201 Organic Smoothies and Juices for a Healthy Pregnancy: Nutrient-Rich Recipes for Your Pregnancy Diet (23 page)

The delicious, refreshing fruit used in this recipe are rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C, and potassium. Beta-carotene will convert into vitamin A when needed and will help support the development of your baby’s eyes, bones, kidneys, lungs, and heart. The vitamin C will support your and your baby-to-be’s immune systems and will protect him from free radical damage, which will enhance her ability to grow into a healthy baby.

YIELDS: 1
¹
⁄
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CUPS

1 cup watermelon, rind removed

1 cup cantaloupe, rind removed

1 orange, rind removed

Juice melons and orange. Stir.

CANTALOUPE OR MUSK MELON?

Cantaloupe was named for a castle in Italy. Real cantaloupe is from Europe and is not exported. The American cantaloupes are really known as musk melons. Cantaloupes should have a netting appearance on a beige-colored skin when they are ripe.

Good for fighting infections during pregnancy

Berries are blood purifiers and can help you out during your pregnancy by improving your body’s ability to deliver oxygen from your blood to cells that are required for you and your baby’s growth and development. Berries also contain antioxidants, which protect your body from bladder infections, high blood pressure, and fatigue, all of which you may experience throughout the various trimesters.

YIELDS: 1
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⁄
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CUPS

2 cups blueberries, washed

1 banana, peeled

1. Juice blueberries.
   
2. Blend blueberry juice and banana in juicer.
   
3. Stir.
   

BLUEBERRIES

Low in calories (
¹
⁄
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cup has just 40 calories) and high in antioxidants, these sweet yet tart fruits pack a nutritious punch. Blueberries also protect against short-term memory loss, lower cholesterol, and enhance memory. However, most importantly, they are highest in antioxidants to protect you and your baby from free radicals that may damage cells.

Good for your baby’s bones and development

Apples are a good source of calcium, potassium, folate, and vitamins A and C. Folate is necessary for the production and maintenance of new cells and prevention of birth defects. Today, it is recommended to choose organic apples over industrial apples, because of industrial apples’ exposure to an organophosphate pesticide, which is shown to decrease intelligence and increase attention problems in children.

YIELDS: 1 CUP

2 red apples, washed, cored

1 beet, washed, greens removed

Juice apples and beet. Stir.

IS THERE A BITTER TASTE TO YOUR JUICE?

If any of your juices are too bitter for your taste, apples are a perfect sweetener.

This juice will help you reach your daily needs for vitamin C, potassium, and folic acid. It can also balance your fluids to avoid any unnecessary fluid retention. If you experience an excess of fluid retention in your body during pregnancy, you are at a higher risk for having high blood pressure, which can lead to preeclampsia.

YIELDS: 1 CUP

3 carrots, peeled

2 stalks celery, leaves intact

Juice carrots and celery. Stir.

CARROTS

Baby carrots are full of flavor, but because they are not totally mature they are not as flavorful as full-grown carrots. It is important to remove carrot greens before storing them, because keeping them on robs the carrot of moisture and vitamins.

Good for your digestive system

Pregnancy can invite fluids into places that you don’t necessarily want swollen. Eating foods that can be used as diuretics is helpful in managing water retention or bloating. Some of these foods are watermelon, garlic, cantaloupe, and dill.

YIELDS: 1
¹
⁄
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CUPS

1 cup watermelon

1 orange, peeled

Juice watermelon and orange. Stir.

MINI MELONS

Watermelons are now available in small individual sizes. They are about the size of a cantaloupe melon. To cut up a melon, you may want to use a melon baller, a small bowl-shaped tool to cut rounds of melon. These can be placed on a skewer and used to decorate your juice.

Good for fighting infections during pregnancy

Cabbage is a cruciferous vegetable and contains some vitamin A and a good amount of vitamin C, which will ward off any germ coming your way during pregnancy. The word “cabbage” means “head.” Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, and kale are all members of the cabbage family.

YIELDS: 1
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⁄
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CUPS

1 cup broccoli, washed

¹
⁄
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small head red cabbage, washed

3 leaves romaine lettuce, washed and dried

1. Juice broccoli.
   
2. Juice cabbage and lettuce.
   
3. Stir.
   

Good for pregnancy cravings

There are several cravings during pregnancy that may surprise you, such as a desire for limes, greens, or pepper rings. Sometimes our bodies crave sour foods due to a lack of acetic acid. Green vegetables are high in chlorophyll and help with these types of cravings.

YIELDS: 1
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⁄
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CUPS

3 stalks celery, leaves intact

¹
⁄
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cucumber

1 red apple, washed and cored

1 fistful spinach

1 fistful beet greens

1. Wash vegetables.
   
2. Juice ingredients in the order listed.
   
3. Stir.
   

CELERY

Celery is available year round. It is used in many juice recipes because of its sodium. Celery keeps very well in the refrigerator when wrapped in foil and stored in the vegetable drawer.

Good for strengthening your immune system

The beets and carrots in this juice will give you—and your baby-to-be!—a definite immune boost. In addition, carrots have been known to improve the quality of breast milk in mothers and beets provide a good source of magnesium, which can help to reduce cholesterol.

YIELDS: 1
¹
⁄
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CUPS

3 carrots, washed and peeled

1 beet, washed, greens cut off

Juice carrots and then beet. Stir.

There is now a new meaning to having an apple a day, especially when pregnant. Studies have suggested that by eating an apple every day, you may be able to reduce the risk of your baby developing asthma. This sweet combination can also satisfy your cravings while you enjoy a tasty treat.

YIELDS: 1
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⁄
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CUPS

3 Granny Smith apples, washed and cored

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1. Juice apples.
   
2. Add cinnamon and stir.
   

CINNAMON

Cinnamon comes from the inner bark of a tropical evergreen tree and was once used as a love potion in ancient Rome. Today, we tend to associate cinnamon with sweet recipes, but it is quite good in savory stews—or juices and smoothies—as well!

Good for strengthening your immune system

This juice offers you a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth while keeping you healthy and supplying your baby with plenty of vitamins A and C, which will help protect your immune systems.

YIELDS: 1 CUP

1 yam, washed and cut into pieces

1 red apple, washed and cored

Juice yam and apple. Stir.

SWEET POTATO OR YAM?

Sweet potatoes are part of the morning glory family. In the United States there are many varieties, but the two main ones are a pale sweet potato and the orange-skinned variety known as yams. The true yam is not related to the sweet potato. Do not refrigerate yams, because they will develop a hard core and their flavor will deteriorate.