Orange juice during pregnancy - benefits and contraindications

Pregnancy is the most crucial period in the life of a future mother, during which maximum attention should be paid to proper nutrition, because the development and health of an unborn baby directly depends on what products and how are consumed at this time. In the process of reviewing the daily diet, it turns out that not all food is safe for the baby in the tummy. In this article, we will consider such a popular drink as orange juice, and analyze the features of its use during pregnancy, find out when it is beneficial and when it is harmful.

The composition of orange juice

Juice, squeezed from fresh oranges, retains all the properties of the original citrus product, invigorates and gives strength, improves brain mental activity, saturates the body of a pregnant woman with vitamins, macrocells and microelements. Finally, it is simply very tasty - it is not surprising that among all types of natural juices, this particular drink has the greatest popularity. Its composition includes such substances as:

1. Essential amino acids - unable to be synthesized by humans, they enter its cells exclusively with food. In orange, their concentration is at a high level, so experts believe that this fruit must be part of the daily healthy diet.
2. Flavonoids are useful natural compounds that have anti-inflammatory effects, reduce the likelihood of developing malignant tumors and diabetes, and reduce blood cholesterol.
3. Pectins are substances that normalize the work of the digestive system of the expectant mother, positively affect the functioning of the intestines, accelerate the elimination of toxins from the body, neutralize the processes of fermentation and decay, increase appetite.
4. Micronutrients and macronutrients - orange juice is rich in zinc and phosphorus, magnesium and calcium, iron and potassium - all these substances are necessary for the normal development of the fetus.
5. Ascorbic acid is a vitamin that strengthens the natural immunity of the developing fetus and its mother, improves the strength and elasticity of blood vessels, tones and relieves fatigue.
6. The whole vitamin complex necessary for the normal formation of important tissues and organs of the future mother of the child growing in the stomach. For example, this fruit is one of the leaders in the content of vitamin B9, which is involved in the formation of the human nervous system.

Orange juice is rich in sugar, but not by the way that people daily use as part of tea or coffee, but by its natural, well-absorbed, useful analogue. It is also worth noting that the drink does not contain cholesterol or fat, and its caloric content for every 100 grams of liquid is only 36 kilocalories.

The benefits of orange juice during pregnancy

The high content of vitamins and minerals, as well as low calorie content and good digestibility make citrus juice an excellent drink for pregnant mothers - not only tasty and invigorating, but also in the most positive way; affecting fetal development. There are many reasons to drink orange juice during pregnancy:

1. Low calorie content helps to avoid gaining excess weight, which is especially important against the background of hormonal changes in the body - it’s no secret to anyone that it is at this time that expectant mothers are most prone to fullness.
2. The pectin substances contained in it neutralize the painful putrefactive processes in the digestive tract, normalizing the work of the intestine, allowing you to get rid of constipation.
3. A high concentration of minerals, citric and ascorbic acid not only invigorates and tones, but also strengthens the immune system, reducing the risk of contracting infectious diseases of the respiratory tract. This is especially important during pregnancy, because at this time any cold can lead to negative consequences, adversely affecting the health of a child developing in the stomach.
4. The drink is rich in folic acid, which is necessary for a developing fetus for the normal formation of a healthy nervous system. Regular consumption of orange juice by a pregnant woman significantly reduces the risk of developing congenital pathologies of the baby.

Citrus juice contains antioxidants and detoxifies, and besides, it is simply very tasty, due to which it can raise the mood, and this is also very important, because the child feels the positive emotions of his mother. It is best to drink it in the morning on an empty stomach - so beneficial substances are better absorbed.

The harm of orange juice during pregnancy

This is not to say that juice from fresh oranges is harmful to pregnant women. However, do not forget that any product can cause negative consequences if you use it beyond measure. Despite the fact that orange juice is a real storehouse of vitamins, it is not recommended to take more than 7 glasses of this drink undiluted per week.

In addition, you should refrain from it if you are prone to allergic reactions and individual intolerance, as well as if a woman has contraindications caused by the following diseases:

• Gastritis and bowel problems
• Duodenal or stomach ulcer
• Increased acidity of gastric juice
• Diabetes

The use of orange juice in food for the listed diseases will exacerbate their course and worsen the general condition of the pregnant woman’s body, which can negatively affect the condition of the fetus developing in the stomach of the expectant mother, up to the development of serious complications. Therefore, those who suffer from these diseases, it is advisable to refuse to take a citrus drink during this period for good.

Video: cold pressed juices during pregnancy