Which Foods To Avoid During Pregnancy?
During pregnancy, there are several reasons to be extra careful about what foods you eat and what you avoid. Certain food items are safe, but some of which we have to avoid. It is important to note and act accordingly. Some foods have toxins that can lead to deficiencies in your baby. Others contain transmitted bacteria. It could weaken your immune system besides causing harm to the fetus. Make sure that most of the foods which you eat are cooked. While choosing a recipe, you should be selective about what you eat to protect your baby from harmful bacteria and developmental damage.
You must be cautious about the many foods you should avoid during pregnancy. Most doctors advise pregnant women to skip certain fish, raw meats, raw eggs, ripened cheeses, sprouts, pate, unwashed vegetables, and other foods discussed below:
Avoidable Foods When Pregnant
Fish
Some fish such as shark, marlin, bluefin tuna, orange, and swordfish contain high amounts of mercury that accumulate in their fatty tissue. Pregnant women should not eat large amounts to avoid neurological damage to their babies. A baby, while growing, has a sensitive nervous system. While it is unclear how much shellfish you would have to eat to experience ill effects, it is best to avoid it. Other raw foods that women should avoid completely are oysters and sushi.
Raw Eggs
Eating raw eggs may never have crossed your mind, but some foods have them and can be a salmonella source. Foods containing raw eggs include mayonnaise, Caesar salads, eggnog, and hollandaise cream. You also have to avoid cookie dough containing certain beaters. Also, we should reduce the risk of salmonella and remember to cook eggs before eating them for any meal.
Raw Chicken
You should always avoid raw chicken, but more so during pregnancy. Eating or coming into contact with surfaces with raw chicken on them can transmit salmonella. Even last night’s chicken must be reheated or recooked to destroy any traces of salmonella.
Matured Cheeses
It would help if you avoided ripened cheeses such as blue cheese, feta, brie, camembert, cabbage, ricotta, white Latin American cheeses, and unpasteurized milk or unpasteurized dairy foods as they may contain Listeria bacteria. This bacteria is harmful to your baby and should be avoided. While adults with Listeria most often do not show any symptoms, it can cause life-threatening complications for the fetus or newborn. Listeriosis is known to lead to miscarriages, premature births, and blood poisoning. You are better to avoid that kind of food during pregnancy and consume it only after birth.
Fruits And Vegetables
When buying fruits and vegetables, wash them to remove harmful pesticides and bacteria. Unwashed vegetables can potentially transmit toxoplasmosis, a parasite that contaminates the soil. You should also avoid any moldy fruits and/or vegetables completely.
Other Foods To Avoid During Pregnancy
Aside from the foods listed above, women should avoid raw sprouts as they have led to some incidents of salmonella outbreaks. Machine ice creams and many sausage foods can contain Listeria, so it is important to avoid them and, if possible, minimize contact with these bacteria. Another food to avoid during pregnancy and lactation is peanuts, which can increase the possibility of developing allergies. Peanuts have a type of mold called aflatoxin that could be potentially risky for your baby.
Food Additives
Many foods contain additives and preservatives, so select packaged foods carefully. Additives cause stomach upset and headaches as they are MSG (monosodium glutamate). You should avoid artificial colors, especially blue 1, blue 2, green 3, red 3, yellow 6, and saccharin.
Vitamins
A woman is pregnant, and her body needs different amounts of vitamins to support the growth of the fetus. Pregnancy causes a woman’s body to go through drastic hormonal changes that add a lot of stress. Therefore, you should check what types of vitamins you require. Your doctor can recommend safe and effective prenatal supplements that provide enough vitamins to ensure the development of a healthy fetus. However, getting these nutrients from food is always the best option.
Keep The Good In Mind
The foods to avoid when you are pregnant are quiet, so you must keep in your head a list of those that you must avoid ensuring the healthy development of your little belly. It is not only important to maintain a healthy diet but also to keep your weight under control. Therefore, eating healthy is the main priority, not dieting to minimize weight gain.
Another thing to remember is that if you are going to eat out, ensure that the food served is hot, not lukewarm or cold. Also, try to avoid too much fast food, as it is often high in sugar and saturated fat.
Limit caffeine intake and give up Alcohol (it’s only for a while) as there is no safe level for alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Alcohol consumption during pregnancy leads to low IQ in babies, low birth weight, and malformations. Please note that Alcohol also stops the influence of folic acid and iron absorption and depletes calcium in the bones.
