Women should stay healthy during their pregnancy. During this sensitive period, she is not just taking care of herself but also the life growing inside her.
One of the ways to ensure a woman’s health during her pregnancy is for her to eat healthily. And while we have a lot of articles talking about what she should eat to achieve that, it is equally important to talk about foods and beverages that she should avoid as well.
What are the foods and beverages to avoid when pregnant? Here’s a list:
- Fish with High Mercury
These fishes usually come from polluted water. It is a known fact that mercury is a highly toxic substance. It can cause adverse effects on a woman’s nervous system, immune system, and kidneys. It can even lead to developmental problems for the baby.
Some of the fishes that have high mercury include shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and albacore tuna.
However, eating other kinds of fishes is highly recommended.
- Undercooked or Raw Fish
Eating these foods can cause viral and bacterial infections and parasites. It can lead to dehydration and weakness for the mother. There’s also a high chance that you can pass it on to the unborn baby through the placenta.
So, women should avoid sushi while they are still pregnant.
- Undercooked, Raw or Processed Meat
Just like the undercooked and raw fish, meat can also lead to several bacterial infections and parasites – only with a different bacterial or viral strain. Most of the bacteria stay on the surfaces of the meat while others remain in the muscle fibers.
It is also not advisable for pregnant women to eat processed meat such as hotdogs, canned goods, and other processed products.
- Raw Eggs
Avoid raw eggs during this sensitive period because it can contain Salmonella. In rare cases, this infection can result in cramps in the uterus and might lead to premature or stillbirth.
- Organ Meat
Organ Meat contains several nutrients, but doctors do not recommend to overeat of this while pregnant.
- Caffeine
Pregnant women should not consume more than 200 mg per day. Unborn babies can’t metabolize caffeine, so high levels of it can build up in the uterus. It can lead to restricted fetal growth and low birth weight during delivery.
- Raw Sprouts
Just like raw eggs, raw sprouts can contain Salmonella. So, pregnant women should heed the advice to avoid eating raw sprouts while pregnant.
- Unwashed Produce
Make sure to wash fruits and vegetables before eating or cooking them to make sure you’ve washed off the bacteria before it got in your hands.
- Unpasteurized Milk and Cheese
Pasteurization kills the bacteria from these dairy products. Thus, it would be better for pregnant women to take these rather than the unprocessed ones.
- Alcohol
If you love drinking, it’s time to say goodbye to it once you’ve become pregnant. Drinking alcohol increase the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth. It can also lead to facial deformities, problems in the development of the baby’s heart and can even affect the baby’s intellectual ability.
If you want to make sure you and your baby are healthy, then take note of the foods to avoid when pregnant and go for the healthier option.
