8 Healthy Juices To Drink During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is one of the most joyful moments in a woman’s life, and this is the phase where it is significant that she takes care of her health to keep the baby nourished. It is important to be mentally and physically fit, and you should know what sort of food items should be consumed to avoid any complications. Drinking healthy juices can be a great addition to your pregnancy diet, but they should be pasteurised or freshly made at home using thoroughly cleaned fruits and vegetables under running water (1). We’ve listed some of the best juices for pregnancy. Before we get to it, let us find out why drinking juices in pregnancy is important.

Why Should You Drink Juices During Pregnancy?

If we talk about one of the best energy sources that should be included in their regular regime, they are fresh juices. Fresh juices are recommended because they provide health and nutrition to the baby and mother, as well. Juices also help add a glow and shine to the face.

Juices You Should Drink During Pregnancy

Here is a list of 8 healthy juices that can be consumed during pregnancy:

1. Strawberry Juice

This is one of the best fruit juices recommended to women who are pregnant.

Benefits:

Strawberries are packed with antioxidants that help build immunity in the body and protect from cell damage (2). It is beneficial for maintaining the natural glow of the skin. Other than this, it also has folates, which are helpful in developing the baby’s immune system.

How to Make:

Rinse the strawberries under cold water and chop them well. Blend all the chopped berries till you get a smooth puree. You can add ice cubes to this and enjoy.

2. Beetroot Juice

This is a great juice to drink during pregnancy, as it is full of nitric oxide and is the best solution for mommies-to-be who are experiencing any sort of fatigue or weakness.

Benefits:

Beetroot is a powerhouse of vitamin C, folic acid, potassium, calcium, silica, flavonoids, polyphenols, and several antioxidants. It also possesses anti-tumour, cognitive improvement, and blood pressure regulation properties (3). It boosts immunity, lowers the risk of osteoporosis, maintains blood sugar levels and prevents inflammation, pain and swelling in the joints during pregnancy (4). The folic acid in this wonderful vegetable promotes the growth of healthy tissues and foetal development and prevents birth defects.

How to Make:

Chop the beetroot into pieces and add them to the blender. Once it is blended, strain the juice, add some ice, salt, and lemon as per taste, and serve instantly. This is one of the easiest juice recipes of all.

3. Pomegranate Citrus Juice

This all-around juice should definitely be an addition to your pregnancy diet, due to the benefits it provides.

Benefits:

Pomegranate is a wonderful fruit packed with vitamin C, vitamin K, polyphenols, antioxidants, fibre, and minerals, but low in calories. The juice of this fruit, however, is low in fibre and vitamin C. It helps keep inflammation at bay and supports urinary health. Citrus fruit like oranges is loaded with folates and vitamin C. All the more reasons to include this juice in your diet (5).

How to Make:

Remove the pomegranate pearls and put them in a blender. Blend until crushed and strain into a glass. For the orange juice, use a hand-held juicer to squeeze the juice fresh. Mix both the juices in a pitcher and consume fresh. Enjoy with or without ice cubes.

4. Guava Juice

A good source of Vitamin C, guava juice is a great add-on during pregnancy.

Benefits:

It helps in keeping blood pressure and blood sugar under control. It is also helpful in anaemia reduction, while increasing the levels of haemoglobin is another perk. This juice is rich in ascorbic acid or Vitamin C and helps in enhancing the immune system of a mother.

How to Make:

Boil the guava in water and let it cool. Make sure to blend the guavas well. You can add ginger or lemon juice to improve the taste. Serve it with ice cubes.

5. Carrot Juice

Known to have one of the best nutritional values of all vegetables, carrot juice offers several health benefits during pregnancy.

Benefits:

Carrots are rich in calcium and help in the development of the bones and teeth of the baby. It is a good source of Vitamin A and fibre, which act as an antioxidant and protect the mother from free radicals. It is well known for boosting cardiovascular health by increasing total antioxidant status (6). Phytochemicals present in this vegetable help promote appropriate body functions.

How to Make:

Clean the carrots properly, cut them into small pieces, and add them to the juicer. Once the carrots are blended well, empty the juice into a jug and serve it.

6. Orange Juice

This refreshing juice is loaded with Vitamin C and folates, which are important for strengthening the immune system.

Benefits:

According to the ACOG, women should consume about 85 mg of vitamin C a day, and orange juice is an ideal vitamin C-packed juice women can consume (7). The orange juice helps in reducing the risk of any infant allergic diseases. It helps in the formation of new tissues and red blood cells. Vitamin C supplementation also plays a role in the development of the placenta and reduces the risk of placental abruption in pregnant women (8).

How to Make:

Use a hand-held juicer to squeeze the juice fresh and consume it immediately.

7. Apple Juice

Apples are full of nutrients and minerals. Apple juice is one of the best juices recommended during pregnancy by doctors.

Benefits:

Apples are nutrient-rich in phytochemicals, including polyphenols, vitamin C, dietary fibers, and pectin (9). Apple juice can keep pregnancy weight gain at bay and also aid in the development of your baby’s brain. It is also known to increase immunity and prevent sleep disorders. A good source of iron, apples can prevent anaemia during pregnancy.

How to Make:

Take two or three apples, peel off the skin, and cut them into pieces. Now, blend them nicely and drink the juice.

8. Lemon Juice

This is a great source of vitamin C and contains powerful antioxidants.

Benefits:

It is the best option for managing high blood pressure during pregnancy. It also controls bowel movement during pregnancy

How to Make:

This is one of the easiest pregnancy juice recipes. Just take two lemons, squeeze them into a glass, and add salt or sugar as per your liking. Your lemon juice is ready.

Fruits to Avoid During Pregnancy

Some fruits must be strictly avoided during pregnancy, in any form, whether eaten whole or juiced.

1.  Unripe or Semi-ripe Papaya Juice

According to a 2002 study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, moderate consumption of ripe papaya during pregnancy may not pose any danger during pregnancy. However, unripe or semi-ripe papaya could pose a risk in pregnancy as it is highly concentrated with the latex, which could provide uterine contractions (10).

Drinking one glass of juice daily during pregnancy can help you stack up on those much-needed minerals and vitamins and keep you hydrated, at the same time. Remember not to go on a juice fast while you are pregnant. Healthy juices should be part of a healthy pregnancy diet for maximum benefits to you and your baby.

References/Resources:

1. FDA – Fruits, Veggies and Juices (Food Safety for Moms-to-Be)

2. Cleveland Clinic – All the Reasons You Should Eat Strawberries

3. PubMed Central – Beetroot as a functional food with huge health benefits: Antioxidant, antitumor, physical function, and chronic metabolomics activity

4. British Heart Foundation – Can beetroot juice lower blood pressure?

5. University of Florida – Pomegranate Health Benefits

6. PubMed Central – Drinking carrot juice increases total antioxidant status and decreases lipid peroxidation in adults

7. ACOG – Nutrition During Pregnancy

8. WHO – Vitamin C supplementation in pregnancy

9. PubMed Central – Health Benefits of Apple Juice Consumption: A Review of Interventional Trials on Humans

10. PubMed – Papaya (Carica papaya) consumption is unsafe in pregnancy: fact or fable? Scientific evaluation of a common belief in some parts of Asia using a rat model

Also Read:

Aloe Vera Juice in Pregnancy
Healthy Drinks during Pregnancy
Drinking Sugarcane Juice in Pregnancy
Is Mosambi (Sweet Lime) Juice Safe in Pregnancy?
Is it Harmful to Consume Soft Drinks when Pregnant

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