Can you eat rhubarb when pregnant?

Find out if it's safe to eat rhubarb during pregnancy, including raw rhubarb and rhubarb crumble. Plus precautions to take to keep you and your baby healthy.

The official advice on eating rhubarb in pregnancy

Good news! It's safe to eat rhubarb in moderation while you're pregnant.

Rhubarb stalks are best eaten cooked and sweetened with sugar in a pie or crumble, as raw rhubarb naturally has a strong sour taste.

This flavour comes from calcium oxalate, a form of oxalic acid. This is particularly abundant in rhubarb leaves, which is why they should never be eaten raw or cooked.

Consuming high quantities of calcium oxalate can cause a serious condition called hyperoxaluria, which could make you very ill and potentially lead to kidney failure.

Rhubarb stalks can sometimes contain calcium oxalate in lower concentrations, which is why rhubarb is best enjoyed in moderation during pregnancy. But the occasional crumble won't do you any harm.

Is rhubarb good for you in pregnancy?

Rhubarb is low in calories and a great source of vitamins, making it a healthy food choice to eat on occasion during pregnancy.

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• Rhubarb contains vitamin C, which helps to strengthen your immune system.
• It's high in fibre, which can aid digestion.
• Rhubarb is packed with antioxidants that can help to boost your body's natural defences.
• It's a rich source of vitamin K1, which supports heart and bone health.

The NHS advises eating lots of fruit and vegetables during pregnancy. Getting plenty of fruit and veg will give you and your growing baby the essential vitamins and minerals you both need to stay well and healthy.

Delicious rhubarb recipes

Love rhubarb? Why not try one of these great pregnancy-safe recipes?

• Rhubarb and orange crumble
• Rhubarb charlotte
• Rhubarb fool

The Day-by-Day Pregnancy Book: Count Down Your Pregnancy Day by Day by Dr Maggie Blott is packed full of advice from a team of experts to help guide you through your pregnancy from conception to birth. See more details here at Amazon.

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Looking for more pregnancy diet info? Check out our articles below, or swap tips with other mums-to-be in our forum.

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