is it Safe to Eat Pomegranate During Pregnancy?
Many doctors and nutritionists say that there is nothing wrong with eating pomegranate seeds or drinking pomegranate juice during pregnancy. There is no medical proof for the same, but there aren’t any incidents or evidence to show that eating pomegranates during pregnancy can be harmful. One should not consume the extracts, but the juice is safe to consume. Pomegranate juice has tons of nutrients to offer plus it can satiate your sweet cravings to an extent, meanwhile keeping you hydrated.
Health Benefits of Eating Pomegranate During Pregnancy
The various nutrients in pomegranate include vitamins and minerals that are essential for pregnant ladies. At the same time, the physical constitution of the fruit also benefits women in various ways.
1. May Prevent Iron-deficiency Anaemia
Pomegranate is a good source of Vitamin C. A necessary amount of this vitamin is essential for a pregnant woman as it helps in the synthesis of iron from the food items that are consumed. If you eat iron-rich foods or take iron supplements during pregnancy, there will be adequate iron stores in your blood. Vitamin C will even help your body absorb iron. Enough iron and Vitamin C in your body will lower your risk of iron-deficiency anaemia, which often leads to preterm delivery.
2. Keeps the Digestive System Healthy
Pomegranate is a good source of fibre. Eating vegetables and fruits that are rich in fibre is recommended for pregnant women, in order to keep constipation and other digestive disorders at bay. By stimulating bowel movements, fibre plays a key role in streamlining the entire system and providing relief from a lot of discomforts.
3. Helps Fight Free Radicals
The free radicals that are formed in the body as a result of various bodily processes are essentially waste products that ought to be flushed out like toxins. But some of these might stay within the body and interact with healthy cells or even DNA molecules, causing damage to the body internally and also affecting the placenta at times. The best way to combat them is with antioxidants, and pomegranates are high in antioxidants. The antioxidants present in pomegranates can help repair any damage to the cells and protect the child’s brain from any damage.
4. May Provide Relief From Cramps
Potassium is yet another mineral that is necessary for a pregnant woman. Having a healthy amount of pomegranate juice on a daily basis can ensure a good supply of potassium in your body. Drinking pomegranate juice or including potassium-rich foods in your diet can provide you instant relief from pregnancy-related cramps.
5. Assists in the Brain Development of the Baby
Folate is a necessary element for the proper mental development of the foetus. A glass of pomegranate juice can meet at least 10% of your daily folate requirement, hence it is a must-include in your pregnancy diet. Folate works towards supporting the development of neural tubes and the nervous system of the baby, keeping his brain development on the right path.
Can Pregnant Women Drink Pomegranate Juice?
Yes, pregnant women can drink pomegranate juice. Pomegranate juice is highly recommended to pregnant women as it is healthy and nutritious and can be an integral part of a pregnant woman’s daily diet. During pregnancy, you can have pomegranate juice with your regular breakfast.
Benefits of Drinking Pomegranate Juice
Consumption of pomegranate juice brings with itself quite a few benefits such as –
- One glass of pomegranate juice can provide about 150 calories or so.
- Drinking pomegranate juice can balance your hydration levels too.
- Pomegranate juice can provide nearly a quarter of your daily requirements of Vitamin K in a single go.
- It can also provide you with relief from many pregnancy complications.
How Many Pomegranates Can a Pregnant Woman Eat?
As beneficial as any vegetable or fruit might be, overeating it is never recommended as it does not help the body in a good way. Eating too many pomegranate seeds can harm the enamel covering of the tooth. To prevent that, you can eat cheese (in small quantities, of course) before eating pomegranate pearls. You should also rinse your mouth well after consumption. However, it is suggested that you consult your doctor before including this fruit in your diet.
How to Include Pomegranate in Your Diet
Pomegranate juice can be a part of your daily breakfast. You can also eat pomegranate seeds on the go whenever you feel hungry. But if you are looking for more ways to include it in your diet, here is what you can do.
ADVERTISEMENTIf you eat meat, then you can further complement the flavour of your lamb preparations by garnishing it with a few mint leaves and pomegranate seeds.
When preparing mixed fruit smoothies or even milkshakes, add a few pomegranate pearls to enhance the taste or use them as a topping before serving them.
You can also add pomegranate pearls to desserts and salads if you like. Spinach, paneer, and pomegranate seeds salad taste yummy. You can make mixed fruit salad dessert or add it to ras malai.
Risks Associated With the Consumption of Pomegranate During Pregnancy
Eating pomegranate can help prevent various pregnancy-related infections as well. But in no way should you eat pomegranate pearls in excessive amounts as it could lead to certain complications. Mentioned below are the risks associated with the consumption of pomegranates in pregnancy.
The calorie count of pomegranate is on a higher side. This is beneficial for women who struggle to meet their daily requirements of calories due to other dietary restrictions. However, one could easily cross their healthy threshold of calories by consuming this fruit in excess.
If a woman consumes pomegranate extract, it could trigger premature contractions. Pomegranate extracts must be avoided by pregnant women at all costs. As the extract is prepared without separating the rind from the rest of the fruit and this extract with rind contains certain elements which can interact with a pregnant woman’s body and thus trigger premature contractions.
ips to Consume Pomegranate Fruit
Eating pomegranate fruit can be beneficial for you and your baby if you eat it the right way and in moderate amounts. Follow these simple tips to get the most from this delicious fruit.
- Instead of purchasing pomegranate juice from the supermarket, buy the fruit instead and make the juice at home. If you make it at home, you will be sure that it is pure juice and is healthy. You can even make mocktails or pop soda with pomegranate for refreshments.
- While buying pomegranates, make sure you choose the ones that are heavier. Remember heavy pomegranates are juicier. On the outside, they should be thin yet hard. You can scoop out the seeds after immersing the fruit in cold water or use your fingers to take them out and refrigerate them. Add them in your breakfast cereal or in other food preparations.
Including pomegranates in your pregnancy diet is one of the best ways to ensure that some of your nutritional requirements are met on a daily basis. The benefits of this fruit are manifold, and the complications arise only when it is consumed in excess or if the extract is consumed. Eat the fruit just as you would eat any other healthy item and you would have a safe pregnancy!
