Food to avoid when pregnant

Pregnant women should be very aware of what they eat and drink during pregnancy. Unfortunately, the mission will be tough if you are a big fan of sushi or coffee.

Thankfully, what you’re allowed to eat exceeds what you should avoid. 

So in order to stay healthy, you have to pay close attention for your food and beverage during pregnancy. 

There are some types of food that pregnant women should completely avoid, while other types can be rarely consumed.

Below is the list of the food and beverages that should be avoided or minimized while pregnant.

High mercury fish:

It is a highly toxic element that might harm the nervous system, immune system, and kidneys.

Thus, pregnant women should avoid eating large marine fish because they contain high levels of mercury that cause many developmental problems for children.

Raw or uncooked food:

Raw or uncooked food (fish, meat, eggs...) can lead to severe bacterial infections like Salmonella, Listeria, and Vibrio.

These infections might also affect the babies and cause fatal consequences.  

Organ meat:

Although organ meat contains vitamin B12, iron, vitamin A, zinc, and copper that are important for the babies, but taking high quantities of vitamin A can lead to congenital malformations and miscarriage.

Caffeine:

Taking high quantity of caffeine during pregnancy leads to restrictions in the fetal growth and might cause low birth weight at delivery’s.

It is recommended to take less than 200 mg per day of caffeine per day. 

Raw sprouts:

Raw sprouts can be contaminated with Salmonella but they can be safely consumed after they have been cooked.

Unwashed food:

Unwashed or unpeeled fruits  and vegetables might contain several bacteria and parasites that lead to Toxoplasma, Salmonella, and Listeria. 

Although the symptoms of toxoplasma might not appear on babies during pregnancy, but later on it can lead to blindness or intellectual disabilities.

Unpasteurized milk, cheese, and fruit juice:

Unpasteurized food can lead to harmful array of bacteria which in return might lead to life threatening consequences for the unborn baby.

Alcohol

It’s recommended  to avoid alcohol during pregnancy since it increases the risk of miscarriage and negatively affects the baby’s brain development. 

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Processed junk foods

Processed junk food contains low percentage of nutrients but high in calories as well as added fats that lead to excess weight. 

Even though it necessary to gain weight during pregnancy, but excess weight leads to several diseases and complications like gestational diabetes.

In conclusion, it’s important to avoid and minimize all types of food and beverages that might put the pregnant woman and her baby at risk.

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