Orange juice during pregnancy - the benefits and contraindications

Pregnancy is the most crucial period in the life of the future mother, during which you should pay maximum attention to proper nutrition, because the development and health of an unborn baby directly depends on what products and how they 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 look at such a popular drink, like orange juice, and analyze the peculiarities of its use during pregnancy, find out when it is beneficial and when it is harmful.

Orange juice composition

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

1. Essential amino acids - unable to be synthesized by humans, they enter its cells exclusively from food. In the orange, their concentration is at a high level, so experts believe that this fruit must necessarily be part of a daily healthy diet.
2. Flavonoids are useful natural compounds that have an anti-inflammatory effect, reducing the likelihood of developing malignant tumors and diabetes, reducing the level of cholesterol in the blood.
3. Pectins - substances that normalize the work of the digestive system of the expectant mother, positively affect the functioning of the intestine, accelerate the elimination of toxins from the body, neutralize the processes of fermentation and decay, increase appetite.
4. Trace elements and macronutrients - orange juice is rich in zinc and phosphorus, magnesium and calcium, iron and potassium - all the substances mentioned 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. A whole vitamin complex necessary for the normal formation of important tissues and organs of the future mother of the child growing in the belly. 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 far from that which people use on a daily basis as part of tea or coffee, but its natural, well-digestible, 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 fluid 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 the development of the fetus.There are many reasons to eat orange juice during pregnancy:

1. Low calorie content allows you to avoid gaining excess weight, which is especially important against the background of hormonal adjustment of the body - it is not a secret to anyone that it is at this time that expectant mothers are most susceptible to fullness.
2. Pectic substances in its composition neutralize the painful putrefactive processes in the organs of the digestive tract, normalizing the work of the intestine, allowing you to get rid of constipation.
3. The 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, negatively affecting the health of the child developing in the stomach.
4. The drink is rich in folic acid, necessary for the 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 abnormalities of the baby.

Citrus juice contains antioxidants and detoxifies, besides, it is simply very tasty, due to which it is able to raise your spirits, 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 - as nutrients are better absorbed.

Harm of orange juice during pregnancy

It cannot be said that the juice from fresh oranges is harmful for pregnant women. However, one should not forget that any product can cause negative consequences if it is used excessively. Despite the fact that orange juice is a real well of vitamins, it is not recommended to take more than 7 glasses of this drink undiluted per week.

In addition, it should be refrained from the tendency to allergic reactions and idiosyncrasy, as well as in the presence of a woman contraindications caused by the following diseases:

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

The use of orange juice in food at the listed diseases will aggravate their course and worsen the general condition of the body of a pregnant woman,that can most negatively affect the condition of the fetus developing in the abdomen of the future mother, up to the development of serious complications. Therefore, those who suffer from these diseases, it is desirable to abandon the intake of citrus drink in this period for good.

Video: cold pressed juices during pregnancy