Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs to Juice During Pregnancy

Nutrition during pregnancy is essential to the baby's health while in the mothers womb. Juicing is a great way to get all the nutrition you need into your diet. It provides terrific sources of vitamins and minerals, without anything bad.

Good nutrition before and after the birth of a baby can have positive effects for mom and baby long term. One of the most important things you can do for the proper development of your baby and uncomplicated delivery is getting the right nutrients. During pregnancy, so many adjustments are taking place in your body to accommodate the fetus, promote growth and prepare your body for delivery. Getting good nutrition for you and your baby are easier then you think, and juicing can help support your goals for healthiness all around!

If you are considering having a child, start to prepare nutritionally ASAP. Your body will need the proper nutrients in the early weeks as it is a critical time of development for the fetus. If you are pregnant, make healthy eating a priority by eating as many whole foods as possible. Choose unrefined food and drink rich juices to gain a greater benefit from your prenatal vitamins. As a side note, I don't think juicing is a replacement for prenatal vitamins, as pregnant women need a wide range of vitamins and minerals.

Some tips

1. Choose organically grown foods, reduce exposure to toxins. Try to eliminate any toxic substances.

Studies have shown that exposure to toxins in the fetus through foods affects memory and learning abilities in children. Pesticide sprayed fruits, vegetables, grains and meat laden with antibiotics and hormones will increase toxicity in your system that could potentially interfere with healthy development of the fetus.

2. Juice often. Since you want to be sure you are getting the best (and adequate) amount of nutrients, juicing can help you get there. Fresh fruit and vegetable juices are a great way to get concentrated nutrients without excess calories.

Since many nutrients work together in your body, juice will help to supply any nutrient gaps that are missing in your prenatal vitamins. There are many photo nutrients, enzymes and other compounds that are not available in supplemental forms. But they are still needed for your body to work properly.

3. Do not juice fast while pregnant. You could, technically, but this is not the time for this for many reasons. The main one being that when you fast, your body uses the energy to cleanse toxins faster then normal (the main reason for fasting) and many would argue that environment is not ideal for baby. Ask your doctor if you really want too. I would just increase raw foods or switch to a raw food diet if I was concerned with cleansing. You really have special nutritional needs during pregnancy, whole raw foods are the best option.

4. Ginger is highly recommended to juice when pregnant. Not only is ginger a really nice addition to most juice combos, it can help nausea and vomiting associated with morning sickness.

It also promotes gas elimination and soothes intestines. Always keep apple, celery and ginger (keeps well in freezer!) in your house. These are easy and quick to juice should you need it. Only a small ½ inch piece is needed per glass. Ginger can go a long way in juice.

A great diet for your and baby would be to juice at least once a day and choose whole unprocessed whole grains, beans, fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds as the base for your diet.

You could try drinking juices in place of tea, coffee or alochol since you've given them up for the 9 months.

There are many juices that provide energy for a morning or mid-day pick me up.

I also think it's great to juice while nursing, especially greens, to get your body back on track. Not only will it nourish your milk, but it will give you energy to make it through your day.

Fruits and vegetables to eat or drink during pregnancy

• Bananas
• Cantaloupe
• Citrus Fruits
• Strawberries
• Avocados
• Carrots
• Leafy Greens
• Peas
• Sweet Potato
• Watercress
  

Herbs to juice, eat or supplement with during pregnancy

• Alfalfa
• Dandelion
• Lemon Balm
• Nettle
• Oatstraw
• Red Raspberry Leaf
• Rose Hips
• Ginger
  

Nettle and Red Raspberry are the most popular to use during or before pregnancy. Try to get this tea and drink it often. Red raspberry is best used before pregnancy to help strengthen the uterus walls and offers lots of imporant vitamins.

Nettle is known for helping to start and help the flow of milk and for circulation and blood vessels. It also provides any easy source for calcium and magnesium for the body.

Ginger will help with morning sickness.

Note for after birth: Basil has shown to increase milk production. Juice a little only if you know you need help in that area.

Juicing celery will help with reducing water weight after pregnancy, and so with the herbal tincture celery seed.

Blending greens with water also helps some to reduce bloating.

Recipes to help with overall nutritional needs

• 2 oranges
• 3 kale leaves
• 1/2 cup of spinach
• 5 stalks of asparagus

Juice, whisk together and drink! Good news is, you can have this every day safely and know you are giving you and your baby some essential nutrition.

• 3 carrots
• 30 cherries (pitted)
• 1 orange (peeled)
• 8 - 10 oz of either red raspberry leaf or nettle tea

Make a glass of either red respberry or nettle tea. Set aside.Juice the carrots, cherries and orange together. Pour into a glass and mix in the tea.

For morning sickness: nausea and vomiting

Try calming your stomach and ill feelings with this concoction!

• 3 apples
• 3-4 stalks of celery
• 1 small knob of ginger (1/2 inch or more if you can take it)

Juice all ingredients together and pour into a glass. Drink immediately after juiced. It is okay to drink this every day if needed.

Green Smoothie Information & Recipes

Juicing Tips

Which juicer is for me?

Review Juicers

Juicer Recipes

Pregnancy > Juicing for Health Conditions