Can Cranberry Juice Cause Heartburn When Pregnant?

Many people like to drink cranberry juice to ward off urinary tract infections. A 1994 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) showed that cranberry juice does help with such medical concerns. Some pregnant women drink it solely for that purpose. Others have a craving for the juice, or simply enjoy it. But when heartburn occurs, the question arises, “Can cranberry juice cause heartburn when pregnant?”

Cranberry and Other Fruits

Cranberry juice is acidic. This acidity may cause stomach irritation for people who are prone to heartburn. As pregnancy increases the likelihood of heartburn, the stomach may become more sensitive to cranberry juice’s acid.

Other fruits besides cranberry juice cause heartburn when pregnant. This varies from one individual to another, but the following fruits and or their juices may cause heartburn for you.

* Apple cider
* Blueberries
* Cranberries
* Cranberry juice
* Grapes
* Grape juice
* Nectarines
* Orange juice
* Peaches
* Plums
* Raspberries
* Strawberries

Possible Solutions

If you still want one of the fruits above, you might experiment with folk remedies that seem to offset the acid’s tendency to cause heartburn. Please be advised that the information offered here is for educational purposes only. You should ask your physician for advice.

* Raw Almonds may offset the tendency of certain foods to cause heartburn. Eat 10 or 12 of the nuts at various times during the day.

* Suck hard candy or chew gum to increase saliva. Saliva helps the digestive process so the fruit does not cause heartburn.

* Eat bananas. Their natural antacid effect will offset the tendency of acid foods to cause heartburn.

* Eat a teaspoon of freshly grated ginger root daily. Ginger is helps digest food that might otherwise cause heartburn.

* Season your food with turmeric, a spice found in curried food. Turmeric stimulates digestion and prevents acid build-up from foods that would normally cause heartburn.