Can pregnant women eat kelp and soybean soup?

Kelp is a kind of sea cucumber food, so it contains a lot of iodine. Eating more kelp can help supplement the iodine needed by the body. What’s more important is that kelp has a very strong aroma, so when making kelp, more people would prefer to make kelp into kelp soup. Different ingredients can be added in the process of making kelp soup, such as soybean kelp soup. But can pregnant women eat kelp and soybean soup?

Benefits of eating kelp for pregnant women

1. Protect breast and prevent hyperplasia

Kelp is extremely rich in iodine, which is the main raw material for synthesizing thyroid hormone in the body. Iodine can stimulate the pituitary gland, reduce the estrogen level in women's bodies, restore the normal function of the ovaries, correct endocrine disorders, and eliminate the hidden dangers of breast hyperplasia. Once the fetus's thyroid gland begins to function and is able to produce its own hormones, it also needs sufficient iodine to maintain its healthy development.

2. Strengthen bones and moisturize hair

Kelp contains calcium, which can promote the bone development of the fetus. Rich iodine can also benefit both mother and baby, making the pregnant woman's hair shiny and the fetus's hair thicker.

3. Diuresis and swelling

Kelp is rich in nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, iron, B vitamins, and has therapeutic effects on diuresis, swelling, and laxative. During the late pregnancy, you can eat some kelp appropriately, or make soup with kelp and winter melon. It can not only disinfect but also help control weight.

Experts remind: Kelp has the effect of dispersing nodules and removing blood stasis. If mothers in early pregnancy eat too much kelp, it may increase the risk of miscarriage, so pregnant women in early pregnancy should eat kelp with caution. Pregnant women in the second trimester who do not suffer from spleen and stomach deficiency, swelling, diarrhea and indigestion can eat kelp. In addition, pregnant women in general should eat some kelp appropriately to supplement iodine intake to avoid fetal maldevelopment and mental retardation.

Therefore, it is okay for pregnant women to eat kelp in moderation. As long as they follow the correct usage and do not consume it in excess, eating kelp will not harm the body.

Nutritional value of kelp

Kelp is rich in iodine, calcium, phosphorus, selenium and other trace elements essential to the human body. Its calcium content is 10 times that of milk, and its phosphorus content is higher than all vegetables.

Kelp is also rich in carotene, vitamin B1 and other vitamins. It has the effects of beautifying hair, preventing and treating obesity, hypertension, edema, arteriosclerosis, etc., so it is known as a longevity vegetable.

Kelp colloid can promote the excretion of radioactive substances in the body along with feces, thereby reducing the accumulation of radioactive substances in the human body and reducing the incidence of radiation diseases.

Kelp contains a large amount of unsaturated fatty acids and dietary fiber, which can remove cholesterol attached to the blood vessel walls, regulate the stomach and intestines, and promote the excretion of cholesterol.

Taboos for pregnant women to eat kelp

Kelp is rich in iodine and calcium, and there are many benefits for pregnant women to eat kelp. However, please note the following:

1. Soak in clean water before cooking: Due to the current global water pollution, kelp is likely to contain the toxic substance - arsenic, so it should be soaked in clean water for two or three hours before cooking, and the water should be changed once or twice in the middle. But do not soak for too long, no more than 6 hours, to avoid excessive loss of water-soluble nutrients.

2. Tips for purchasing: Pregnant women must pay attention to the freshness of kelp when purchasing it. Some kelp has been stored for too long, and after being pickled, it will produce some harmful substances such as nitrite, so you must pay attention to the quality of kelp when purchasing it. You should choose kelp that is thick, long and wide, dry, dark brown or dark green in color, and has no cracks or yellowing on the edges.

3. Do not drink tea immediately after eating kelp (tea contains tannic acid), and do not eat sour fruits immediately (sour fruits contain plant acid). Because kelp is rich in iron, tannic acid and plant acid will hinder the absorption of iron in the body.

4. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that kelp is cold in nature and people with weak spleen and stomach should avoid eating it. For pregnant women, it is advisable to add some hot ginger juice, minced garlic, etc. when cooking, and it is not advisable to add too much oil.

5. Patients with hyperthyroidism should not eat kelp because the iodine content in kelp is high and will aggravate the condition.

How to make kelp suitable for pregnant women

Kelp is cold in nature. Therefore, for pregnant women, it is advisable to add some hot ginger juice, minced garlic, etc. when cooking, and not to add too much oil. Since there are so many considerations, how can pregnant women eat kelp more safely? Here we will introduce to you the safe way to eat kelp.

1. Boil it with meat, bones or shellfish to make soup, stir-fry kelp and pork shreds, kelp and shrimp, or make porridge with mung beans and rice. It is also a good choice to mix it with cold dishes.

2. When using kelp to cook soup, please note that the kelp should be added later, without covering the pot, and cook over high heat for 5 minutes. Before stir-frying kelp, it is best to blanch the washed fresh kelp in boiling water first, so that the stir-fried dish will be more crispy, tender and delicious.

Chicken with pork ribs and kelp

Ingredients: 450g spare ribs, 300g kelp, 20g sliced ​​ginger, 20g scallion, 20g rice wine, 2g chicken powder, 2g salt, 1g white pepper

step:

1. Put the cleaned ribs into the pot and add cold water. After the water boils, skim off the foam.

2. Cook the ribs over medium heat for 10 minutes and set aside.

3. Put the kelp into boiling water and blanch it.

4. After blanching the kelp, take it out and put it into the bottom of the casserole. Place the blanched ribs on the kelp.

5. Pour hot water into the casserole, add onion segments, ginger slices, then pour in rice wine, sprinkle appropriate amount of pepper, and finally add a little chicken powder and cover the pot.

6. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then simmer over low heat for 1 hour.

7. After stewing for 1 hour, sprinkle a little salt to season.

8. Cover the pot again and simmer for 30 minutes before turning off the heat.

Kelp and soybean stew

Ingredients: kelp, soybeans, soy sauce, oil, onion, ginger, garlic, starch

step:

1. Wash the kelp first, then cut it into sections with a knife and blanch it in boiling water.

2. Blanch the soybeans in boiling water and remove them.

3. Pour some oil into a spoon, fry the onion, ginger and garlic until fragrant, first add the kelp and stir-fry, then add the soup, put in the soybeans, add seasoning, salt, MSG, soy sauce, simmer on low heat until the soup is almost dry, add diced red pepper, thicken with starch, drizzle with cooking oil, and serve.