on the uterus. Eating too much hawthorn during pregnancy can promote uterine contractions and increase the risk of miscarriage. Pregnant women with a history of miscarriage or symptoms of threatened miscarriage should avoid eating hawthorn.
[Tips]
1. Acidic fruits suitable for pregnant women:
If pregnant women want to eat acidic fruits, they can eat green apples, grapes, mulberries, tomatoes, etc. These fruits also have a sour taste and are rich in nutrients.
2. Pregnant women should avoid eating longans:
Chinese medicine advocates clearing heat and cooling blood before pregnancy, as women tend to have a deficiency of yin and an excess of internal heat during pregnancy, often leading to symptoms such as dry stools, dry mouth, and liver heat in the meridians. Longans are warm in nature and should not be consumed by those with Yin deficiency and internal heat, especially pregnant women. Eating longans cannot help maintain the pregnancy, and it may even lead to symptoms of threatened miscarriage such as spotting and abdominal pain. Therefore, pregnant women should avoid eating longans.
