5 Foods to Avoid in Pregnancy
One of the most joyful moments of any woman’s life is when she finds out that she’s carrying a child inside of her. It is such a surreal, emotional moment for most women, as they begin preparing for the little one. With pregnancy comes a lot of things to learn and unlearn.
One of such things is finding out what you can eat, and what you cannot eat. The latter is usually very tough on women who are big on coffee, sushi, or steak because all these are canceled. There’s a ray of light, though. You can eat much more than you can’t. Bearing that in mind, all you have to do is learn how to maneuver your diet through the dos and don’ts.
Here are some foods to avoid while pregnant — some completely, some, consumable in smaller measures.
1. Avoid Eating Fish High in Mercury
If you are pregnant, consuming high mercury fish is a complete NO-NO. Mercury is a very toxic element found mostly in polluted water. There is no safe level of exposure to mercury currently known. When consumed in large amounts, mercury can be toxic to the body system including the nervous and immune systems. It can also affect the kidneys and can cause serious issues with children’s development. In fact, the consumption of lower amounts can cause adverse effects in children. Examples of high mercury fish to avoid include tuna, shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and marlin. In pregnancy, you can consume low mercury fish like cod, salmon, tilapia, haddock, freshwater trout, and flounder.
2. Avoid Eating Raw Eggs
The risk that comes with eating raw eggs is that they can be contaminated with the bacteria called Salmonella. Symptoms of the infection include nausea, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. On rare occasions, the infection may cause cramping in the uterus which may result in still or premature births. To avoid his, it is better to avoid foods that commonly contain raw eggs such as poached eggs, homemade mayonnaise, homemade ice cream, and homemade cake icings. When purchasing commercial products which contain raw eggs, ensure that you read the label to be sure that they made use of pasteurized eggs. While pregnant, make sure that you cook your eggs thoroughly, or make use of pasteurized eggs.
3. Caffeine
If you happen to love having a cup of coffee or soda on a daily basis, you may want to cut down your caffeine intake during pregnancy. Mind you, you’re not the only one who’s in love with caffeine; millions of women are. However, pregnant women are usually advised to limit their caffeine intake to less than 200 milligrams per day (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, ACOG). The reason behind this is not far-fetched. Caffeine gets absorbed very quickly and makes its way through the placenta easily. But babies and their placentas do not have the enzyme needed to metabolize caffeine. As a result, high levels of caffeine can build up in them. Another reason why you should not consume caffeine at high levels during pregnancy is that research has revealed high intake restricts fetal growth and increases the risk of low birth weight at the point of delivery. To avoid any or all of these complications, make sure you keep an eye on your daily cup of coffee or soda to ensure that baby is not overly exposed to caffeine.
4. Avoid Drinking Alcohol
When pregnant, it is advised that you completely steer off alcohol consumption, as consuming alcohol can increase the risk of stillbirth and miscarriage. In fact, consuming small amounts of alcohol can have a negative effect on your baby’s brain development. Another thing that can occur as a result of alcohol consumption during pregnancy is fetal alcohol syndrome. This can result in facial deformities, heart defects, and intellectual disability. Since no level of alcohol has been proven to be safe during pregnancy, it’s recommended to avoid it altogether.
5. Processed Junk Foods
From the very minute you become aware of your pregnancy status, begin to consume nutrient-dense foods. This will help you and your little one get all the nutrients you both need. Your meal plan should be made up of whole foods, filled with nutrients to fulfill both your needs and your baby’s.