Pregnancy brings women the biggest satisfaction and pleasure in life. The best foods to consume and how much to eat during pregnancy may cause you a lot of confusion. To clear up your confusion, here we provide details regarding fish to avoid in pregnancy. Moreover, we also cover how much quantity to eat and the intake of other seafood.
Benefits of eating fish
Fish can be a fantastic source of iron, zinc, and protein. These are essential nutrients for the growth and development of your baby. Moreover, the omega-3 fatty acids in many fish can help in the baby’s brain development.
Fish that is safe to consume
Even if eating fish during pregnancy has several advantages, you must choose the right fish to eat. Some of the fish that are safe to consume are
- Salmon
- Anchovies
- Herring
- Sardines
- Freshwater trout
- Cod
- Halibut
Cod has iodine which helps in the healthy brain development of the baby. Salmon has calcium which aids in baby’s bone and teeth development and it also has Vitamin A for eye development. Lastly, halibut and sardines have selenium, an antioxidant that keeps the cells healthy.
Fish to avoid in pregnancy
Mercury levels in certain kinds of fish can be very high. Mercury can accumulate in your bloodstream over time if you consume fish that is high in mercury regularly. The developing brain and nervous system of your baby could be harmed by an excessive amount of mercury in your bloodstream.(excessive mercury sideeffects)
Here are some fish to avoid during pregnancy
- King mackerel
- Marlin
- Orange roughy
- Shark
- Swordfish
- Tilefish (Gulf of Mexico)
- Tuna (bigeye)
Pregnant women’s seafood guidelines?
Here are some of the tips you should follow when you consume seafood
Avoid large fish
Avoid eating shark, swordfish etc. to reduce your mercury exposure.
Avoid raw seafood.
Don’t consume uncooked fish to avoid getting dangerous bacteria or viruses. Consume properly cooked seafood
Understand regional fish advisories
Pay attention to local advisories if you consume fish from nearby waters. This will notify you of the risk of mercury contamination. And also, limit fish from nearby waterways if no advice is available.
Intake
Fish low in mercury should be consumed for the safety of your baby and limit your serving size also. Further, make it a habit to eat fish once a week rather than every day.(foods to avoid in pregnancy)
Can pregnant women consume prawns and crab?
The eating of carbs and prawns while pregnant is another concern for pregnant women. As long as they have been cooked properly and are suitable for your health, you can eat the prawns and crab.
To conclude
Thus, from this blog, you have got an idea of what kinds of fish to avoid in pregnancy. Finally, fish can be a regular component of your healthy eating plan during pregnancy as long as you avoid fish that is known to be high in mercury
