Cherries During Pregnancy: Health Benefits And Recipes

Image: ShutterStock

Everyone loves those delicious and juicy red fruits. Their tantalizingⁱEnticing or tempting and tangy taste makes them irresistible, and they are especially tempting when you experience cravings during pregnancy. Cherries are delicious and are filled with essential nutrients that benefit mothers and their developing babies.

If you want to consume cherries during pregnancy but are unsure about their safety, read on as we tell you the benefits and side effects of consuming cherries during pregnancy. We also give you some easy-to-make cherry recipes that you could try at home.

Is It Safe To Eat Cherries During Pregnancy?

Yes. Cherries are safe to eat unless you are allergic to them. They are a rich source of nutrients and pack a healthy punch. The pit is the only part that should not be eaten. Also, do not overeat them, as they can create gas and cause bloating. Eating cherries moderately is absolutely fine and is good for your body.

Dr. Abrar Al-Shaer, a US-based registered dietitian nutritionist specializing in functional and integrative medicine for women’s health, says, “Acerola berries are safe to consume as a food in pregnancy, just like you would eat blueberries or raspberries. Acerola berries are an excellent source of vitamin C which helps with the development of baby’s bones and teeth! However, you should not use it in the form of supplements in pregnancy because acerola berry supplements are too concentrated, so the amount of vitamin C can be too high.”

Health Benefits Of Cherries During Pregnancy

The delicious red fruit can boost your health during pregnancy as cherries are a storehouse of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, protein, iron, calcium, folic acid, and others. Therefore, cherries can be a healthy snack option for pregnant women. Here are a few more ways cherries can benefit you (1):

1. Boost the immune levels:

Cherries contain healthy levels of vitamin C, which have antioxidant properties

. They play a vital role in removing the free radicals, which can cause various infections and diseases. Moreover, the immunity levels remain low during pregnancy. Cherries contain flavonoids, a type of antioxidant made by plants to fight infections and boost your immunity levels.

2. Promote newborn’s brain health:

AnthocyaninsⁱNaturally occurring pigments in fruits and vegetables that benefit human health found in cherries protect neural cells and promote brain health of the fetus (2). A new variety, Balaton cherries can help you in preventing pregnancy forgetfulness.

3. Relieve swelling and inflammation:

Anthocyanin, the red pigment in cherries, is known to be very effective in reducing the inflammation, swelling and joint pains that you usually experience when you are pregnant.

4. Prevent gestational diabetes:

These nutrient-dense foods also help in keeping the blood sugar levels under control and thereby may assist in preventing gestational diabetes (3). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), gestational diabetes affects between 2% and 10% of pregnancies in the United States annually.

5. Alleviate fatigue:

Loaded with excess water content, cherries, on regular consumption, give an energy boost, and help keep fatigue away.

6. Control blood pressure levels:

The potassium content in cherries works towards preventing water retention and blood pressure control in the body. It, thereby, prevents the risk of preeclampsia during pregnancy.

7. Promote better sleep:

The antioxidant called melatonin, which is present in cherries, is an ideal sleep inducer.

You can have a disturbed sleep during pregnancy due to various discomforts in the body. Drink a glass of cherry juice every day to overcome sleep disturbances. Tart cherries contain more antioxidants than sweet cherries do.

Point to consider

While tart cherries can help induce sleep, their tartness may trigger or aggravate acidity, especially if you have a history of GERD.

8. Strengthen blood vessels:

Vitamin C present in the cherry fruit strengthens the blood vessels, helping them to pump enough blood to the fetus (4).

9. Helps regulate the sleep – wake cycle:

Cherries are known to contain melatonin that is helpful in maintaining the sleep-wake cycle. It may increase sleep time and overall sleep efficiency (5).

10. Treats constipation:

Cherries contain high fiber content. They benefit the digestive health by normalizing the bowel movements and help you get rid of constipation, one of the most common problems during pregnancy.

11. Low-calorie fruit:

If you are careful about weight gain during pregnancy, cherries are the best fruits to consume as they are extremely low in calories.

12. Relieve muscle pains:

Cherries are anti-inflammatory in nature and therefore offer effective relief from muscular pains and issues you may experience during pregnancy (6).

13. Cures migraine headaches:

Doctors believe that estrogenⁱA hormone crucial for the development of female sexual characteristics and reproductive health fluctuating hormones, and preeclampsia conditions during pregnancy cause migraine headaches. Cherries contain anthocyanins and bioflavonoids, which help in mitigating migraine headaches (7).

Aren’t these benefits more than enough to convince you that cherry is one of the best fruits to eat during pregnancy? But do they cause any adverse reactions as well? You may know below.

Trivia

It is said that eating 20 cherries a day can help reduce headaches.

Are There Any Side Effects Of Eating Cherries During Pregnancy?

• A few pregnant women suffer from bloating, gas, and abdominal pain after eating cherries.

• Eating cherries can trigger allergic reactions in some women.

If you feel any significant discomfort after consuming cherries, please seek your doctor’s advice immediately.

