Eating Lemon During Pregnancy

Eating lemons during pregnancy can have several advantages, but it carries some disadvantages as well. While the fruit provides a good amount of vitamins and minerals and may ward off morning sickness, it may cause damage to your tooth enamel and trigger or exacerbate heartburn or other gastrointestinal issues. If you have specific concerns about the way eating lemons may affect your pregnancy, contact your doctor.

Whole and halved lemons on a serving dish and wood table. (Image: marylooo/iStock/Getty Images)

Nutrition

Lemons contain good amounts of several vitamins, minerals and other. One medium raw lemon contains only 17 calories and almost no fat, while offering numerous vitamins and minerals. Some of these vitamins and minerals include calcium, thiamin, niacin, folate, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, manganese, panthothenic acid, vitamin B-6 and riboflavin, all of which are vital nutrients for the healthy growth and development of your unborn baby. It also is an excellent source of vitamin C. Eating lemons during pregnancy may be an effective way to make sure you are getting these nutrients.

Morning Sickness

While their use is not scientifically proven, lemons may also minimize feelings of nausea associated with morning sickness, according to the American Pregnancy Association. Although eating the lemons may prove useful, sucking on or even simply sniffing them may also help ease your queasiness. If your morning sickness that seems particularly severe, do not rely on lemons to treat your symptoms. Instead, call your doctor.

Heartburn or Gastrointestinal Discomfort

During the latter part of pregnancy, many women suffer from heartburn or other forms of gastrointestinal distress. The high acidity content lemons may trigger or exacerbate these symptoms. If you are experiencing these issues, avoid eating lemons and other citrus foods until the symptoms go away.

Tooth Enamel

Citric acid may damage the enamel of your teeth. Lemons contain particularly high amounts of citric acid. Avoid consuming large amounts of lemons on a regular basis to prevent this from occurring. If you notice changes in your teeth that you believe may be due to your consumption of lemon, consult your dentist.

Uses

If you want to include lemons in your diet during pregnancy, you may want to consider using small amounts at first to determine if you experience heartburn or other side effects. You can add a wedge of lemon or a few tablespoons of lemon juice to a glass of water or tea. You may also want to add lemon to your meals, such as squeezing fresh lemon juice over a pasta dish or over fish and chicken.