Can i eat blueberries while pregnant

Pregnant women should avoid consuming excessive amounts of blueberries because the consumption of large amounts has not been studied during pregnancy. There is a connection between berries and pregnancy. A strong desire for eating some particular kind of food during pregnancy is a rather common thing. It does not necessarily mean that you have some health problems with your body or the body of your future child. Adding blueberries to your pregnancy diet can boost your intake of vital nutrients.

One cup of blueberries contains milligrams of potassium, which is essential for blood pressure control. High blood pressure during pregnancy can contribute to the pregnancy complication preeclampsia. Blueberries also contain small amounts of vitamin C, folate, calcium, and other nutrients. The fiber in blueberries may help reduce your chances of developing hemorrhoids or becoming constipated, which are both common in pregnancy.

Though berries are full with necessary vitamins, microelements and other healthy substances, they may bear some possible risks for pregnant women. They are:. Food and Drug Administration, pregnant and lactating women need 60 mg of vitamin C per day. During preconception and early pregnancy, folate is perhaps the most critical nutrient that women should consume.

This closure occurs very early in a pregnancy — by 28 days post-conception. During pregnancy women experience a massive increase in blood volume, making their electrolyte balance that much more important. Because of this, women who are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant should increase their potassium consumption to mg of potassium per day.

Women who are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant should consume at least 25 g of fiber each day. But there are additional benefits for pregnant women. Some studies suggest that eating the daily recommended amount of fiber may reduce the risk of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia.

Even with a balanced and healthy diet, many women have trouble meeting their daily recommended intakes for certain vitamins and minerals. Talk to your doctor to see if a prenatal vitamin may be right for you to help fill nutritional gaps. Highbush Blueberry Council. Blueberry Council Website. Food and Drug Administration. April United States Department of Agriculture.

Seasonal Product Guide: Blueberries. Milman N. Store unopened packages tightly sealed in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks — depending on how fresh they were to begin with. Once opened, refrigerate leftovers within 1 week. Look out for any moldy ones and throw them out — or it will spread to the other berries. You can also safely eat frozen blueberries. Frozen berries add an extra punch of flavor to smoothies, desserts, salads , and baked goods.

There are some healthy suggestions for using them later in this article. Dried blueberries make a good snack and can be mixed into granola, yogurt parfaits, oatmeal, pancakes, muffins, breads, cereals, and even ice cream! You can use them in place of raisins when baking cookies, cakes, brownies, pies, etc.

Remember that dried blueberries are higher in sugar than fresh ones, so if you want to use dried blueberries instead of fresh, be mindful of the amount of sugar in each serving. You may find that you need less than you think because they tend to pack quite a bit of sweetness.

For more on dried vs fresh fruit and which fruits are best for pregnancy , read our article here. You can safely enjoy blueberry juice if you choose pasteurized or filtered varieties over unpasteurized juices. Always check the label, and avoid unpasteurized blueberry juice during pregnancy.

The same rules apply as with other teas; you should be mindful of caffeine-containing drinks, such as blueberry flavored black tea.