Quick fact

If an expecting woman is allergic to birch pollen or peach, she may also be allergic to cherry due to potential cross-reactivity (5).

Words Of Caution

• The leaves, bark, and fruit pits of the cherry plant contain hydrocyanic acid, a poisonous chemical. Therefore, eat pitted cherries only (8).

• If you have gestational diabetesⁱA temporary state of elevated blood sugar levels occurring during pregnancy , do not eat cherries.

• Wash them before you eat to remove bacteria and infections.

• Consult your doctor before you add cherries to your everyday diet.

A Few Recipes

Here are some interesting cherry recipes you can make at home to satisfy your food cravings.

1. Cherry Clafoutis:

Image: Shutterstock

This is a classic French dessert, a combination of flan and pancake. It is traditionally made without pitting the cherries so that the pits give some almond flavor to this dessert. But, unpitted cherries during pregnancy is a big no-no. So here’s the recipe with pitted cherries.

You will need:

• Fresh sweet cherries – 3 cups, pitted
• Milk – 1 1/4 cups
• Sugar – 2/3 cup
• Eggs – 3
• Vanilla extract – 1tbsp
• Salt – 1/6tsp
• All-purpose flour – 1/2 cup
• Powdered sugar for topping

How to prepare:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

2. Mix milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla extract, salt, and flour, and blend all of them.

3. Butter an eight-cup baking pan, and add a layer of about one-fourth inch blended liquid in the bottom. Keep aside the remaining batter.

4. Microwave it for about seven to ten minutes. You will see a thin film of batter on the top even though the mixture is not cooked. Remove it from the oven and do not turn off the oven.

5. Arrange the pitted cherries on the set batter, sprinkle some sugar, and add the remaining batter over the cherries and sugar.

6. Place it in the preheated oven and leave for 45 to 60 minutes until the cherry clafouti turns brown and puffed.

7. Sprinkle the remaining sugar powder and eat the dish warm.

Quick tip

Replace sugar with jaggery or honey and add dried fruits, nuts, and seeds, to make the recipe healthier. Also, using multigrain flour instead of all-purpose flour enhances the dessert’s nutritional value.

2. Cherry Heaven:

Image: Shutterstock

The delicious dessert can be whipped up in no time.

You will need:

• Ripe cherries – 12 to 14
• Blueberries – ½ cup
• Greek yogurt (preferably low-fat) – ½ cup

How to prepare:

1. Add the cherries and blueberries into a blender and churn to form a smooth paste.

3. Now add the yogurt and blend once again.
4. Refrigerate until required and eat cold.

Besides these recipes, you can incorporate fresh cherries into your pregnancy diet by adding them to smoothies, yogurt, puddings, fruit salads, and oatmeal. Pair cherries with protein-rich foods like nuts and Greek yogurt to keep your meals balanced and energetic.

Infographic: Easy Cherry Recipes To Try

Now that you know cherries can help cope with difficult pregnancy symptoms and aid your baby’s development, we have brought you a few more recipes to add to your diet. Enjoy the goodness of the fruit without getting bored with the delicious ways to cook it.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

Illustration: Wonderful Health Benefits Of Cherries During Pregnancy

Image: Dall·E/MomJunction Design Team

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Reviewer Expert Author Editor Fact Checker

Dr. Shikha SharmaMBBS

Celebrity nutrition advisor Dr. Shikha Sharma has founded Dr. Shikha’s Nutrihealth in 1998. Dr. Shikha has done her MBBS from Maulana Azad Medical College and holds 21 years of experience in the field of health and nutrition.

Read full bio of Dr. Shikha Sharma

• 
  Dr. Abrar Al-ShaerPhD, RD, LDN Dr. Abrar Al-Shaer is a registered dietitian nutritionist specialized in functional & integrative medicine for women's health. She did her PhD in clinical nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has five years of experience as a registered dietitian.
  
  Dr. Abrar Al-Shaer is a registered dietitian nutritionist specialized in functional & integrative medicine for women's health. She did her PhD in clinical nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has five years of experience as a registered dietitian.

Swati PatwalM.Sc. (Food & Nutrition), MBA

Swati Patwal is a clinical nutritionist, a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and a toddler mom with more than a decade of experience in diverse fields of nutrition. She started her career as a CSR project coordinator for a healthy eating and active lifestyle project catering to school children.

Read full bio of Swati Patwal

Rebecca MalachiBSc

Rebecca is a pregnancy writer and editor with a passion for delivering research-based and engaging content in areas of fertility, pregnancy, birth, and post-pregnancy. She did her graduation in Biotechnology and Genetics from Loyola Academy, Osmania University and obtained a certification in ‘Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy’ from Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU).

Read full bio of Rebecca Malachi

Aneesha AmonzMSc

Aneesha holds a Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology from USTM, Meghalaya and Master’s degree in Applied Microbiology from VIT, Vellore. With two years of experience, she has worked on different research projects in the field of Food Sciences.

Read full bio of Aneesha Amonz