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Grapes in pregnancy
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
When consuming grapes during pregnancy, some women have some doubts for good reason. Realizing the full extent of responsibility for their own condition and the proper development of the child they are carrying, expectant mothers should know exactly which products should be excluded from their diet. While most nutritionists assure the indisputable benefits of grapes for the body during pregnancy, some experts classify grapes as products that should be avoided.
First, let's talk about the beneficial properties of grapes for pregnant women.
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Benefits of grapes during pregnancy
The conclusion about the benefits of grapes during pregnancy can be made by examining its chemical composition. Grapes contain on average 70% water, 15-35% glucose and fructose, a whole list of organic acids, quercetin, glycosides, pectin, enzymes and tannins; compounds of potassium, magnesium, calcium, manganese, phosphorus, iron, copper, cobalt, zinc, iodine. Grapes contain vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, C, E, P, PP, K, folic acid.
When pregnant women eat grapes, their B vitamins activate metabolism, and the fetus will receive more nutrients. Eating grapes will help avoid neural tube defects, because folic acid helps with this. And thanks to potassium (225 mg%), both the mother's heart and the baby's heart will function normally.
Iron, cobalt and manganese improve hematopoiesis, tannins and pectins have a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract, magnesium helps pregnant women reduce muscle spasms, phosphorus is necessary for the synthesis of nucleic acids, and quercetin strengthens the walls of capillaries.
It is useful to eat red grapes during pregnancy to prevent fluid retention in tissues or chronic venous insufficiency, as the skin of these berries is rich in polyphenols, in particular, oligomeric proanthocyanidins. These substances protect plants from phytopathogens, and for the human body they have the effect of powerful antioxidants. If vitamin E acts only against fat-soluble oxidants in the body, and vitamin C against water-soluble ones, then grape proanthocyanidins have an active effect against both types.
Studies have also shown that antioxidants in red grapes help to better regulate the activity of excitatory neurotransmitters in the brain - dopamine and norepinephrine, which has an antidepressant effect.