Foods to avoid during Pregnancy

When you’re pregnant, you may want to eat everything in sight, but don’t! Some foods can be harmful to you and your unborn baby, so we are here to educate you on the foods to avoid while pregnant.

Here are a few to watch out for:

Seafood high in mercury- Mercury, in large amounts, may contribute to behavioral and developmental issues as your baby gets older. Practitioners usually advice women to avoid eating swordfish, shark, king mackerel and tilefish during their pregnancy

Raw or undercooked seafood- Ingesting undercooked seafood, increases the risk of ingesting bacteria and/or viruses. To avoid getting a food-borne illness, be sure all seafood is fully cooked before eating it.

Undercooked eggs, meat and poultry- To prevent food-borne illness, it’s vital that you only eat eggs, meat and poultry that have been fully cooked to a safe temperature.

All unpasteurized foods- Soft cheeses and unpasteurized juices and milk are off limits during pregnancy. Unpasteurized foods can cause food-borne illnesses, which can be harmful to you and your baby’s health.

Unwashed fruits and veggies- Unwashed fruits and veggies may contain harmful bacteria. Be sure to thoroughly wash all fruits and veggies prior to eating.

Liver- While liver in moderation may be okay during pregnancy, it contains tons of vitamin A. Too much vitamin A is known to cause birth defects.

Excess caffeine- When caffeine crosses your placenta, it can affect your baby’s heart rate. Many doctors will ask their patients to limit their caffeine intake to less than one 12 ounce cup per day.

Herbal tea - While some herbal teas are even marketed towards expectant moms, the impact of herbs on developing babies isn’t quite known. Consult your doctor prior to drinking any herbal teas as some may cause contractions.

Alcohol- No amount of alcohol has been proven safe to ingest while pregnant. Moms-to-be who drink alcohol have a higher rate of having babies with birth defects, miscarriages and stillbirths. 

Saccharin also known as Sweet ‘N Low- While a diet composed of excess artificial sweeteners is not good for anyone, pregnant women should especially avoid saccharin. Saccharin does cross the placenta and may remain in your baby’s tissues.

If you have concerns about your nutritional health during pregnancy, always speak to your health care provider.

 

Tags:



comments powered by Disqus