One of the first things pregnant women are taught is what they may and cannot consume. When it comes to your favorite foods like sushi and coffee, it may be a real downer.
It’s a good thing that you can eat more than you can’t. All you have to do is learn to swim (the low mercury waters, that is). To stay healthy, you’ll need to pay attention to what you eat and drink. Foods that should only be consumed in moderation should be avoided like the plague.
Pregnant women should avoid or limit the consultation of these 10 foods and beverages.
1. Undercooked or raw fish
If you’re a sushi enthusiast, you’ll have a hard time with this one. Several illnesses can result from eating raw fish and shellfish. Infections like norovirus and Vibrio, Salmonella, and Listeria are all examples of viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections.
If you are infected, dehydration and weakness may result. Other infections can have serious or even fatal repercussions for your kid if they are transmitted to him or her. In pregnant women, listeria infections are more common. Pregnant women are up to ten times more likely than the general population to contract Listeria, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For pregnant Hispanic women, the risk is 24 times greater.
It can be found in soil and water that has been contaminated by plants or other organisms. Smoking or drying of fish might introduce pathogens into the product.
Even if you don’t display any symptoms of disease, listeria germs can be transmitted to your kid through the placenta. According to the CDCTrusted Source, this can result in preterm birth, miscarriage, stillbirth, and other major health issues.
Many sushi meals, as well as other raw fish and shellfish, should be avoided at all costs. Don’t worry, once the kid is delivered, you’ll be able to eat normally again.
2. High mercury fish
Toxic mercury is an extremely dangerous substance. It has no known safe level of exposure and is found in polluted water the most frequently. ‘
It is harmful to the neurological, immunological, and renal systems at large doses. As a result, it can cause major developmental issues in children, even at modest levels.
Mercury accumulates in huge marine fish because it is found in polluted environments. As a result, pregnant women and nursing mothers should stay away from high-mercury fish like flounder, tilapia, anchovies, and salmon.
3. Undercooked, raw, and processed meat
Undercooked meat has some of the same dangers as raw fish. Toxoplasma, E. coli, Listeria, and Salmonella are some of the bacteria or parasites that can be transmitted by eating undercooked or raw even if they aren’t cooked to the point of falling apart. Only when the meat has been entirely cooked on the outside and is whole or uncut does this apply.
Never eat raw or undercooked cut-meat products such as burgers and patties; minced meat; minced pork; pig; and chicken. So, for the time being, leave the burgers on the grill to finish cooking to your liking.
Pregnant women may be surprised to learn that hot dogs, lunch meat, and deli meat pose a health risk, as well. During preparation or storage, these meats may become infected with a variety of microorganisms. Processing meat products should not be consumed by pregnant women unless they are warmed to a temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Organ meat.
Several essential nutrients can be found in organic meat.
All of these are beneficial to both you and your unborn child, and they include iron, B12, A, zinc, selenium, and copper. Pregnant women should avoid consuming excessive amounts of vitamin A derived from animal sources (preformed vitamin A).
Congenital abnormalities and miscarriages can result from consuming too much-preformed vitamin A during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Organ meats like liver should only be consumed once a week, not daily as is sometimes the case with vitamin A supplements.
5. Caffeine
You may be one of the many people who like a cup of coffee, tea, soda, or chocolate every day of the week. You’re not the only one who enjoys a cup of coffee in the morning.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, women who are pregnant should limit their caffeine intake to no more than 200 milligrams (mg) per day (ACOG).
Caffeine is rapidly absorbed and easily transported to the fetus through the amniotic fluid. Caffeine levels can rise rapidly in newborns and their placentas due to a lack of the primary enzyme required for their metabolism.
Increased risk of low birth weight at delivery has been linked to high caffeine consumption during pregnancy.
Being born under 5 lbs, 8 oz (or 2.5 kg) is related to a higher probability of having an underweight baby
A well-known cause of neonatal mortality as well as an increased adult risk of developing chronic diseases.
So keep an eye on your daily cup of joe or soda to ensure that your baby isn’t exposed to excessive amounts of caffeine.
7. Raw sprouts
Even a seemingly healthy salad may include undeclared additives. Some raw sprouts, such as radish, clover, and mung bean sprouts may be infected with Salmonella, which can cause diarrhea. These bacteria thrive in the moist conditions needed for seeds to sprout, and they’re nearly tough to remove.
Because of this, it’s best to avoid sprouts in their uncooked state. However, cooked sprouts are okay to eat, according to the FDA.
8. Unwashed produce
Several germs and parasites can live on the unwashed or unpeeled surface of fruits and vegetables.
Among these are E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria bacteria, which can all be picked up from the soil.
At any point in the production, harvesting, processing, storage, shipping, or retailing process, contamination can occur. Fruits and vegetables may be infected with Toxoplasma, a harmful parasite.
Toxoplasmosis can cause flu-like symptoms for up to a month for some people, while for others, the illness might last for a year or more.
There are little signs in newborns who have contracted the Toxoplasma infection while still in the womb. However, symptoms like blindness or intellectual problems can arise later in life trusted Source.
More worryingly, a tiny but significant number of infected newborns are born with permanent eye or brain impairment.
Pregnant women should wash fruits and vegetables well with water, peel them, or boil them to reduce the risk of infection. It’s an excellent practice to keep up after the birth of your child.
9. Unpasteurized milk, cheese, and fruit juice
Soft-ripened cheeses, unpasteurized milk, and raw milk If you’re concerned about the presence of hazardous microorganisms in your Trusted Source product, it’s a good idea to avoid it. (You’ve likely heard these terms before.)
Unpasteurized juice, which is similarly susceptible to bacterial infection, is a similar situation. All of these illnesses pose a serious risk to the life of an unborn child if they are contracted from a reliable source.
Collection or storage contamination can lead to the growth of microorganisms. When it comes to killing hazardous germs, pasteurization is the most efficient method.
Whenever possible, stick to pasteurized dairy products and fruit juices to keep your immune system healthy.
10. Alcohol
Drinking alcohol while pregnant can raise the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth, therefore it’s best to avoid it. Your baby’s brain development can be negatively affected by even a little amount of it.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), which includes facial deformities, heart issues, and intellectual incapacity, can be caused by drinking alcohol while pregnant.
There is no safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, therefore it’s best to avoid it entirely.
