Is It Safe to Eat Blackberries in Pregnancy?

Fruits and vegetables are a great source of nutrition for a pregnant woman. Where some fruits are allowed and considered extremely beneficial for a mommy-to-be, other fruits may be a complete no-no during pregnancy. If you are thinking of adding blackberries to your pregnancy diet but are not sure whether they fall in the category of safe or unsafe pregnancy foods, then you may like to read the following article. Let us give you a hint: everything in moderation is safe, and anything in excess is harmful. Well, the same goes for eating blackberries during pregnancy. So, is blackberry good for pregnancy? Before concluding anything in a single sentence, let’s read this article and learn everything about consuming blackberries in pregnancy.

Can Pregnant Women Eat Blackberries?

If you are wondering whether blackberries can be eaten during pregnancy, the answer is yes. You may safely consume blackberries and add them to your pregnancy diet because they fall under the safe food category during pregnancy. However, make sure you wash them thoroughly before consuming them to remove any traces of dirt, pesticides, bacteria, or other such substances. This is because all these may lead to food poisoning and may also cause congenital disabilities in the baby. Another critical thing to remember is to always consume fresh blackberries, as the stale ones may cause stomach cramps and food poisoning.

Though blackberries are safe for consumption during pregnancy, if you are suffering from pancreatitis or dyskinesia or if you are oxalic-intolerant, you may want to consult your doctor before consuming blackberries during pregnancy.

Nutrients Present in Blackberries

Here is the nutritional chart of 100 grams of blackberries, raw as per the USDA (1):

Benefits of Eating Blackberries During Pregnancy

Blackberries are not actually berries; they are called aggregate fruits. These small berries comprise tiny sections of drupelets. Blackberries have immense health benefits for pregnant women, including vitamin C, fibre, antioxidants, potassium, and folate, some of which are explained below (2):

1. Helps in Improving Digestion

Pregnancy may take a toll on your digestion and make your digestive system sluggish. Blackberries have high fibre content, which helps in taking care of digestive troubles during pregnancy. Adding blackberries for pregnancy diets can be a gentle and tasty way to support healthy digestion and prevent constipation.

2. Good for Your Baby’s Bone Health

The substantial amounts of calcium and magnesium in blackberries are very beneficial for your baby’s bones, and thus, including them in your pregnancy diet helps in the formation of healthy bones of your baby (3).

3. Beneficial for the Heart’s Health

Consumption of blackberries not only helps in the proper functioning of the mother’s heart, but it is also good for the foetus’s heart health. If a pregnant woman has a congenital heart ailment, consuming blackberries may reduce the risk of passing that ailment to her baby.

4. Good for Eye-Sight

Regular intake of blackberries is not only beneficial for improving your eyesight, but it is also effective in improving the eye health of your unborn child.

5. Helps in Preventing Congenital Disabilities in Babies

Being rich in folate, blackberries are very helpful in keeping various kinds of birth defects at bay. Also, it reduces the chances of miscarriage in pregnant women.

6. Helps in Preventing Excessive Bleeding

Blackberries contain a fair amount of vitamin K, which is highly beneficial in preventing excessive bleeding during pregnancy because of its blood-clotting properties.

7. Aids the Blood Vessel Functioning

The daily intake of blackberries is extremely effective in enabling the proper functioning of blood vessels and, thus, aids the adequate blood flow from the mother to the baby.

8. Helps in Combating Cancer

The presence of micronutrients in blackberries is effective in battling cancerous cells, and they may protect you and your baby from the fatal consequences of the disease (4).

Side Effects of Consuming Blackberries in Pregnancy

Just like everything else has its own set of pros and cons, the same can be applied to the consumption of blackberries during pregnancy. Here are some drawbacks of eating blackberries during pregnancy:

• It may cause an allergic reaction in a pregnant woman.
• It may lead to diarrhoea if consumed in large quantities.
• Blackberries contain sugar, which can potentially increase blood sugar levels if consumed in large quantities. Pregnant women with gestational diabetes should be careful.
• Blackberries can also harbour bacteria. Eating them without properly washing with clean water multiple times can increase the risk of foodborne illnesses.
• Non-organic blackberries may contain pesticides. Eating them without properly washing could pose serious pesticide-related risks during pregnancy.

