Can you eat jam when pregnant?
In this article, we are going to answer the question, “can you eat jam when pregnant?” We will also give a brief description of the composition of jam and how that affects the health of a pregnant woman. We will then discuss the factors to consider in choosing a jam for a pregnant woman.
Can you eat jam when pregnant?
Yes, you can eat jam when pregnant. Jams are made from fruits preserved in a high acid and sugar environment. They can be homemade or store-bought, both are usually safe to eat during pregnancy.
However certain factors and precautions should be taken into consideration in buying or making jams. These factors and precautions would be discussed in the unfolding pages of this write-up.
What makes up jam?
Jams are composed of essentially three main materials thus Pectin, organic fruit acids, and sugar. Let us take a look at each of these in a detailed manner.
Pectin
Pectin is a polysaccharide that is found predominantly in the cell walls of plants. It is said to be more concentrated in the peels of fruits, especially citrus fruits. It is released into solution when fruits are boiled. It plays a significant role in gelling the jam given the right quantity of sugar and fruit acids present in the jam media.
Organic acids
Weak acids such as citric acids and malic acids are the major acid groups in fruits. Other acids such as tartaric acid in grapes, quinic acids, shikimic acid, and ascorbic acids are also present in negligible amounts in fruit and fruit juices.
These acids are weak carboxylic acids that help in donating hydrogen ions to protonate the ionized carboxylate ions of pectin molecules. This is the only possible way to limit repulsion between pectin molecules and permit their coming together to form a gel of the jam.
Hence citric acid or lemon juice is normally added to a jam mixture that does not contain enough organic acids and pectin. Lemon also creates an optimum PH medium for gelling to take place which is usually within a 2.8-3.3 PH medium, a medium sufficient for the protonation of the carboxylate ions of the pectin molecules.
Sugar
Besides contributing to the sweet and appealing taste of the jam, the sugar plays a key role in fast-tracking the gelling process of the jam. It does this by attracting the prevailing water molecules to itself thus making the pectin molecules interact comfortably for the gel to form. This goes a long way to increasing the shelf life of the jam.
How will each of the substances mentioned above affect the health of a pregnant woman?
Neither of the key components of jam will likely impact the health of a pregnant mother negatively if moderation is taken in the use of jam during pregnancy. Let’s do a step-by-step analysis of the situation.
Pectin for instance is fibrous in nature and will actually do more good than harm to a pregnant woman. Pectin can serve as dietary fiber thus preventing digestive disorders and constipation. Pectin can also create a good environment for the development of good bacteria for the gut microbiome. This will strengthen the immune system of the pregnant woman.
In addition, some fruits contain high content of vitamin C and other important vitamins such as folate and minerals such as potassium. This will contribute to the overall health of the pregnant woman.
What should a pregnant woman lookout for when buying or preparing Jam?
A pregnant woman should go for a jam with low sugar to moderate sugar content. This will rule out the possibility of diabetes associated with the gestation period. It is always better to choose homemade jams over readily available ones in the supermarket.
A pregnant woman should choose fruits that are rich in vitamins and minerals but have low fructose content. Hence fruits such as blackcurrants, grapefruit, apples, sour cherries, and strawberries should be selected over highly sugary ones like mangoes.
Lastly, clean fruits devoid of all forms of contamination should be used in homemade jam. When buying from the supermarket, a high-quality jam should be selected. Pregnant women should also avoid highly acidic jams.
Other FAQs about Jam that you may be interested in.
Can you eat homemade jam when pregnant?
Can you cook jam in a slow cooker?
Conclusion
In this work, we have answered the question, “can you eat jam when pregnant?” We have also discussed the major components of jam and the impact of the components on a pregnant woman. Finally, we discussed the precautions a pregnant woman should take into consideration when including jam in her meals.
We hope you found this blog helpful, please reach out to us in case of further questions regarding this blog.
References
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9093550/
https://www.pregnantplate.com/food/is-jam-a-healthy-breakfast-choice-during-pregnancy/
https://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2013/oct/03/science-magic-jam-making
