A friend of mine in Bermuda recently wrote to me asking if I had “any recommendations for a juicing combination to combat awful swelling in her “legs, ankles, and feet. I have put on about 45 pounds during my pregnancy and it is taking it’s toll on my frame,” she explained.
The items listed below are known to combat pregnancy-inflammation.
They make wonderful foods for juicing, too.
Fruits (and Veggies) to Enjoy During Pregnancy
Grapefruit
To pregnant woman, JuicingForHealth.com says: “The bioflavonoids and vitamin C help to reduce water retention and swelling of the legs during pregnancy.”
Cherries
Because Cherries also have anti-inflammatory properties, this fruit works well during pregnancy, too. How about a nice Grapefruit/Cherry juice?
You could always add an apple or two as the sweetener, if need be!
Watermelon
Watermelon is well known for the diuretic effect it has on the body, so why not eat it and juice as often as you can?
I always finding Watermelon juice to be so refreshing. If you need to sweeten the juice, again, just pop an apple or two through the juicer. Or, simply put cut-up watermelon in the blender and enjoy your blended Watermelon juice.
Pineapple
JuicingForHealth.com explains: “Bromelain in pineapple is a protein-digesting enzyme which also effectively reduces inflammation and swelling.”
Dark, Leafy Greens
There are numerous benefits to juicing greens, so it’s always a wonderful idea to create juices from greens, too.
One of my favorites is Kale/Apple/Lemon juice.
The recipe includes a few or more handfuls of kale, about 3 or 4 apples (to taste), and half a lemon. If you can’t get your hands on kale, you could use spinach or such. Got Ginger? You could also put a really tiny piece of that through the juicer to add another element to your green juice. I typically put the ginger in the juicer at the same time as the apple to help squeeze the juice out. (The harder produce helps out the softer produce in the juicer.)
*Studies have proven ginger to be safe for pregnant women. In fact, it has helped many with their morning sickness.
Greens/Carrot/Apple also work well together. Some wonder if carrots are okay to juice during pregnancy. Read this article for more info about that: www.carrotjuice.com/carrot-juice-and-pregnancy.html
Asparagus
“The high content of folic acid, calcium and other minerals in asparagus are important in reducing the risk of birth defects and low birth weight. The diuretic effect of the juice is also a big help in reducing water retention in pregnant women.” ~JuicingForHealth.com
Enjoy Exploring These Options
Get creative!
You can mix and match, always knowing that if a juice is not palatable, it’s typically nothing an apple can’t cure. Fruit typically stays with fruit in the juicer and veggies with veggies, although apple can go both ways.
By the way, a friend of mine who has extensively studied Ayurvedic medicine recently shared with me that we should be increasing our apple consumption during the fall season. That helped explain why I’ve been eating so many apples lately.
o, I’m not pregnant, but pregnant or not, it’s good for our health to eat and/or juice as many apples as we can this fall.
To read more about juicing for your family, check out my article, Vitamin D Rich Foods… In A Glass.