When is that a woman’s happiness, excitement and emotions double up? Quite literally, it is the time when she conceives. From the time that a woman gets pregnant, her entire life goes through turbulent changes. While best wishes and congratulatory messages keep flowing in, another thing which seeps in, in heaps and bounds, is advice. Relatives and friends from all around the globe pour in their share of opinion or counseling regarding what one should and should not do during pregnancy. One of the most important aspects which require extreme care during this period is the diet. A pregnant woman not only eats for herself, but for her baby as well. For the same reason, a proper and healthy diet is essential. The choice of food affects the health of the mother and development of the fetus. The pregnancy diet includes foods, which are required to sustain pregnancy as well as the health of both the mother and child. There are also certain foods which need to be completely avoided by the pregnant women, as these contain some bacteria and harmful chemicals which may interfere in the growth of the child. They may also cause some sever infections. Most of the fresh foods are beneficial and safe for pregnant women. In the following lines, we have listed foods to avoid during pregnancy.
Foods To Avoid During Pregnancy
Caffeine
Having a large amount of caffeine in the diet can penetrate and cause harm to the unborn child. Tea, coffee and colas, contain caffeine and as such, intake of these food products during pregnancy is a complete no. They can also alter heart rates of the child, cause weight loss and in rare cases, lead to miscarriage.
Raw or Undercooked Meat & Eggs
Raw or undercooked meat and eggs are extremely important to avoid during pregnancy. These foods consist of bacteria, which causes irreparable damage to the child. The blood circulation and metabolism of pregnant women changes in comparison to the normal women. This makes her much more prone to food poisoning and bacterial infections.
High Mercury Seafood
Mercury consumption can cause delay in the development of the fetus and may also damage most important parts of the body such as brain. Oysters, clams, shrimps, and certain fishes such as tuna, king mackerel, swordfish, contain higher amount of mercury in them. Sushi and smoked seafood also contain high level of mercury in them. These foods must be highly avoided during pregnancy.
Fishes which are exposed to industrial pollutants like blue fish, salmon, pike, trout, etc must strictly be avoided as they are exposed to high amount of polychlorinated biphenyls, which is very harmful for the health. Also uncooked shellfish consists of a large number of seafood- borne diseases and thus must not be a part of the diet.
Unpasteurized Milk
Pregnant women must only consume toned or pasteurized milk. The milk so consumed must also be taken only after boiling, which would make them bacteria-free. Consuming unpastuerized milk is a strict no-no.
Artificial Sweeteners
When you are pregnant avoid eating sweets or deserts containing artificial sweetener. As artificial sweeteners are made up of chemicals, they may prove to be harmful for both mother and child.
Alcohol
Besides the food to be avoided during pregnancy, intake of alcohol can lead may prove to be fatal for the child. It may lead to miscarriage or stillbirth. In rare cases, alcohol can also enter in the placenta and may cause nervous system problems in the developing fetus.
Deli Meat
It is advisable not to consume deli meat during pregnancy because the meat is mostly infected by the bacteria called listeria, which can cause miscarriage. Listeria can infect the baby causing infection or blood poisoning.
Cheese
A pregnant woman must never have imported soft cheese like brie, feta, blue cheese, etc. during pregnancy. These cheese types can give rise to bacterial infections as they too, much like deli meat, contain listeria that might pose harm to the baby. However, all soft non-imported cheeses made with pasteurized milk are safe to eat.
Foods With Herbs
Food that has a large number of herbs in its content should not be taken during pregnancy. You must consult a doctor before consuming any such food. Herbs like passion flower, saw palmetto, pennyroyal, etc must be avoided during pregnancy. These herbs may lead to premature births, miscarriage, fetus injuries and other complications.
Additional Tips
- Apart from all these foods, a pregnant woman must also avoid unwashed vegetables and fruits. They may contain some bacteria.
- Intake of raw sprouts during pregnancy may promote salmonella infections. Therefore, sprouts like radish, clover, alfalfa, etc must be highly avoided.
- Consumption of Vitamin A during pregnancy may lead to birth defects in the baby. Therefore, one must avoid foods rich in vitamin A.
- Foods with high content of fats in it must be avoided during pregnancy. These foods constitute fast foods, oily foods, processed food, etc.
Consideration of this list of foods to avoid during pregnancy will greatly help you in achieving a healthier, safe and less complicated pregnancy. Also, the infant so born would be absolutely healthy and fit.