Last Updated on by San San
It’s normal to have questions when you’re pregnant. You want to make sure what you eat and drink is healthy for the baby and yourself, as the mother. One of these questions is “can I eat pickles while pregnant?” Well, we’re here to help!
Can I Eat Pickles While Pregnant?
One of the big questions that relate to our famous question is, “why do pregnant women crave pickles?” That is why, as a pregnant woman, it is understandable why you would question, “can I eat pickles while pregnant?” Well, pregnant women can crave all sorts of weird things during their pregnancy. It’s an entirely understandable mix! And, there is some food that is not very recommended for pregnant women with the belief that it may cause a spike in blood sugar or blood pressure. These spikes in your health levels could be bad for the baby, for their development and your health as the mother.
Some pregnancies go to the extent of mothers loathing food they liked before or vice versa. It’s not only pickles that they crave but also ice cream, potato chips, burritos and the like. It’s just the body trying to tell you something. These cravings could last up to over a month; sometimes, throughout the entire pregnancy.
Well, eating a few pickles while you’re pregnant is not harmful. If that is what your body is demanding at that time, don’t stress yourself over this food craving, even if it’s the pickle juice. Most likely, during the first three months of your pregnancy, your doctor would allow you to not stress and dig into the food you want. It is your control over what you consume that should always be taken to mind, especially for your health and your baby’s.
In moderation, eat or drink the pickle juice. If your body isn’t reacting negatively to the small amount, you’re taking care of the baby’s health, too, because pickles are generally good for the health.
Is It Okay to Eat Pickles During Pregnancy?
You’ve wondered why most pregnant women crave these tangy pickles! The reason might be due to mineral deficiencies during the pregnancy, which brings about cravings. At other times, these food choices can be a craving for comfort and stress relief during pregnancy.
For what it’s worth, the pickles are suitable for pregnant women in some instances – which is good news! Do you want to know why?
The salt they contain is beneficial even though they have less nutritional value – 1 ounce of pickle has no value of protein, cholesterol or fats and has less than 1 gm of carbohydrates. (This amount is less than 0.1% of the number of carbohydrates you need daily during pregnancy).
During pregnancy, one usually loses lots of electrolytes abnormally. The salt in pickles helps maintain the electrolyte balance, the balance of potassium and sodium in your blood. It does so by balancing the additional needs of fluids while you’re pregnant.
So, how do the electrolytes decrease? During pregnancy, peeing is usually frequent hence causing the loss of electrolytes. It is not the only cause; the baby takes part in depleting the electrolytes. The salt also maintains the high level of blood that is required to feed the placenta.
The above could lead to pickles cravings – or any of the flavours that can surely bring in the needed nutrients. The reasons are clear enough to judge if they are right for pregnancy, and they are. Eat them in moderation, though!
Other than these facts, pickles can be a good source of iron, sodium, calcium, dietary fibre, and vitamin C. Sometimes, some pregnant women suffer high blood pressure, known as pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH).
It could have resulted from overeating red meat or other factors. They should avoid pickles since the salt in their case can be risky and dangerous for a healthy pregnancy. In this scenario, it is crystal clear they are bad for pregnant women with high blood pressure. So, if you have high blood pressure and you’re pregnant now, pickles won’t be on the top of anyone’s list of food recommendations.
Can I drink pickle juice while pregnant?
Often a pregnancy staple for most women, pickle juice is captivating a new audience. It is safe to drink it as long as it is in moderation. Just as with pickles, it helps to balance lost electrolytes during pregnancy.
Craving sour foods while pregnant
When morning sickness finally subsides for pregnant women, their appetite gradually becomes greater. It is the time cravings for sour foods such as lemon or its juice arise. It’s good for them so as long as it’s in moderation.
Lemon is rich in vitamin C, which helps your baby’s brain develop. Deficiency in this vitamin stunts the development of the hippocampus (important memory centre) of the baby. It also improves the baby’s immunity. Besides, it is essential for protein tissue (collagen) repair, which the baby needs to create its cartilage, capillaries, and other connective tissues.
Vitamin C is vital in the absorption of iron. The iron helps make healthy blood since your body generally makes more blood during pregnancy because both you and the baby are growing.
When iron levels drop in your body, you start feeling tired, having a low concentration, and increasing your chances of being susceptible to infections. It will, in turn, affect the baby’s growth.
What happens when you don’t get vitamin C? You risk getting fatigued and tired which is not healthy for you and your baby.
But also, too much vitamin C could make the infant too dependent on it such that after birth, it gets an acute disease called scurvy. The key is to take it in moderation.
Can I Eat Pickles While Pregnant – The Summary
You were wondering, “Can I eat pickles while pregnant?” Yes, you can, but in moderate amounts.
Pickles help in improving your digestive health due to the prevailing probiotic bacteria. They also help in electrolyte balance.
During pregnancy, many electrolytes (minerals of potassium and sodium) get lost due to frequent urination. The salt content contained in pickles restores this imbalance. Furthermore, pickles have antioxidants. They assist in fighting free radicals hence protecting your body.
They contain essential vitamins and minerals which boost immunity and aid in the prevention of infections. During pregnancy, you need to be as healthy as possible so that the baby doesn’t face the mother’s troubling issues. It is not fit for the baby.
Nevertheless, pickles are not suitable for mothers with pregnancy-induced hypertension. The salt content in them can raise their blood pressure leading to heart attacks. You must take caution!
