201 Organic Smoothies and Juices for a Healthy Pregnancy: Nutrient-Rich Recipes for Your Pregnancy Diet (18 page)

Good for strengthening your immune system

Strawberries are a great source of vitamin C, iron, and potassium, which makes them perfect for boosting your immune system. If you cannot get fresh berries, feel free to substitute organic frozen strawberries for this juice.

YIELDS: 1 CUP

1 apple, cored

1 cup strawberries, hulls intact

Juice apple and then strawberries. Stir well before serving.

Spinach, turnip greens, and broccoli are all rich in calcium, vitamin C, and iron. These nutrients are helpful during pregnancy to prevent anemia and in building your baby’s bones. The protein from milk and fiber from berries will also help sustain your energy levels by balancing your blood sugars.

YIELDS: 1
¹
⁄
₂
CUPS

1 cup blueberries

1 pint blackberries

¹
⁄
₂
cup skim milk

Juice berries. Stir in milk.

Good for strengthening your immune system

This juice is an incredibly delicious way to build your immune system! The grapes, pineapple, and strawberries used here contain a bundle of vitamin C that creates the antioxidants that protect your tissues from damage. Vitamin C is also essential for tissue repair, wound healing, bone growth and repair, and healthy skin.

YIELDS: 1
¹
⁄
₂
CUPS

1 cup pineapple

1 cup red grapes

1 cup strawberries, hulls intact

Juice pineapple, grapes, and strawberries. Stir before serving.

One cup of cantaloupe contains almost your daily requirement for antioxidants. Since antioxidants are the bodyguards of your system, this juice will protect your body from any free radicals wanting to cause damage. Cantaloupe is also a good source of potassium, vitamin B
₆
, dietary fiber, and niacin (vitamin B
₃
). Potassium will support your hydration status throughout your pregnancy and B
₆
and fiber will help you sustain healthy energy levels. In addition, niacin helps turn food into energy and assists with the development of your baby.

YIELDS: 1 CUP

¹
⁄
₂
cantaloupe, seeds and rind removed

Juice cantaloupe.

Watermelon can help alleviate heartburn and can reduce uncomfortable swelling during your pregnancy. How? Well, its high potassium levels and high water content allows it to flush what may be causing your heartburn or swelling out of your system, while keeping you hydrated at the same time. Watermelon is also full of vitamins A, C, and B
₆
, as well as potassium and magnesium, which are important for your baby’s immune and nervous systems.

YIELDS: 1 CUP

1 cup watermelon, rind removed

1 cup cherries, pitted

¹
⁄
₂
lime

Juice watermelon, cherries, and lime. Stir.

This juice is perfect for when you notice your sleeping patterns changing throughout your pregnancy. Lettuce has a sedative effect that helps promote sleep and the high amounts of calcium found in this ingredient also helps your muscles relax, allowing you to sleep better.

YIELDS: 1 CUP

2 carrots, peeled

2 stalks celery

2 leaves romaine lettuce

Juice carrots, celery, and lettuce. Stir.

Since your body is trying to accommodate a new person, you might feel more tired during your pregnancy and a good night’s sleep will help you stay feeling your best. If you’re tired, your body is going to have to put the energy it has available to support your energy levels and less will be available for your baby. Fortunately, the parsley found in this recipe is a good source of calcium and magnesium, both of which are known to promote healthy sleep patterns.

YIELDS: 1 CUP

4 carrots, peeled

2 stalks celery

2 leaves romaine lettuce

¹
⁄
₈
cup parsley

Juice carrots, celery, and romaine. Stir. Garnish with parsley.

Celery is rich in vitamin C, potassium, and folic acid. Vitamin C is great for tissue repair and bone growth and repair during pregnancy and potassium will help your body stay hydrated so it can work as efficiently as possible to support the optimal growth and health of your baby-to-be. In addition, the folic acid found here in its naturally occurring state, is essential for the functioning of DNA and cell growth of your baby. Talk about an easy way to get some healthy benefits!

YIELDS: 1
¹
⁄
₄
CUPS

4 leaves romaine lettuce

3 carrots, peeled

¹
⁄
₂
cup cauliflower

¹
⁄
₂
lemon, peeled

Juice ingredients in order listed. Stir.

Helps boost energy levels

During pregnancy, you will have almost 50 percent more blood in your system to meet the demands of your growing uterus and protect you and your baby from harm when you lie down or stand up. This means that the amount of iron in your body needs increase to manage the additional red blood cells and to prevent anemia due to the increase in plasma. Fortunately, this citrus delight is full of the mighty vitamin C, which helps your body better absorb iron. And the more iron you can absorb, the more energy you’ll have in stock.

YIELDS: 1
¹
⁄
₂
CUPS

2 oranges, peeled

¹
⁄
₂
pink grapefruit, peeled

¹
⁄
₂
lemon, peeled

Juice oranges and grapefruit. Juice lemon. Stir.

Helps boost energy levels

Watercress is a member of the mustard family and due to its iron content, is often recommended as a vegetable that can help pregnant women who are anemic or at risk for developing anemia during pregnancy. You will need this extra iron for your growing baby and placenta, especially in the second and third trimesters, when the amount of blood in your body increases to protect your baby.

YIELDS:
³
⁄
₄
CUP

1 apple, cored

1 cup spinach leaves

1 handful watercress

Juice apple, spinach, and watercress. Stir.

Helps boost energy levels

This citrusy juice is packed with vitamin C, which means you’ll actually have the energy to go to the supermarket or the gym instead of just wanting to go right to bed! Sleep is important, but when you feel as good as this juice will make you feel, don’t waste the energy!

YIELDS:
³
⁄
₄
CUP

3 oranges, peeled

1 lemon, peeled

Juice oranges and lemon. Stir.