Cranberries have long been hailed as a super fruit, packed full of vitamins and minerals that your body needs. In this post, we take ask the question, is cranberry juice good for pregnancy and look some of the amazing health benefits for momma to be.
Why You Should Drink Cranberry Juice During Pregnancy
Cranberries contain folate, Vitamin A, C, B12, K, E, calcium, and selenium, which you and your baby need throughout your pregnancy and while you’re breastfeeding. Few people mention cranberries outside of sauces and cocktail. Loaded with vitamins your body requires, cranberries might be a welcome addition to your daily routine.
Cranberry Juice Helps Fight Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)
The American Pregnancy Association says the first and second trimester of pregnancy are most likely when urinary tract infections occur in pregnant women due to the pressure on your bladder. When you consume cranberry juice, it helps your body create hippuric acid and raises the acidic environment in your urinary tract. This can discourage bacteria growth and its ability to adhere to your bladder’s walls.
Drinking cranberry juice or eating whole berries isn’t foolproof at preventing an UTI. Should you experience any symptoms, you should contact your OBGYN immediately as an untreated infection can develop into a more serious, life-threatening condition. Look for a burning pain when you urinate, blood-colored urine, a foul odor, fever, and stomach pain or cramping.
Natural Anti-inflammatory Food Source
Inflammation is a normal pregnancy side effect because of the rapid changes in your body. The cytokines found in cranberries are proteins that battle inflammation in your body. Vitamin C also has the ability to be inflammatory too. By adding a cup of juice a day, you can help your body adapt to the shifting and to the carrying of extra weight on your joints.
The same anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants found in cranberries and its juice might strengthen your immune system, remove inflammation from your stomach, and repair or reverse free radical cellular damage.
Battles Tooth Infections
During pregnancy, you likely don’t think about your oral health undergoing massive changes. Some women notice no difference where other women find their pregnancy declares war in their mouths. Regardless, your oral health is important during pregnancy and taking the steps to prevent dangerous infections in your teeth and gums is necessary.
Proanthocyanidins (PACS), and antioxidant can help your teeth by limiting bacteria and its ability to stick to your gums and teeth. Some research also suggests cranberries might fight gum diseases.
Reduces Constipation
A sluggish digestive system is a normal part of pregnancy due to hormone production and supplements. You can counteract it by eating plenty of fibre, but adding cranberry juice to your diet can keep your bowels moving on a regular basis while offering added benefits.
Cranberries act like probiotics according to recent studies. They improve the health of your gut by reducing bad bacteria without removing good bacteria your body needs to function optimally. Some believe cranberries have a cleansing effect on the body. This includes anti-septic and diuretic properties that aid your body in removing toxins, buildup, bloating, and water retention.
Necessary Hydration
Hydration is an important factor for your body to ensure all of your systems work properly. This is true for all people, but for women in their first trimester who battle morning sickness it’s more important. If you’re vomiting on a regular basis, you’re losing more than the contents of your stomach and you risk dehydration. Slowly sipping a glass of cranberry juice might ease your tummy while providing you with much needed fluids.
Cranberry juice can offer you multiple benefits while you’re pregnant and breastfeeding. You should choose 100% juice varieties and avoid those with added sugar. Pregnant women generally require 300 extra calories a day; that number includes liquid calories from beverages.
Here are a few helpful tips:
- Fresh and dried cranberries make a low calorie snack and pack the same punch as juice.
- If you can’t tolerate the bitter-tart taste, sweeten your juice at home using something like Stevia.
- Some women will find cranberry juice upsets their stomach. You can dilute it with ice or water.
- Cranberry juice is also great for lactating women, so you can continue to enjoy its benefits post-partum.
Resources & Further Reading
- Cranberries and lower urinary tract infection prevention
- Everything you need to know about cranberries
- Give Thanks for the Cranberry, Say Dental Researchers
- Cranberries: Benefits, Recipes and Nutrition Facts
- Cranberries
- Urinary Tract Infection During Pregnancy
So is cranberry juice good for pregnancy? Abosolutley. This tasty drink is packed full of vitamins and mineral essential for baby and comes with a whole host of benefits.
Ellen Fetters
Ellen Fetters, is a former Children's and Young People's Nursing Practice with an BSc from the University of Sunderland. After completing her SCPHN - HV she then worked as a Health Visitor within the local community.
In 2017 Ellen left nursing to launch Parenting Click, an online parenting resource aimed at creating happier families through better parenting.
She lives with her husband, beautiful baby girl, and two darling dogs. She spends her free time writing, running and learning how to become a better parent.