Q: Drinking fruit juice supposed to be healthy, but is it good for pregnant women?
A: Most juices are healthy but should be consumed in moderation when pregnant:
Apple juice contains small amounts of iron that is required during pregnancy by the body.
Orange juice should not be consumed in very large amounts even though it has the fiber that pregnant women need because pregnant mothers are more prone to tooth decay and the strong acids in orange juice encourage tooth damage. Too much orange juice also leads to heartburn or gastrointestinal discomfort due to the high amounts of Vitamin C.
Prune juice is nutritious and can alleviate constipation which is common during pregnancy. However, it is best not to drink too much of it if you are close to the delivery date.
Spinach juice may not taste so sweet and contains nitrates, but it also has plenty of folic acid that can protect your baby from neural tube defects and Spina Bifida. It has a lot of vitamins and nutrients and can be enjoyed in small servings.
Other fruit juices that provide folic acid and vitamins are mulberry, tangerine and lemon juice. Vegetable juices that are good for both pregnant moms include cucumber juice, Chinese cabbage juice, kermes radish juice, broccoli juice, lettuce juice and carrot juice.
Be sure to stick to fresh juice and avoid any with harmful ingredients like essence, antiseptic, hard sugar and pigment. All juices should be consumed as a pasteurized product. If the juice is not pasteurized, meaning if you buy it freshly pressed, that means it has not been heated enough to kill the bacteria and could potentially lead to a foodborne illness that may be harmful to baby or mom.
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