Oranges are a delicious fruit and a great source of vitamin C. It is a fruit that many people love, whether consumed as a tangy juice or freshly sliced.
However, you should be careful with everything you eat while pregnant, and you may be confused about eating oranges during pregnancy.
Read this post to learn about how safe it is to eat oranges while pregnant, their health benefits, how to include oranges in your pregnancy diet, and any potential side effects.
Read: 10 High Vitamin C Foods (More Than Oranges)
Is it safe to eat oranges while pregnant?
Oranges are safe to eat during pregnancy, but you should consume them in moderation. They provide many nutrients and are a rich source of vitamin C, folic acid, calcium, potassium, and more. To get the various benefits of oranges, you can consume them every day.
When eaten in excess they have some uncomfortable side effects. The high fiber content in oranges affects digestion directly. When eaten too much, it can cause stomach cramps and diarrhea.
Health Benefits of Oranges During Pregnancy
Here's a quick look at the nutritional benefits you and your baby get from oranges
1. Improve immune system function
Vitamin C boosts the immune system, and pregnant women need healthy immunity as they may be susceptible to many allergic and foodborne illnesses.
Consuming oranges will not only strengthen your immunity but also keep your baby healthy. The healing properties of oranges come from their phytonutrient compounds such as anthocyanins, citrus flavanones, various polyphenols, and hydroxycinnamic acid.
Vitamin C also helps absorb certain nutrients like iron which in turn helps to form cartilage, blood vessels, bones, and tissues of the baby.
2. Helps brain development
Folate needs increase five to tenfold during pregnancy and oranges can meet these needs. Folate helps fetal brain development and prevents neural tube defects in babies. Folate also helps develop new blood cells and tissues and increases the baby's birth weight
3. Prevent constipation
The rich fiber content helps in smooth bowel movements and prevents constipation which is a common problem during pregnancy.
The fiber in oranges not only aids in good digestion but also regulates blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar, and prevents atherosclerosis.
4. Control blood pressure
The high potassium index in oranges prevents hypertension in pregnant women by controlling blood pressure.
Read: Amaazing! This is How Vitamin C Helps Your Body
5. Boosts hydration
Oranges contribute greatly to daily fluid intake, thus providing sodium and potassium to maintain fluid levels in the body.
6. Treating kidney stones
Oranges increase the pH value of urine, thereby increasing the excretion of citric acid from the body. Hence, the fruit helps in the prevention of kidney stones.
7. Supports the respiratory system
The high carotenoid content in oranges helps maintain respiratory health during the normal phase and pregnancy.
8. Skin benefits
The vitamin C in oranges offers two beauty benefits. The antioxidant effect keeps the skin moisturized and firm, and also helps you deal with acne, which is a common problem during pregnancy.
Side Effects of Oranges During Pregnancy
Although the benefits of eating oranges are multiple, during pregnancy, you should be aware of the unwanted effects of excessive consumption.
- The high content of citric acid can cause a sore throat and is also bad for enamel.
- This can increase the fiber content in the body, which may hurt digestion, causing loose movements and stomach cramps.
- It can increase your calorie intake and sugar levels, putting you at risk for gestational diabetes if you eat it in excess.
- Being high in acidity, can cause heartburn. If you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), it can make the condition worse.
- Excess vitamin C can cause premature labor.
That's the article Is it safe to eat oranges while pregnant? May be useful.
