Is non-alcoholic wine safe during pregnancy?

As many new moms know, it’s not always easy to avoid alcohol when you’re expecting. It’s in a lot of foods that don’t come with obvious warning labels, such as salad dressing, iced tea and other unexpected sources. But cutting alcohol out of your life completely can be tricky, especially if you love drinking wine. That’s why so many expectant mothers are asking the question, is non-alcoholic wine safe during pregnancy?

What is non-alcoholic wine?

Non-alcoholic wine is basically the same as regular wine but has had most of the alcohol removed. This means that non-alcoholic wine has a very low alcohol content (around 0.5% ABV) and poses no risk to a pregnant woman or her unborn child. It is made from grape juice with added flavorings and ingredients that simulate the taste and texture of real wine. It is often used as a substitute for wine in cooking or for people who prefer not to drink alcohol.

There are also some cheaper varieties of non-alcoholic wines that contain high amounts of sugar instead of artificial sweeteners as well as a number of preservatives and additives.

Why can’t you drink alcohol when you’re pregnant?

During pregnancy, your body is producing extra blood cells to build a nest for your growing baby. Because your baby’s blood cells will have your DNA, they will have your baby’s major blood type, typically O, A, B or AB. But they will also have your minor blood type either O-, A-, B- or AB-.

When you drink alcohol, it passes from your bloodstream into the placenta and then into your baby’s bloodstream. When your baby has alcohol in their blood, it changes their minor blood type from yours to theirs. This is one of the reasons why drinking alcohol is unsafe during pregnancy, it can cause your baby to have your minor blood type when they should have their own.

Is non-alcoholic wine safe during pregnancy?

Is non-alcoholic wine safe during pregnancy? In most cases, yes. However, whether or not you can drink non-alcoholic wine when you’re pregnant depends on how it’s made. Like regular wine, non-alcoholic wine has several ingredients, some of which have potential side effects when consumed by pregnant women. These include grape juice, water, flavoring, preservatives and more.

But just like other foods and beverages, non-alcoholic wine is a risk-benefit decision. If it is made with high-quality ingredients and properly stored it can be safe to drink during pregnancy. If it is made with lower-quality ingredients and/or stored improperly, it may not be safe to drink while pregnant. The same goes for regular wine. Anyone pregnant or not, who consumes grape products should be aware of the risks of consuming too much sugar.

Are there health benefits of drinking non-alcoholic wine during pregnancy?

Because non-alcoholic wine does not contain alcohol, it is not associated with the same health benefits as real wine. So while drinking non-alcoholic wine is generally safe during pregnancy, you’re not getting the same benefits as you would from drinking regular wine. However, non-alcoholic wine does have some benefits.

For example, it contains a small amount of resveratrol, a compound that is often associated with the health benefits of drinking real wine. It also has a healthy amount of grape polyphenols, a group of antioxidants that have been associated with a lowered risk of cardiovascular disease.

How Can You Stay Safe While Drinking Non-Alcoholic Wine?

Like with any other food or beverage, you want to make sure you’re choosing high-quality ingredients when you’re drinking non-alcoholic wine. If you’re buying non-alcoholic wine from a grocery store or online, read the ingredients and look for one that is low in sugar. And if you’re brewing your non-alcoholic wine, make sure you’re using a clean, sanitized brewing vessel that you’ve thoroughly washed after using for other foods and beverages.

If you’re buying non-alcoholic wine, double-check the alcohol content, many brands contain less than 0.5% alcohol and are thus suitable for pregnant women. If you’re brewing your non-alcoholic wine, you can use the same alcohol-testing strips that are used to test real wine.

Is non-alcoholic beer safe during pregnancy?

Certain types of non-alcoholic beer are safe to drink during pregnancy. These include those that are made from malted barley, which is a type of grain that is fermented using yeast. Beer that is made from non-barley grains like corn, rice or wheat is not recommended to drink during pregnancy because it can contain ingredients that are harmful to the baby.

Little or no alcohol is also safe to consume while pregnant; however, it can be harmful to your unborn child if consumed in excess. While pregnant, limit how much alcohol you consume every day, and drink in moderation. Alcohol can harm your baby by causing birth defects and reducing blood flow through the placenta. Alcohol can also increase your risk of miscarriage and preterm labor.

One of the biggest concerns surrounding non alcoholic beer during pregnancy is the potential impact on fetal development. It is known that alcohol can cause birth defects if consumed during pregnancy, but this risk appears to be slight for non alcoholic beers. In general, it’s best to avoid alcohol during your pregnancy, since there are many other healthy options available for a pregnant woman.

Can you have 0.0 alcohol when pregnant?

Yes, you can have 0.0% alcohol when pregnant. In fact, most women drink less than this amount during pregnancy. While some studies suggest that drinking small amounts of alcohol may be linked to low birth weight and premature birth, the evidence is not conclusive.
In addition, there is concern that alcohol may harm a developing fetus in other ways, such as causing anemia or affecting fetal brain development. (Study by NCBI)

It’s best to avoid drinking any alcohol while you are pregnant. However, if you do drink, it’s best to limit your intake to less than 0.5 ounces of pure alcohol per day. If you’re unsure of your limits, it’s best to avoid drinking altogether while you are pregnant.

Pregnancy is a delicate time and one has to be very careful about medications like Azo, Mucinex, etc.

Summary

Real wine is made with fermented grape juice, which contains alcohol. To make non-alcoholic wine, grape juice is fermented and then the alcohol is removed. While non-alcoholic wine is not a good source of resveratrol like real wine is, it contains a small amount of resveratrol and is generally safe for pregnant women. Non-alcoholic wine contains a small amount of sugar and can be a great alternative to alcoholic wine for pregnant women.