During pregnancy, it’s important to take good diet and also eat well to support yourself and your unborn baby. Sometimes, your neighbours may advise you on what foods to consume and avoid. Although you hear a lot, there might be a lot of uncertainty and confusion about what to eat during pregnancy. This blog provides a clear view of foods to avoid during pregnancy.
Fish with high mercury
Seafood can be an excellent source of protein, and certain sea fish contain omega-3 fatty acids that can help your baby’s brain and eye development. Some large marine fish can acquire high quantities of mercury, which could harm your baby’s developing nervous system.
Avoid eating high-mercury fish, like
- Shark
- Swordfish
- King mackerel
- Tuna
- Marlin
Raw or undercooked meat and fish
You have a higher risk of being infected with bacteria or parasites if you consume undercooked or raw meat or fish. Both your health and the safety of your child may be at threat from parasites or bacteria.
Raw eggs
Dangerous bacteria can be present in raw eggs, thus avoid consuming raw eggs during pregnancy. These bacteria can be hazardous to both you and your unborn child. Always ensure that you consume properly cooked eggs during pregnancy.
Unwashed fruits and vegetables
Washing fruits and vegetables is a healthy habit that could keep you from becoming sick. Fruits and vegetables that have not been washed or peeled may have parasites and bacteria on their surface. These could grow in the soil or come from handling.
Unpasteurized dairy products
Unpasteurized dairy products, such as raw milk, may contain harmful bacteria. Any hazardous bacteria can be destroyed by pasteurization without affecting the nutritional content of the products. Hence, consume only pasteurized dairy products to lower your risk of infection during pregnancy.
Avoid Processed foods
Foods that have been heavily processed often have little nutritional value and are high in calories, sugar, and added fats, which may increase your chance of weight gain. Thus, avoid processed foods and have a healthy intake of nutritional foods during pregnancy containing protein, folate, iron, etc
Alcohol
Alcohol intake can increase the chance of stillbirth and miscarriage during pregnancy. It is advised to stay away from alcohol during pregnancy because no amount of alcohol is safe.
Caffeine
The intake of caffeine can affect your unborn baby. It’s better to avoid caffeine products or to lower the intake of it. Chocolate, soft drinks, coffee, tea, and coffee all contain caffeine.
What happens when you consume one of these items during pregnancy?
Naturally, you may accidentally consume these foods at some times. Contaminated food will make you sick. You may get affected by food poisoning, including stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, or flu-like symptoms such as fever.
To sum up
Your intake of foods is directly proportional to your health and your baby’s health. It is most important to have conscious of the foods to avoid during pregnancy. Thus, having a healthy diet during pregnancy will lead to a happy pregnancy period.
