When you’re pregnant, paying close attention to your diet is a must. Pregnant women are encouraged to eat a very balanced and healthy diet, but there are always restrictions even if what you wish to eat includes veggies and fruits. For instance, if you’ve ever wondered, can pregnant women eat grapes, the answer is “yes,” you can, but there are exceptions, so keep reading for more information.

Can I Eat Grapes While Pregnant?

Grapes are juicy and tasty, and they come in several different varieties. Since they are considered a fruit, they are very nutritious, which is why obstetricians will tell you that eating grapes is fine when you’re pregnant. That being said, there are a few precautions that center around the fact that grapes should always be eaten in moderation. There are numerous reasons why this is so, which we’ll go into more detail about in this article.

First of all, grapes have sugar in them, and even though it’s a natural type of sugar, eating too many grapes can cause an increase in your blood sugar level, which is bad even for people who aren’t diabetic or suffering with gestational diabetes. Even if you’re simply at risk for developing diabetes, your doctor may recommend only eating small quantities of grapes per day. If you have a family history of diabetes, you should mention that to your doctor before adding grapes to your diet.

The same rules apply to raisins, which are merely dried grapes. Eat them in moderation just like you would regular grapes. However, there is another reason why both grapes and raisins need to be eaten in moderation and it has to do with resveratrol. What is resveratrol? It is an enzyme (an antioxidant) that does some good things, including controlling your cholesterol level and improving bile performance, but too much of it can be a bad thing.

A Little About Resveratrol

Eating too many grapes during pregnancy means that you’ll be consuming lots of resveratrol, which can harm the development of the fetus, especially the development of its pancreas. If you happen to be taking a supplement while you’re pregnant and it contains resveratrol, it is especially important not to eat too many grapes. Resveratrol supplements and eating a lot of grapes is not a good combination, and your baby may suffer for it the most.

And it isn’t just grapes that contain resveratrol; the enzyme is also found in dark chocolate and blueberries. So if you eat any of these foods, eat them in moderation, especially if you are getting supplemental doses of resveratrol. In fact, many doctors will tell you to stop taking resveratrol supplements if you eat any grapes at all. If you’re unsure or concerned about any of these things, simply talk to your doctor about it so your diet is safe.

The Pros and Cons of Eating Grapes When You’re Pregnant

Just like most foods, there are both pros and cons of eating grapes while you’re pregnant. Let’s take a look at some of them.

• The pros of eating grapes while pregnant include:
• They can control asthma and arthritis, thanks to their anti-inflammatory properties.
• They have fiber, which can prevent constipation.
• They contain polyphenols for good heart health.
• They have antioxidants that boost the immune system.
• Their vitamin B can help the baby’s metabolism.
• They contain magnesium, which can help ease the muscle cramps often experienced in pregnancy.
• They have iron in them, which can prevent anemia.

Grapes have a lot of nutrients that help both the baby and the mom, including nutrients that can help ease a lot of the symptoms experienced during pregnancy.
As far as the cons of eating grapes while you’re pregnant, they include:

• If they are raw or sour, they are acidic and may cause heartburn and a host of stomach problems.
• Black and red grapes have thick skins, which can be difficult to digest.
• Black and red grapes have a lot of resveratrol in them, which can be toxic in large doses.
• They can cause high blood sugar levels, especially in moms who are already diabetic or prone to getting diabetes.

Basically, if you have diabetes or you’re at risk for getting diabetes, are overweight, have any type of digestive or tummy problems, or have allergies, you should probably avoid eating grapes while you’re pregnant. Of course, speaking to your doctor first will let you know for sure, especially since each pregnancy is different.

You can easily find a number of recipes with grapes in them if you go online, and like any other fruit eaten while pregnant, you’ll want to make sure you wash them thoroughly before placing them in a recipe or popping them in your mouth.

Finally, drinking grape juice is usually not recommended, unless it’s in very small amounts. You don’t get the beneficial fiber that you need and besides, the sugar is very concentrated in the juice from the grapes, which means that you’ll get too much sugar in too short of a time.

Conclusion

You can indeed consume grapes while you’re pregnant, but you should do so in moderation. There are two main reasons for this. First is the amount of sugar in grapes, which can cause your blood sugar to spike; and second is the amount of resveratrol in grapes, which can be toxic if consumed in large amounts, especially in the fetus.

If you’re pregnant and want grapes, make sure that they’re washed well and make sure that you eat them in moderation every day.