What does juice do if you have it while pregnant?
Juice can be a refreshing and nutritious drink for pregnant women. However, it’s important to be mindful of the type and amount of juice consumed during pregnancy. This article explores the potential benefits and downsides of drinking juice while pregnant.
Benefits of Juice During Pregnancy
Juice can provide several benefits for pregnant women when consumed in moderation as part of a balanced diet:
- Hydration – Juices can help meet increased fluid needs during pregnancy.
- Nutrients – Fruit and vegetable juices provide vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants like vitamin C, potassium, and beta-carotene.
- Energy – The natural sugars in juice can help boost energy levels.
- Fiber – Some juices retain fiber from the whole fruits and vegetables.
- Variety – Juice can increase variety and nutrient consumption from fruits/veggies.
Downsides of Juice During Pregnancy
However, there are some potential downsides of drinking too much juice during pregnancy:
- Calories – Juice is high in natural sugars and calories with less volume than whole fruit.
- Blood Sugar – The sugary calories from juice can cause blood sugar spikes.
- Gestational Diabetes Risk – High blood sugar from too much juice may increase risk of gestational diabetes.
- Tooth Decay – Juice acidity can erode tooth enamel leading to decay.
- Weight Gain – Excess calories from juice can contribute to excessive pregnancy weight gain.
- Lack of Fiber – Juice lacks the fiber content of whole fruits and vegetables.
Juice Recommendations for Pregnancy
Here are some healthy juice recommendations for pregnant women:
- Limit juice to no more than 4-6 ounces per day as part of a balanced diet.
- Choose 100% fruit juices without added sugars.
- Vegetable juices or blends can provide more nutrients and less sugar.
- Dilute juices with water to reduce sugar content.
- Avoid juice fasting or cleansing regimens.
- Pair juices with protein, fat, or fiber to balance blood sugar response.
- Rinse mouth after drinking juice to prevent tooth decay.
Best and Worst Juices During Pregnancy
Some juices may be better options than others during pregnancy:
| Best Juices | Worst Juices |
|---|---|
| 100% orange juice | Juice cocktails with added sugar |
| Prune juice for constipation | Grapefruit juice due to medication interactions |
| Tomato juice for vitamin C | Unpasteurized juice due to foodborne illness risk |
| Pomegranate juice for antioxidants | Excess fruit juice with high sugar content |
| Green vegetable juices | Juice cleanses or fasting regimens |
Juice and Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is a risk with excess juice consumption. Here are tips for pregnant women with gestational diabetes:
- Limit juice to 2-4 ounces per day and count toward carb limits.
- Focus on low sugar vegetable juices.
- Always pair juices with protein or fat.
- Test blood sugar before and after drinking juice.
- Avoid juice spikes – spread consumption throughout the day.
Juicing During Pregnancy Safely
Here are some tips for juicing safely during pregnancy:
- Wash all produce thoroughly before juicing.
- Use pasteurized juices when possible or freshly made juices right away.
- Clean juicer properly between uses.
- Don’t juice meats, fish or unpasteurized dairy.
- Monitor heat used in juicing to avoid loss of nutrients.
- Store fresh juices in airtight containers and refrigerate promptly.
Conclusion
Juice can be included as part of a healthy pregnancy diet in moderation. Focus on whole fruits and veggies first, limit juice portions to 4-6 ounces per day, choose low-sugar options, and pair juices with fiber, protein or fat. Be cautious of juice-only diets. Follow safe juicing practices and enjoy juices as a fresh, nutrient-dense drink when pregnant!