Can You Eat Pomegranate During Pregnancy?

They’re red, juicy, and the seeds look like jewels however you serve them.

That’s right – we’re talking about the gorgeous pomegranate.

There is so much good news when it comes to eating pomegranate during pregnancy (and just a couple of things to watch out for).

Get the scoop right here.

In this article 📝

Is pomegranate safe during pregnancy?

Not only is pomegranate safe to eat during pregnancy, it’s one of the best fruits you could choose.

We’d even go as far as to say that pomegranate and pregnancy were made for each other.

This superfruit contains so many of the essential vitamins and minerals that you and your baby will need, including:

• The magic combination of iron and the vitamin C your body needs to absorb it efficiently
  
• Folic acid to support your baby’s brain and nervous system development
  
• Potassium and other electrolytes to help chase away muscle cramps

Pomegranates are also full of antioxidants) – even more so than blueberries or cranberries. This is great during pregnancy because antioxidants are known to:

• Reduce inflammation (and therefore pain) in your body
  
• Protect your baby’s developing brain
  
• Help maintain your bone density, even while your little peanut is hogging your calcium reserves
  
• Help lower your blood pressure, which can make you less likely to develop preeclampsia
  
• Help maintain a healthy placenta, which adds an extra layer of protection for your growing baby!

Can you eat pomegranate seeds when pregnant?

Of course! The whole aril (that’s the technical name for the juicy kernel) is fine to eat during pregnancy.

And does pomegranate cause constipation during pregnancy? Nope.

If anything, the extra fiber will keep your digestion running smoothly – another bonus if you’re struggling with early pregnancy bloating and constipation.

Is pomegranate bad for babies?

The opposite, actually.

It probably shouldn’t be on the list of first foods for them to try when they’re ready for solids, but in utero?

They’re going to thank you for all the nutritional benefits, trust us.

Pomegranate juice for pregnancy

While it’s fine to eat the whole aril, a lot of women prefer to stick with pomegranate juice because they’re not so keen on the juicy/crunchy texture combination of pomegranates as fruit.

But, the juice is great too.

It’s refreshing, and the sweet-and-sour taste makes it a great base for pregnancy mocktails.

If you are drinking pomegranate juice during pregnancy, there are just a couple of things to pay attention to:

Squeeze your own

It’s better to make your own pomegranate juice at home than to buy the bottles of juice which have been squeezed in-store.

Just like with dairy products, with any store-bought juices that haven’t been pasteurized, there’s a slight risk of food poisoning.

Watch the sugar spike

As with all fruits, it’s ideally better to eat fresh pomegranate than to drink the juice, because of the added fiber.

While fruit juice contains a lot of essential vitamins, it makes your blood sugar rise and fall much more quickly than if you eat pomegranate in a salad, with yogurt, or as a garnish on a curry.

If you’re only taking it in as juice, a healthy serving is about 240ml/8oz, up to twice a day.

Try not to go over this to limit your sugar intake.

Pomegranate during pregnancy: things to watch out for

While pomegranate is a really healthy food, there are a couple of occasions where you should be cautious.

• Firstly, acidic foods can make heartburn worse. If you’re struggling with reflux, your body might not thank you for too much extra fruit or fruit juice, and that includes pomegranate.
  
• Secondly, the health benefits of pomegranate during pregnancy don’t necessarily extend to pomegranate supplements. These supplements aren’t regulated by the FDA and come in very different concentrations. A lot of mamas-to-be simply choose to avoid them completely because they can’t be proven safe to use during pregnancy.
  
• Thirdly, some medications don’t play nicely with pomegranate juice. Like grapefruit, it can prevent your body from absorbing certain drugs. So if you’re on regular medication, check with your doctor whether you should steer clear of pomegranate for now.

But if these things don’t apply to you, and you’re not making pomegranates part of your pregnancy diet, you are missing out, mama!

Get down to that grocery store and treat yourself to some pregnancy pomegranates.

More on pregnancy foods:
Can Pregnant Women Eat Honey?
Can Pregnant Women Eat Cream Cheese?
Can Pregnant Women Eat Grapes?
Can Pregnant Women Eat Pineapple?
Can Pregnant Women Eat Mushrooms?
Can Pregnant Women Eat Popcorn?
Can Pregnant Women Eat Feta Cheese?
Can You Drink Wine While Pregnant?
Is Orange Juice Good for Pregnancy?
Can You Drink Green Tea While Pregnant?
Can You Drink Chamomile Tea While Pregnant?
Can You Eat Cheesecake When Pregnant?
Can You Eat Goat’s Cheese When Pregnant?
Can You Eat Mozzarella When Pregnant?
Is Oatmeal Good for Pregnancy?
Halloumi When Pregnant: Can You Eat It?
Cinnamon During Pregnancy: Can You Eat It?
Can You Eat Cherries While Pregnant?
Is Eating Dates During Pregnancy Okay?