Not many things in life can zap away your energy the way pregnancy does. For many of us, coffee is the go-to drink to help replenish that energy. But with the high levels of caffeine and the negative effect it can have on your unborn baby, the best thing to do is steer clear of coffee during pregnancy. For many, steering clear of coffee during pregnancy means a loss of energy, but thankfully it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are some pregnancy drinks to help get your energy flowing through the day. Consider whipping together one of these healthy drinks the next time you need a quick pick me up. Just because you can’t have coffee during pregnancy doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your daily routine.
Water
There is no healthier drink during your pregnancy than water. The benefits of drinking water, especially during pregnancy, are limitless. For starters, water helps to keep you hydrated. When you face dehydration, then your body automatically operates a lot slower and you find can find yourself fatigued or even exhausted throughout the day. Along with helping replenish you, water is a great substitute for coffee during pregnancy because it can help eliminate the toxins in your body. In your second and third trimester when your muscles start shifting and stretching, incorporating water as one of your pregnancy drinks will help everything stretch a lot more easier with a lot less pain. If that doesn’t do it for you, then consider this. This health drink will help with your skin’s elasticity. This means your growing belly will stretch easier with a lesser chance of ripping and forming those ever dreaded stretch marks.
Fruit Infused Water
If you are anything like me, and drinking water is a challenge with the equivalence of climbing Mount Everest, then consider dressing up your water with some natural flavor. Drink infusers are awesome to have, so if you have one, then that’s great. If not, you can still infuse your water, there just won’t be a barrier separating your water from the fruit. In a container, add your favorite brand of spring or natural water, and add in several chopped slices of your favorite fruits or veggies. If you love your water infused with fruits like I do, then consider sliced strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, or oranges. You can even mix and match fruits for a greater burst in flavor. If you want more of a vegetable taste, then throw in some sliced cucumbers or herbs like mint or basil.
Lemonade
Not only is this a great drink if your experiencing pregnancy during the spring and summer months, but lemonade can be a great energy booster. Lemonade, especially if made fresh at home is packed with vitamin C. Vitamin C is essential in helping better absorb iron, something you’ll need a lot of as your blood volume increases during your pregnancy. Along with its nutritional value, lemonade can be a great line of defense against morning sickness. For an extra kick of relief, try adding mint or ginger to your lemonade to keep the morning sickness at bay. This is a great pregnancy drink to have close at hand when you wake up in the morning.
Coconut Water
In addition to your daily intake of water, be sure to incorporate coconut water into your hydration routine. Coconut water is a healthy drink that is jam-packed with great nutrients that your body will thank you for. Coconut water is chalk full of magnesium, chloride, zinc, and iron. This healthy drink is also made up of many different enzymes that help in the metabolism and digestion process. Something your body will certainly thank you for, especially in the later days of pregnancy.
Mango Juice
The tiny human growing inside you is going to need lots of nutrients to grow big and strong for his debut. To keep up with his demands, your body’s blood volume is going to gradually increase. Because he’ll be sucking your blood of all your nutrients, make mango juice a go-to drink to help you replenish. Mango juice is a great healthy drink to substitute coffee for during pregnancy because of its nutrients. It’s packed with vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and iron. With your growing blood volume during pregnancy, mango juice can be a great energy booster because of the iron in it. Fight off anemia and fatigue during pregnancy by incorporating this healthy drink during your pregnancy.
Smoothies
Smoothies are a great substitute for coffee during pregnancy. Not only that, but smoothies are super healthy drinks that can give you a boost of energy when you need it. The great think about smoothies is that you can tailor them to your taste buds. When mixing up a smoothie, stick close to fruits that compliment each other. If you’re in the mood for a berry blast, mix raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries for a tasty pregnancy drink. If you’re in the mood for something more tropical, then pineapples, oranges, bananas, and mangoes make for a nice blend. Here’s a healthy pregnancy drink tip: with certain fruits like apples, mangoes, and kiwis be sure to keep the skin on. The skin of these fruits contains just as much if not more vitamins than the fruit inside. Finally, the milk in your smoothie is a great way to get the calcium boost that you and your baby need.
Fruit Juices
If you’re not a big fan of the milk in smoothies, then feel free to ditch the milk and make a fruit juice blend instead. Fruit juices can be packed with essential nutrients and vitamins for you and your baby. Just be sure that when you are blending your juices, you don’t add any extra sugar. The natural sugar in the fruits is a better substitute than any added sugar or artificial sweetener. If you do feel the urge to add some sweetness, then aim for substitutes like honey to concoct the perfect healthy drink.
Milk
Drink a full glass of milk. You have heard this all your life. But there’s a reason your mom always pushed you to drink a glass of milk each day. This healthy drink is full of nutrients like calcium, protein, and vitamin B12. These are all nutrients you and your growing baby need. If this healthy drink is not one that you really find yourself having an appetite for, then find ways to sneak milk into other healthy drinks. For example, get your milk fix from drinks like smoothies, decaf coffee, or decaf chai tea. You can even try drinking different substitutes like buttermilk that serve as an equally healthy pregnancy drink.
I hope that these suggestions can help you to have more energy during your pregnancy.