Ways to Include Blackberries in Your Pregnancy Diet

You can eat blackberries in their fresh form, dried form, frozen form, of fresh ones are not available, in desserts, in puddings, in salads, or in various other ways (2). Here are some healthy blackberry recipes that you may try during pregnancy:

• Add blackberries to your fruit bowl or salad bowl.
• Take two tablespoons of dried blackberry leaves and infuse them in half a litre of hot water. Half a glass of this drink can be taken thrice a day to overcome diabetes during pregnancy.
• To overcome gastritis, 50 grams of blackberries can be had half an hour before meals.
• Two tablespoons of dried blackberries can be infused in a cup of hot water for 15 minutes. You may take one-third of this infusion three times a day to overcome the symptoms of stomatitis, sore throat, and catarrhal disease.
• You can make cold blackberry fruit punch on a hot summer day.

Alternatives to Blackberries While Pregnant

Yes, blackberries are delicious and contain health goodies like vitamin C, fibre, and antioxidants, but they are also high in sugar. Sugar imbalance in the body during pregnancy may lead to the risk of gestational diabetes, which is not healthy for either the mother or the baby. Fret not; there are plenty of nutrient-dense alternatives that are loaded with the same health benefits as blackberries. When choosing blackberry fruit for pregnancy, always keep moderation in mind and balance it with other healthy fruits. Here are some pregnancy-friendly alternatives to blackberries.

• Blueberries are high in vitamin C and antioxidants
• Kiwis are rich in fibre and vitamin C
• Strawberries are loaded with vitamin C and folate
• Raspberries are a reservoir of vitamin C and fibre
• Apples are an easily available alternative loaded with vitamin C and fibre

FAQs

1. How many blackberries should be consumed during pregnancy?

As per the Cleveland Clinic, general experts suggest having two servings of this fruit per day. Each serving here means one cup of blackberries (3). However, there is no defined rule for the quantity of blackberries to consume during pregnancy. It is important to consult your doctor regarding the right quantity to consume blackberries during pregnancy, the first trimester, or in any trimester.

2. Can I eat blackberries raw? Should I cook them?

Yes, you can eat blackberries raw and ripe. Make sure to wash them thoroughly to prevent any food-borne issues.

3. Can blackberries cause gestational diabetes?

According to a 2020 study, it was found that although dietary berries are a rich source of antioxidants, micronutrients, phytochemicals, and low in calories, they may reduce the risks of several diseases, including type 2 diabetes (T2D) (1). When consumed in moderation, blackberries won’t increase the risk of gestational diabetes.

4. Is it safe to consume blackberry fruit wine during pregnancy?

Alcohol, in general, is not safe to consume during pregnancy. When it comes to fruit wine, it is extremely important to consult your healthcare provider before consuming any sort of alcohol or wine during pregnancy.

You may extract immense benefits from blackberries by adding them to your daily pregnancy diet. However, please consult your obstetrician before you do so to avoid any health complications. That’s about blackberries and pregnancy. If you wish to learn more about the impact of different fruits on pregnancy, scroll down for various article suggestions.

Wishing you a healthy and safe pregnancy! 

Also Read: 

Jackfruit during Pregnancy
Eating Chikoo Fruit in Pregnancy
Is It Safe to Eat Kiwi Fruit in Pregnancy?
Eating Jujube (Ber) Fruit In Pregnancy
Is Eating Green Apples Good during Pregnancy?

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Sources References

1. USDA – Blackberries, raw

2. Sustainable Food Center – 3 Fall Foods To Nourish You And Your Baby

3. Cleveland Clinic – The Small Yet Powerful Blackberry: Why You Should Eat Some Today

4. RxList – Blackberry

5. PubMed Central – Dietary berries, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes: an overview of human feeding trials