Being a mother-to-be, it is important for you to know which foods to take and which foods to avoid during pregnancy.
The food that you take is the main source of energy for your baby and you are responsible for the well being of yourself as well as your baby.
Remember that during pregnancy, whatever food you take also goes to your baby. But it is not that, you have to take the food for two persons. All you need to do is chose the right amount of food and avoid which may become hazardous.
There are several food items that can be risky for the baby growing inside the body. These foods to avoid during pregnancy include some of the following
Raw and Deli Meats
This may contain bacteria like toxoplasmosis and salmonella which can cause harm to the baby. Even if you are a great lover of sushi or carpaccio, it is important to avoid raw or undercooked meat during pregnancy.
Half cooked meat may cause food poisoning and may affect the baby as well. The baby inside the body is likely to have infection and in many cases, it results in stillbirth also.
Meats like hot dogs, chicken and beef preparations, which are available at a deli counter, can prove to be dangerous if not steamed properly.
There is a chance of such foods to be contaminated with Listeria, a bacterium which may harm your baby and may cause miscarriage as well. This gives a solid reason of choosing some foods to avoid during pregnancy.
Fish
Intake of fish during pregnancy is good as far as fishes like salmon and tilapia are concerned. These are full of nutrition. But there are certain kinds of fishes that must be avoided when you are pregnant.
These include shark, king mackerel, excess tuna and tile fish. These are harmful as they contain high levels of mercury which can affect your health and damage the nervous system of your developing baby too.
While fish is not totally dangerous, you can reduce the risks of such concerns by taking those which are beneficial for the growing baby.
Undercooked Eggs
Raw or half cooked eggs are also enlisted in the category of foods to avoid during pregnancy. These are hazardous because they contain salmonella which can cause fever, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps.
While consuming eggs during pregnancy, some points are to be taken care of. Eggs should be refrigerated until cooked and should be eaten immediately after cooking.
If not, then they should be kept in refrigerator. Cracked eggs are advised not to be taken and also it is important to wash the utensils which come in contact with raw eggs.
Dishes like Hollandaise Sauce and Caesar Salads should be avoided as they contain raw eggs. It is also necessary to check commercial products which may contain eggs in raw form, which is a risk to the baby.
Soft Cheese
Unpasteurized cheeses like feta, blue cheese, camembert, etc may also contain Listeria and pose similar threats like deli meats. Hence they must be avoided.
However, pasteurized cheeses are safe for the body. But if you are not sure of the label the cheese has, it is better to leave it.
As far as the calcium requirement of the body is concerned, yogurt and milk can be best substitutes and cheese can be taken as one of the foods to avoid during pregnancy.
Caffeine
Consumption of high amounts of caffeine is strictly forbidden when you are pregnant. These act as catalysts in birth defects and increase the risks of miscarriages.
Caffeine may also come with chocolates, tea or soda. So it is better to avoid them at least for the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. This would probably reduce the risk of miscarriage.
Alcohol
Drinking alcohol when pregnant? Better to stop! It affects the baby every time you drink. Daily consumption may lead to a condition called foetal alcohol syndrome.
To have a healthy baby, adding alcohol to the list of foods to avoid during pregnancy, is a must.
Besides the above mentioned list, consumption of artificial sweeteners, canned and ready to eat meals must be avoided.
Even excessive vitamin doses must be discouraged as they may affect the developing baby. It is essential to know which foods are safe to be taken during pregnancy.
Even though the list of foods to avoid during pregnancy seems long, yet it is important to have a happy pregnancy and healthy baby.
Meanwhile, you can switch to the foods rich in nutrients. Once the baby arrives in this world, you will be free to have anything you wish.
