Is Cranberry Safe To Take During Pregnancy?

Cranberries represent a gift of nature. Aside from their unique and wonderful taste, they also offer lots of benefits to the human body. Because of these benefits for health, some states in the U.S. include them in the list of super-fruits during pregnancy.

Did you know that cranberries have been used as a source of food and medication for centuries?

Cranberries originate from South America and they are plants no higher than around 20 cm, with red fruits, rich in citric and lactic acid, vitamins, sugars, proteins, as well as mineral salts and oils, offering the wonderful gift of strengthening the immune system, providing anti-infectious effects and protecting the kidneys.

Is Cranberry Safe to Take during Pregnancy?

As you may already know, it`s vital for women to consume fruits while pregnant. They help maintain healthy due to their essential nutrients. But let`s us concentrate on a specific fruit – cranberry.

Cranberries are delicious fruits rich in vitamin C, but in case you may consider adding them to your diet during pregnancy, think again. Although cranberry juice may usually be safe, pregnant and breastfeeding women or children shouldn`t consume these fruits, without the doctor`s approval.

What Are the Risks of Consuming Cranberries?

Side effects: Cranberries, juices of cranberries and any other extracts of these fruits are generally safe. However, amounts in excess may lead to diarrhea and upset stomach. In addition, expecting mothers may experience these side effects even at lower doses, so it may be best to avoid them.

Interactions: If you take any medications on a regular basis, talk to a doctor before using supplements that contain cranberries. They may interact with drugs, such as blood thinners, or antibiotics, like aspirin, antacids, statins or proton pump inhibitors, as well as medications which may affect your liver.

Related: Can You Eat Tuna Fish While Pregnant?

Risks: If you may suspect you have a UTI, don`t simply rely on these fruits to help you. There`s absolutely no proof that this will happen. Alternatively, visit the doctor`s office. If you experience medical conditions such as kidney stones or aspirin allergies, talk to your doctor before choosing to use these fruits for a medical condition. Sweetened cranberry juices might be high in high-fructose corn syrup and calories, and therefore might be inadvisable for persons with weight issues or diabetes.

Can I Drink Cranberry Juice during Pregnancy?

According to Cranberry | University of Maryland Medical Center, juices from cranberries doesn`t normally lead to any side effects while expecting a baby. Actually, cranberry juice might even aid prevent UTIs that commonly occur during pregnancy, and it`s recommended by the APA especially for this particular reason.

You have to get in touch with the doctor who supervises your pregnancy before deciding to take any cranberry supplements or before attempting to treat a urinary tract infection or other medical condition on your own.

The APA advises to consume cranberry juice on a regular basis in order to prevent urinary tract infections, which usually happen between 6^th and 24^th weeks of pregnancy. Still, sweetened cranberry juice contains a lot of sugar, so choose instead other varieties of this juice if you are able to tolerate its tart taste.

The APA reports that most expecting mothers just require around 300 additional calories every day during the last 2 trimesters.

Benefits of Cranberries

The most essential advantage of these fruits is without a doubt their high content of vitamin C. This is very useful when fighting infections during all stages of pregnancies. Additionally, cranberries also contain folate, calcium, selenium as well as vitamins A, B12, E and K – all that the healthy development of a baby requires.

Cranberries prove to be unbeatable when it comes to common issues while pregnant.

Fighting against Urinary Infections

This kind of infections is a common problem during pregnancy, especially in early pregnancy. If you don`t want to take drugs, you can use cranberries to prevent or treat such infections. The acid present in these fruits destroys bacteria and also prevents their repopulation in the urinary tract. And even if you choose to take drugs, these fruits will act as a catalyst, if you choose to add them in your diet. – More like this!

Helping Maintain Weight

We all know that pregnant women gain a lot of weight in a short period of time. Cranberries don`t contain too many calories, so they do help maintain your weight. Additionally to cranberry juice, it`s also recommended to add them to cereals in the morning or salads for more notable results.

Antibiotic & Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Cranberries have antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties and will keep colds and flu away.

Good for Oral Hygiene

Because of the effects already mentioned, cranberries will also help against caries and other dental problems. These particular effects are that much important when you have to maintain your oral hygiene flawless, if you are prone to gum infections and caries.

Keeping Dehydration Away

During pregnancy, it`s vital to maintain yourself well hydrated. These fruits don`t only offer great nutritional values, they also keep dehydration away due to their liquid content. – Find out more!

Reducing Constipation

Constipation is a common problem during pregnancy. Drink cranberry juice on a daily basis and keep constipation away. Additionally, if you consume these fruits, you`ll also enjoy of fibers, which will help you maintain your digestive tract healthy.

Nutritional Values of Cranberries

How to Serve Cranberries?

Cranberries could be consumed in lots of tasty forms such as tarts, sorbets, fresh snacks, pies, ice creams, jams, cocktails, muffins or sauces.

If you want to purchase dried cranberries, be certain to verify the details on the label. Checking when they expire as well as other ingredients is crucial while pregnant.