Healthy Food For Life

Orange juice is one of the most common pregnancy cravings — and good news, it can genuinely be a healthy choice. But with this particular drink, how you choose it matters just as much as how much you drink. Here's what the evidence actually supports. Safety First: Pasteurized vs. Unpasteurized This is the most important thing to get right. The CDC specifically flags unpasteurized juice as a Listeria risk during pregnancy — pregnant people are significantly more susceptible to Listeria infection, which can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or serious illness in newborns, sometimes with only mild flu-like symptoms in the mother. Always choose: Pasteurized orange juice from sealed cartons or bottles (any major grocery brand) Freshly squeezed juice made at home from washed oranges, consumed immediately Always avoid: Unpasteurized "fresh-squeezed" juice from juice bars, farmers markets, or roadside stands Raw, unpasteurized juice sold in refrigerated cases withou...