How does pomegranate help during pregnancy

Pomegranate juice is a particularly rich source of polyphenols, which are chemicals that are part of a class of antioxidants found in many food and beverages, including nuts, berries, red wine and teas.

Polyphenols are known to cross the blood-brain barrier, and studies in animal models have demonstrated protective effects against neurodegenerative diseases. The randomized, controlled, double-blinded study enrolled 78 mothers from Barnes-Jewish Hospital obstetric clinic in St. Women drank the juice daily from the start of the study to their delivery. The team measured several aspects of brain development and injury, including infant brain macrostructure, microstructural organization and functional connectivity.

To break down some of that medical jargon, what it means is there was no difference in brain growth or baby growth, but they did see an improvement in the cabling network and brain development measured by simultaneous blood flow and visual development of the brain. This is the first clinical study to evaluate the potential effects of giving pregnant women pomegranate juice to protect the brains of at-risk newborns.

Health Benefits of Pomegranate during Pregnancy Pomegranate has anti-inflammatory properties which help prevent diseases such as type diabetes, obesity, etc. In addition, it is an excellent source of energy, improves gut health and overall digestion. Studies also suggest that drinking pomegranate juice may help to decrease the risk of injury to the placenta.

Does Pomegranate Cause Constipation during Pregnancy? Pomegranate during Pregnancy: So is it Safe? Related Articles. Share this article: Share Tweet Send. It is great for overall bodily functions and also for skin and hair health. One reason pomegranate juice is particularly famed for, is its ability to improve brain function. Pomegranate juice is full of potent antioxidants that keep free radicals from damaging the brain cells. That's why it is recommended to be made an integral part of our diet, including pregnant women.

A new study published in the journal PLOS One has claimed that drinking pomegranate juice during pregnancy may improve brain development and connectivity in unborn babies. Pomegranate juice contains disease-fighting antioxidants - polyphenols that are neuroprotective in nature. Placental problems in pregnant women may also lead to lower weight babies and preterm birth. Women give birth to babies who have problems related to placental issues in five to 10 percent of pregnancies worldwide.

In this study, pregnant women were randomly selected at weeks into the pregnancy to be given either 8 ounces a day of pomegranate juice or a placebo apple juice until delivery. Placental tissues from 12 patients four in the pomegranate group and eight in the placebo group were collected for analysis of oxidative stress.

The researchers extended their work to include studies of oxidative stress and cell death in cell cultures where placental tissue samples and cultured human fetal cells were exposed to pomegranate juice or a placebo.