Should Pregnant Women Eat Cherries?
Did you ever imagine that this red, juicy, and sumptuous fruit contains enough enzymes, minerals, vitamins, folic acid, and loads of other nutrients required for the sound health of pregnant women? Cherries relieve muscle pain, treat headaches and migraines, prevent high blood pressure, enhance blood circulation, lower calories, prevent fatigue, boost immunity, promote brain health, combat swelling and inflammation, and do a whole lot more! Let`s get talking!
Benefits of Eating Cherries During Pregnancy
Relieves Muscle Pain
Cherries are bursting with anti-inflammatory properties that combat muscular pains and joint inflammation. Regular consumption of cherries during pregnancy is enough to deal with the many inflammations that pregnant women encounter. Note, however, that in severe cases, you should seek medical attention.
Treats Headaches and Migraines
There are hormonal fluctuations that cause headaches and migraines during pregnancy. Cherries, full of bioflavonoids and anthocyanins, are great at dealing with the headaches and migraines during pregnancy.
Treats Digestion Issues
Cherries are bursting with dietary fiber, which is popular for dealing with digestion issues. You can combat indigestion, regulate bowel movements, and prevent bloating with cherries.
Maintains Weight
Weight gain isn`t uncommon during pregnancy. To maintain body weight, try eating cherries right from conception. Cherries are low in calories, hence nutritious for consumption.
Relieves Respiratory Issues
Cherries are quite reliable to deal with respiratory issues during pregnancy. It actually works as an expectorant. So coughs, cold, bronchitis, asthma, and other respiratory issues answer to cherries. Remember that you should speak to a doctor when there are extreme cases.
Prevents High Blood Pressure
There are a number of reasons pregnant women could have high blood pressure. It is highly important that they stay healthy, and watch their blood pressure all through the pregnancy period. Cherry contains potassium, and it goes a long way to control blood pressure during pregnancy.
Improves Sleep
A serving of cherry will release some melatonin into your system. This antioxidant called melatonin eliminates all sleep difficulties. So replace those relaxants and pills with cherries, and enjoy quality sleep.
Strengthens Blood Vessels
Did you know that fetus need a lot of blood for excellent growth? Only well-functioning blood vessels can make this happen. You can strengthen blood vessels by having a sufficient vitamin C intake. Vitamin C strengthens the blood vessels during pregnancy, and give room for a sufficient blood pump. Cherries are rich in vitamin C, and this makes them a perfect fruit to consume during pregnancy.
Boosts Immunity
Cherries are bursting with vitamin C, hence their ability to boost immunity. A strengthened immune system will perform excellently at reducing the risk of oxidative damage, and also fight free radicals that cause infections.
Prevents Gestational Diabetes
Pregnant women have a higher risk of gestational diabetes. This is a reason they are advised to consume sugar through natural sources only. Gestational diabetes can be dangerous to the health of mothers and unborn babies. So processed foods are a no-no for pregnant women. Thinking of how to take care of the sugar craving? Eat cherries! Cherries will satisfy your craving and leave you healthy, and gestational diabetes free.
Improves Brain Health
Cherries contain anthocyanins which keep fetus` brain healthy. Expectant mothers who consume cherries regularly have higher chances of having babies with healthy brains.
Prevents Fatigue
Vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients in cherries are quite helpful in preventing the frequent fatigue that pregnant women encounter.
Treats Swelling and Inflammation
Pain and swelling due to inflammation can be quite terrible during pregnancy. Cherries contain anthocyanin, a red pigment that combats inflammation. Nutritionists advise that natural treatment is a better way to treat inflammation. So cherries are right there for you.
Smoothens the Skin
Cherries contain antioxidants, so they fight free radicals, hence their ability to make the skin smoother and more beautiful. How does it feel having a beautiful skin while pregnant? Eat cherries to find out.
Common Types of Cherry
Sweet Cherries
Also called Prunus avim, sweet cherries are heart-shaped and larger than sour cherries. They have firm and juicy flesh. You can eat them fresh. They can be golden-red or purple-black.
Sour Cherries
Sour cherries are also known as tart cherries or Prunus cerasus. They contain more vitamin C and fewer calories than sweet cherries. They are commonly used to cook and bake. They can be pale yellow or bright-red.
Side Effects of Eating Cherries During Pregnancy
Cherries May Cause Allergies
There are cases of oral allergy syndrome in some pregnant women after consuming cherries. You might want to discontinue its consumption or see a doctor if you experience this.
Cherries May Spike Blood Sugar
Some varieties of cherries are sweeter than others. The sweeter varieties have a higher concentration of natural sugar, hence eating them in large quantities may raise blood sugar levels.
They May Cause Weight Gain
Just as some varieties of cherries have high sugar concentration, some varieties cause excess weight gain. The dried, sweetened cherries specifically cause weight gain, especially in cases of large consumption.
Excessive Consumption May Cause Complications
You should eat cherries in moderation. If you eat them excessively, you may have some complications. Bloating, abdominal pain and stomach ache are some of the challenges of excessive consumption.
Precautions to Take Before Eating Cherries
Wash Cherries Properly
Always wash cherries properly before eating them. You stand the risk of contracting infections if you don`t wash cherries properly. These infections may affect unborn babies as well.
Check for Sulfite Allergy
For preservation, dried cherries sulfite coating. If you are allergic to sulfite, you may need to avoid dried cherries. However, if you must eat dried cherries due to a craving, then you would have to dip them in warm water for about half an hour to wash off the sulfite before consumption.
Avoid Hydrocyanic Acid
Hydrocyanic acid is a poisonous chemical present in the leaves and bark of cherries. Avoid eating them.
Fast Cherry Facts
- Gerardo Maggipinto grew the world`s heaviest cherry in Italy, weighing 0.76 oz.
- Britons introduced cherries to North America in the 1600s.
- Americans consume an average of 1.5 pounds of cherries annually.
- There are over 1,000 varieties of cherries in the United States.
- Fewer than 10 of the many varieties of cherries in the United States are available for commercial purpose.
- In the 15th and 16th centuries, cherries were used for medicinal purpose.
- A long time, it was prohibited to serve ice cream on cherry pie in Kanas.
- Cherry trees can grow as tall as 33 feet in height.
- Cherry trees have a silver-grey bark which is usually smooth in young plants but becomes rough and covered with fissures in old trees.
- Cherry trees have long and slender green, oval-shaped leaves.
- Cherry trees have beautiful white flowers during spring.
- Fruit production on cherry trees begins between the third and fourth years after planting.
- A cherry tree produces over 7000 cherries per year.
Now That You Know…
There are pros and cons of consuming cherries while pregnant. It is important that you understand your body system, then decide if cherries suit you. Better still, speak with your doctor. Like every other thing you eat or drink while pregnant, you should study your body system when you eat cherries. If cherries are great for you, congratulations! Keep enjoying the fantastic benefits that come with eating them.
