201 Organic Smoothies and Juices for a Healthy Pregnancy: Nutrient-Rich Recipes for Your Pregnancy Diet (21 page)

Good for your baby’s bones and development

The spinach, turnip greens, and celery found in this recipe make this juice a great calcium source to help out with the development of your growing baby. In fact, turnips are rich in calcium and iron, and have two times the vitamin C of orange juice. These nutrients will support the growth of your baby’s bones, protect your baby’s cells from damage, and protect his immune system.

YIELDS: 1 CUP

2 carrots, peeled

1 cup spinach

1 turnip, including turnip greens

1 stalk celery

2 sprigs parsley

Juice carrots, spinach, turnip, and celery. Stir and garnish with parsley sprigs.

HEALTHY CARROTS

Carrots have been beloved for more than 2,000 years for their good health properties and high vitamin A content. They appear in many juice recipes because they are so healthy. They juice very well, and complement the flavors of other fruits and vegetables quite nicely.

Good for your baby’s bones and development

Blackberries contain folate, which helps prevent several birth defects and decreases the rate of miscarriage. However, pesticides and fertilizers used on blackberries can increase the risk of birth defects, so be sure to purchase organic and wash your fruit before juicing.

YIELDS:
³
⁄
₄
CUP

2 Gala red apples, cored

2 pints blackberries

1 lemon, peeled

Juice apples, blackberries, and lemon. Stir.

Good for fighting infections during pregnancy

One small kiwifruit contains as much vitamin C as a whole orange, which makes it a tasty way to fight infections during pregnancy. Kiwifruits are also full of the flavonoids, beta-carotene, and potassium that keep you and your baby healthy.

YIELDS:
³
⁄
₄
CUP

2 pears

2 kiwi fruit, peeled

¹
⁄
₂
lemon, peeled

Juice pears, kiwifruit, and lemon. Stir.

Peaches have several flavonoids that act as protective scavengers of harmful free radicals that may be looking to cause damage to cells throughout your body. They are also rich in potassium, an important component of cell and body fluids that regulate your blood pressure and can help keep you from developing preeclampsia, high blood pressure in a pregnant woman that can lead to risk of complications for the mother or baby. Therefore, it is important to do everything you can to manage blood pressure throughout your pregnancy.

YIELDS: 1
¹
⁄
₂
CUPS

2 peaches

1 cup red grapes

¹
⁄
₄
lemon

Juice peaches, grapes, and lemon. Stir.

Good for your baby’s bones and development

The celery and broccoli found in this recipe are full of calcium, which will help your baby’s bones develop. The tomato, celery, and broccoli in this refreshing drink will also provide other essential pregnancy nutrients, such as vitamin C and folic acid, that are needed for your baby’s growth and development.

YIELDS: 1
¹
⁄
₄
CUPS

1 large tomato

2 stalks celery

1 cup broccoli

2 cloves garlic

Juice tomato, celery, broccoli, and garlic. Stir.

Good for morning sickness

The ginger in this juice will alleviate your morning sickness, which makes this spicy drink a blessing in disguise! But it doesn’t stop there. The folate-packed cucumbers found in this juice also work to reduce the risk of birth defects. A win-win!

YIELDS:
¹
⁄
₂
CUP

2 cucumbers

1 lemon, peeled

¹
⁄
₄
" slice ginger

Pinch kosher salt

Juice cucumbers, lemon, and ginger. Stir in a pinch of salt.

Helps boost energy levels

This juice is a good source of manganese for glucose metabolism, which will ensure that the nutrients from your food are getting to your cells for energy. In addition, broccoli contains a substance called sulforaphane, which produces enzymes that protect blood vessels and helps to reduce cell damage. In order for your baby to grow to the best of her ability, you will need to support an environment that has as little cell damage as possible, so drink up to promote cell growth!

YIELDS:
³
⁄
₄
CUP

2 oranges, peeled

1 cup broccoli, washed

Juice oranges and broccoli. Stir well.

Helps boost energy levels

String beans are an excellent source of vitamin B
₆
, which helps increase energy levels by converting your food into energy. If you’re slogging through your third trimester, this juice may help boost your energy levels. How? It’s full of great sources of fiber like string beans and Brussels sprouts, which help regulate your blood sugars, energy levels, and hunger.

YIELDS:
³
⁄
₄
CUP

1 cup string beans

6 Brussels sprouts

1 lemon, peeled

Juice beans, Brussels sprouts, and lemon. Stir.

This tasty juice provides you with iron and vitamins A and C. Iron is a crucial mineral during pregnancy as you need more of it to make more hemoglobin as the blood in your body increases to provide protection for your baby. During the second and third trimesters, you’ll also need more iron for your growing baby and placenta. Vitamins A and C will also support your baby’s growth and bones.

YIELDS: 1
¹
⁄
₂
CUPS

1 cup cauliflower

3 carrots, peeled

1 stalk celery

Juice cauliflower, carrots, and celery. Stir.

CAULIFLOWER OR CABBAGE?

Mark Twain said, “Cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education.” It is part of the cabbage family and comes from the Latin words
caulis
for stalk and
floris
for flower. Cauliflower comes in white, orange, green, and purple varieties. The green leaves at the base of the cauliflower are edible. They have a stronger flavor than the curd.

Good for your baby’s bones and development

This juice supplies calcium and vitamins A and C for a perfect combination of nutrients for your baby’s growth. These vitamins support bone growth and tissue repair and vitamin C is needed for your body to make collagen that will help develop your baby’s bones, skin, and tendons.

YIELDS: 1 CUP

3 carrots, peeled

6 spears broccoli

1 clove garlic

¹
⁄
₄
lemon, peeled

Juice carrots, broccoli, and garlic. Juice lemon.

Good for your baby’s bones and development

Cabbage and apples are a great combination with wonderful health benefits for you and your baby. Cabbage is a good source of folic acid, which protects your baby from neurological birth defects, and apples will support your digestive system. Not to mention the fact that this juice is pretty delicious to boot!

YIELDS: 1
¹
⁄
₄
CUPS

¹
⁄
₄
head red cabbage

1 cup Napa cabbage

2 Granny Smith apples, cored

Juice ingredients in order listed. Stir.

CABBAGE

A head of cabbage should feel heavy and should have tightly packed leaves. Store in the refrigerator tightly wrapped in plastic for one week. Napa cabbage has a crinkly leaf. It does not have the strong flavor of regular cabbage and is very crisp. Its flavor is mild.