Fruits and vegetables are considered as the best source of nutrition and vitamins for a woman who is pregnant. Some fruits are allowed and are supposed to be extremely beneficial for an expecting mother; other fruits may not be regarded as safe during pregnancy. If you are thinking to add blackberries in your pregnancy diet, but you are in doubt whether it falls in the category of safe or unsafe pregnancy foods, then you should go ahead and look at this article. This can give you a complete tour and what all you need to know regarding blackberry good for pregnancy.
What are blackberries?
Blackberries are edible fruit which is produced by many species of the genus Rubus in the family Rosaceae. The taxonomy of blackberries has always been confused because of hybridization, so that species have often been grouped and called species aggregates.
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Nutritional values of blackberries:
Nutritional value of blackberries per 100 g.
- Energy 180kJ (43 kcal)
- Carbohydrates 9.61 g
- Dietary fibre 5.3 g
- Sugars 4.88 g
- Fats 0.49 g
- Protein 1.39 g
- Calcium 29 mg
- Iron 0.62 mg
- Magnesium 20 mg
- Phosphorus 22 mg
- Potassium 162 mg
- Sodium 1 mg
- Zinc 0.53 mg
Are blackberries good for pregnancy?
So, the big question, whether blackberries are good for pregnancy or not? The answer is yes; you can go ahead without hesitations and safely consume blackberries and add them to your pregnancy diet as they fall in the safe food category during pregnancy. However, there are a few things which you should make sure; you should wash them thoroughly before eating them. This can help remove all bacteria, pesticides and other infected materials or substances from the fruit. Pregnant women as much as they need to take care of a good diet also have to bother about not eating foods without washing as it may lead to food poisoning during pregnancy. They may also cause congenital disabilities in babies. Another critical thing to remember is, always consume fresh blackberries as the old ones may cause food poisoning and stomach cramps.
Benefits of eating blackberries during for pregnant ladies:
You might be thinking about whether you can eat blackberries when you are pregnant. So Consuming blackberries while pregnant has a lot of health benefits which will help in keeping the mother and the baby fit and sound.
1. Digestion:
Blackberry is delicious and versatile food which has a lot of nutritional qualities which can help in improving the digestive system of the person. Blackberry fruit for pregnancy is used to enhance the digestion process of the ladies so that the baby remains fit and healthy. It further works wonders to strengthen the immune system so that the mother can consume more and more nutritional foods.
2. Healthy Heart:
Blackberries are very good for the heart as they have the vitamins and enzymes that make the heart function better and proper. If taken blackberries during pregnancy, it will make the mother’s, as well as the child’s heart, function better and correct. For the mothers affected with any heart disease eating blackberries will help in preventing the virus from travelling to the baby.
3. Strong Bones:
It is beneficial in keeping the bones of the baby healthy. It has iron content, which makes the bones and ligaments strong, and the baby is delivered healthy and fit. The use of blackberries while pregnant can also help in proper formation and strength of the bones of the baby.
4. Good Eyesight:
Blackberries leaves are safe during pregnancy for improving your eyesight, and hence they prove to be very useful for pregnant women. Consuming blackberries can make their eyes better and stronger and can also enhance the eye quality of the fetus.
5. Blood Clotting:
In the case of pregnant women who might have met with a small accident and have blood clotting in their bodies, blackberries are like a boon for them. Blackberries are excellent blood clotting control agents, and hence they should be used by the pregnant women in case of emergencies so that their babies do not get affected by this.
6. Healthy Skin:
Blackberries also improvise your skin and heal the pores which make your skin look ugly and unattractive. In the case of pregnant women, it is eaten to improve the surface of the baby so that he or she is born with fair, clean and healthy skin. Blackberry leaves pregnancy easier and less swingy.
7. Anticancer:
Blackberry has anti-cancer qualities which are very helpful for the women who have high chances of getting deceased by cancer. It will protect them as well as their child and will help their body in preventing such diseases.
8. Blood Vessel Functioning:
Blackberry has qualities which make the blood vessels function better. Proper and better functioning of blood vessels would be a plus point for all the pregnant ladies who consume blackberries. It will help in improvising the flow of blood from the mother to the child and will keep the baby healthy.
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Effects of blackberries during pregnancy:
1. Helps in improving digestion:
Pregnancy may affect your metabolism and make your digestive system a bit sluggish. Blackberries have high fibre content, which helps in taking care of digestion troubles during pregnancy.
2. Good for your baby’s bone health
There is a right amount of calcium and magnesium in blackberries, which is very beneficial for your baby’s bones and thus including them in your pregnancy diet helps in the formation of healthy bones of your baby.
3. Useful for heart health:
Consumption of blackberries works wonders as it helps in the proper functioning of the mother’s heart, but it is also beneficial for fetal heart health.
4. Good for eyesight:
Regular intake of blackberries is not only helpful for improving your vision, but it is also useful in improving the eye health of your unborn child.
How to include blackberries on pregnancy diet:
You can eat blackberries in its fresh form, frozen form, dried form, in desserts, in salads, in puddings and various other ways. Here we have listed some healthy blackberry recipes that you may try during pregnancy:
- Take two tablespoons of dried blackberry leaves and infuse then in half a litre of hot water. Half a glass of this can be taken three times a day to overcome the problem of diabetes during pregnancy.
- To overcome gastritis, 50 grams of blackberries can be taken thirty minutes before the meals.
- Take 2 tbsp of dried blackberries and infuse them in a cup of hot water for about 15 minutes. You can take 1/3rd of this infusion three times a day to overcome the symptoms of stomatitis, sore throat and catarrhal disease during pregnancy.
- You can take immense benefits of blackberries by adding them into your daily pregnancy diet. However, to avoid any health complications, please consult your obstetrician before you do so.
It is essential for women to look after their diet and their health during the pregnancy period. The expecting mothers tend to be a lot worried about what to eat and what not to in the pregnancy period. Blackberry is one such fruit which has stayed in the conflicts for a long time. The article above has all the benefits of eating blackberry during pregnancy and clearly states that consuming blackberries during pregnancy is ultimately a safe option for the mother.
Frequently asked questions and answers:
Q1. Is blackberry fruit wine good during pregnancy?
Ans: As such, no wine or related content is recommended or good during pregnancy. However few people think that once in a while the occasional thing is okay. However one should remember that it is not recommended.
Q2. How much of blackberry can be consumed overall?
Ans: It is always recommended to have good fresh fruits and vegetables every day. However, there is a general rule on having fruits as overdosage is never good for the body and fetus. Never have more than one fruit a day in case the size of fruit is more than a ball. Or you can have one cup of chopped fruit.
Q3. Can I have blackberry during early pregnancy?
Ans: There is no such hard and fast rule regarding not consuming the fruit at a particular time. However, in case you have specific medical conditions or are under observation for complications/special diet for your body and fetus, then it is recommended to talk to your doctor regarding this issue.
