Can Pregnant Women Eat Grapefruit?

Grapefruit is known to be a complex fruit, which can aid prevent lots of illness and medical conditions. Still, if you are expecting a baby, it`s essential to talk to a doctor first to find out if you are allowed to eat this fruit or not. As you`ll learn in this article below, this fruit will bring lots of benefits in this 9 months of pregnancy, but only if eaten in moderation. Obviously, the consumption of grapefruits can bring side effects as well, but they can easily be avoided if you are cautious and keep in mind that doctor`s advice.

Can Pregnant Women Eat Grapefruit?

Being filled with all kinds of nutrients, grapefruits can represent a great ally while pregnant. Here why:

Combats Blood Pressure & Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia occurs in around 8% of pregnant women. This condition may lead to premature birth or even death, if the monitoring isn`t done correctly.

Due to the fact that grapefruits contain both lycopene and potassium, grapefruits help pregnant women who experience of high blood pressure. Not only that they can lower blood pressure, but they can also help prevent blood pressure issues, even those that are related to pregnancy.

Fights against Insomnia

During the third trimester of pregnancy, sleep might become uncomfortable. Grapefruits can help relieve these symptoms, especially if they are consumed just before bedtime.

Combats Morning Sickness

The first symptoms of pregnancy may include morning sickness, a rather unpleasant side effect for lots of future mothers. For some women it`s quite worse, so they`ll do anything to avoid this. Grapefruits can really help, especially in early pregnancy. It`s sour-but-sweet taste at the same time may aid make symptoms of nausea easier to bear, and its rich-fiber content aids settle the pregnant woman`s stomach.

Lowers the risk of Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is often associated with high an increase weight gain in both the mother and baby, which will eventually result in a more difficult labor. – Visit this page!

However, it was discovered that pregnant women who consume grapefruits will experience of lower blood sugar level and won`t accumulate too much extra weight. Therefore, these women will be less likely to develop gestational diabetes.

Reduces Water Retention

The grapefruit`s vitamin C and bioflavonoids can aid reduce water retention quite significantly. This is especially the case in the last pregnancy trimester, when this particular phenomenon is more serious.

Combats Anemia

There`s some research suggesting that diets high in B group vitamins might be able to reduce anemia. As a rather frequent medical condition among expecting mothers, these fruits can work wonders in terms of prevention and also something that can be used along with medical care if anemia issues might already be present.

Combats Heartburn & Indigestion

As the baby starts to develop, there`s less and less space in the mother`s body for her vital organs. This will eventually lead to all sorts of pregnancy-related signs, which include indigestion and heartburn. Our fruits can aid neutralize the acid of the stomach and relieve such side effects.

Prevents Asthma

Research has discovered that diets rich in vitamin C can aid lower the risk of asthma development. Although it isn`t yet known if this particular benefit might transfer to the baby or not, this is crucial to take into account since asthma during the 9 months of pregnancy may raise the same risk for the baby as well.

Helps Calcium Intake & Bone Density

Calcium represents a very important nutrient while pregnant, and some future mothers struggle with all their strength to get as much of it as they can. This may sometimes lead to various issues when it comes to the unborn baby, as well as for the mother later. One single grapefruit can offer 2% of the daily intake of calcium. When combined with other food sources, it may aid combat the mother`s loss of bone density later in life and also help make sure proper bone formation will develop for the baby.

Is It OK to Drink Grape Juice while Pregnant?

Grapefruit is said to represent the healthiest fruit from the citrus category as lots of its constituents act similar to medications. Additionally to the rich content of vitamin C that most citruses have, this fruit also contain vitamin A, 90% calcium, potassium, vitamin B1, B2, B5, iron, phosphorus and water. Grapefruit juice is antihemorrhagic, appetizer, depurative and tonic.

When it comes to the diet of an expecting mother, grapefruits aren`t really recommended at such. During the first trimester, it should be consumed in small amounts, mixed with other juices (especially juices made from vegetables), mostly because it irritates the gastric mucosa.

Due to the high content of vitamin C, these fruits are efficient in stimulating the immune system and are perfect as natural treatments in colds. Ideally, grapefruit juice is associated with honey. Antioxidants from the composition of these fruits alleviate neck pain, reduce fever and fight against bacteria.

Grapefruit juice can be a natural treatment for:

• High cholesterol.
• Obesity.
• Atherosclerosis.
• Psoriasis.

Nutritional Value of Grapefruit

• Grapefruit is rich in potassium, vitamin C, pectin, fiber and lots of other nutrients.
• It has a low glycemic load and high fiber content, which makes it great as a metabolism booster.
• A few of its components have high antioxidant levels. The riper is the fruit, the high value as an antioxidant it has.
• These particular properties aid the fruit to prevent damage from free radicals which contribute to the inflammation of various body parts.
• The limonin, a phytonutrient present in grapefruits, reduces the growth of tumors.
• The high potassium amount in these fruits makes them very healthy for the human heart.
• The citrate in these wonderful foods joins with calcium in the pregnant woman`s urine, reducing the available calcium amount to form kidney stones.

Side Effects from Grapefruit Consumption while Pregnant

Firstly, you should know that you may experience side effects if you`ll consume grapefruits in excess.

Secondly, it`s recommended to consult the doctor who supervises your pregnancy regarding the consumption of this fruit during pregnancy, as grapefruits are known for their ability to interfere with various medications.

Also, you should pay attention and wash the fruit before consuming them, as scientists from the American Pregnancy Association have found that unwashed fruits contain bacteria or parasites which can get you sick with listeriosis or taxoplasmosis.

Last but not least, it`s really required to know that if you are allergic to citrus, may experience any kidney issues or gastroesophageal reflux, you shouldn`t consume grapefruits.