Foods and Beverages that you must avoid during Pregnancy
One of the best stages of life is embracing motherhood. Even though it makes you happy to welcome a new life into the world, this delicate time calls for you to pay close attention to every area of your lifestyle.
Eating a good diet is one of the main factors determining how you grow throughout your pregnancy. While some superfoods can help you stay healthy and strong so you can have a healthy child, some foods and drinks should always be avoided.
In order to have a healthy and successful pregnancy, pregnant women must completely avoid the following 11 foods and beverages:
Key Points:-
- Salmonella infection is just one of the dangerous bacteria that can cause food poisoning in raw meat, seafood, and eggs. The germs are completely destroyed by cooking them, protecting you and your infant from illness.
- Pasteurization is commonly used for dairy products such as milk, eggs, and cheese. As a result, any harmful bacteria are killed. On labels, look for the word "pasteurized." Choose a different product if the label doesn't state "pasteurized."
- Dairy products that have not been pasteurized might cause food illnesses like listeriosis. Listeria is a foodborne illness that can harm your infant or give you flu-like symptoms.
- Chemicals like caffeine or mercury are present in some meals. During pregnancy, you could expose your unborn child to these dangerous toxins.
- If you have any signs or symptoms of food poisoning or are concerned that you may have consumed a portion of food contaminated with a bacteria like listeriosis, speak with your healthcare professional.
11 Foods and Beverages to Avoid During Pregnancy:-
1.High mercury concentration fish:-
Concentration. Mercury intake is limited to n permissible levels and the source of mercury in contaminated water. It can damage not only your neurological system, kidneys, and immune system, but it can also be a danger factor for your child's development.
When you eat huge marine fish, you may be exposed to greater quantities of mercury. Sharks, swordfish, king mackerel, and tuna are some of the fish reported to have high mercury levels.
2.Raw and undercooked fish:-
Eating raw fish puts you at risk for a number of illnesses, especially if you eat shellfish. Viral, bacterial, parasitic, and other types of infections are possible.
Although some of these infections may only affect the mother, others can be fatal if they are transmitted to the unborn child. Listeria is the most typical infection caused by uncooked seafood.
3.Raw, processed, or undercooked meat:-
When a pregnant woman consumes raw, processed, or undercooked meat, she can contract diseases such as Toxoplasma, E. coli, Listeria, and Salmonella.
These bacteria can cause stillbirth, neurological disorders, blindness, epilepsy, and mental disability in the baby.
4.Raw Eggs:
The most typical infection brought on by eating raw eggs is salmonella. The illness often only affects the mother, who may have a fever, nausea, stomach pains, diarrhea, and other symptoms. Very rarely, the infection may damage the unborn child and cause a stillbirth or early delivery. The following foods contain raw eggs:
· Salad Dressings
· Poached Eggs
· Cake Icings
· Homemade Mayonnaise
· Hollandaise Sauce
· Lightly Scrambled Eggs
5.Organ Meat:
Iron, vitamin B12, vitamin A, and copper are all abundant in the organ meat. However, authorities advise against ingesting a lot of vitamin A derived from animals when pregnant. High copper levels in the body from this form of vitamin A can result in stillbirth or liver damage.
6. Caffeine:
The most popular caffeine sources include coffee, tea, cocoa, and soft drinks. While some caffeine use is beneficial, the daily limit for caffeine consumption should not exceed 200 mg or about 2-3 cups of coffee.
Low birth weight and developmental delays can ensue from high intake since it can easily cross the placenta and reach the fetus.
7. Raw Sprouts:
Raw sprouts, like raw eggs, have a higher risk of Salmonella infection. Raw sprouts, such as mung bean sprouts, clover, radish, and others, must be cooked before consumption.
8. Unwashed food items:
When you eat dirty food, you put yourself at risk of developing diseases including Toxoplasma, E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria.
During the harvesting, processing, storage, and transportation of fruits and vegetables, germs emerge. Toxoplasma is the most complex bacteria, and it can cause blindness or intellectual problems in children.
9. Alcohol:
Miscarriage and stillbirth risk are both increased by alcohol usage. The baby's brain development may also be adversely impacted.
Fetal alcohol syndrome, which can cause facial deformities, heart issues, and mental retardation, can be brought on by excessive alcohol use.
While food-induced miscarriages and childbirth problems are extremely heartbreaking in cases of intended pregnancies, natural abortion is the greatest option when you don't want a child.
Avoiding these and other foods and drinks that are bad for your pregnancy is crucial.
10. Processed Junk Foods:-
Many vital nutrients, such as protein, folate, and iron, are in higher demand in your body.
Despite the fact that you're "eating for two," you don't require twice as many calories. During the second and third trimesters, you just require an extra 350–500 calories each day (46).
An ideal pregnancy diet should consist primarily of whole foods that are high in nutrients to meet the needs of both the mother and the growing child.
Processed junk food is high in calories, sugar, and added fats while being lacking in nutrition.
Moreover, added sugar has been linked to a much higher risk of acquiring a variety of ailments, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease (47, 48).
FOODS TO EAT
According to Krieger, the idea is to eat healthful foods the majority of the time when pregnant. She recommended focusing on the five food groups of fruits, vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, and dairy products in order to maximize prenatal nutrition.
Krieger advises pregnant women to have a dairy product with every meal and to put half of their plates into fruits and vegetables, a quarter into whole grains, and a quarter into a source of lean protein.
Vegetables and fruits:-
According to Krieger, a pregnant woman's diet should be rich in fruits and vegetables, especially during the second and third trimesters. She advises consuming five to ten portions the size of tennis balls of veggies each day. These vibrant fruits and vegetables are low in calories and high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
Protein that is low in fat:-
According to Krieger, pregnant women should include good protein sources in every meal to boost the baby's growth. Meat, chicken, fish, eggs, beans, tofu, cheese, milk, almonds, and seeds are all high in protein. Lean meats are those that have a low-fat content and, as a result, a low-calorie count.
Grain (whole);-
These meals give a good supply of energy as well as fiber, iron, and B vitamins. Whole grains, such as oatmeal, whole-wheat pasta or pieces of bread, and brown rice, should account for at least half of a pregnant woman's daily carbohydrates, according to Krieger.
Dairy:-
According to Krieger, you should have three to four servings of dairy foods each day. Milk, yogurt, and cheese are examples of dairy products that are good providers of calcium, protein, and vitamin D.
The pregnancy section of the USDA's choosemyplate.gov website has comprehensive information on nutritious food selections and serving sizes.
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