Foods To Avoid During Pregnancy

Eating well balanced meals is important at all times, but it is even more essential when you are pregnant. There are essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that your developing baby needs. During pregnancy it is advisable to eat natural foods, but there are certain food groups you should avoid.

Feta Cheese

Feta is a popular form of cheese, used in many salads and pastas and adored by food connoisseurs all over the world. Unfortunately, this type of cheese (along with other soft, unpasteurized cheese which we talk about later in this article) has been linked to foodborne illness such as Listeriosis. Avoid any cheeses that have “unpasteurized” on the label and opt for safer choices like mozzarella cheese instead.

Avoid seafood high in mercury

Seafood can be a great source of protein, and the omega-3 fatty acids in many fish can promote your baby's brain and eye development. However, some fish and shellfish contain potentially dangerous levels of mercury. Too much mercury could harm your baby's developing nervous system.

The bigger and older the fish, the more mercury it's likely to contain. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) encourage pregnant women to avoid:

Swordfish

Shark

King mackerel

Tilefish

Crabs

Prawns

Salmon

Avoid Undercooked Food In Pregnancy

It is important to avoid the consumption of raw and undercooked food. These foods may contain bacteria and viruses which can affect the mother and baby. Consume well cooked food and properly refrigerate food to avoid cross contamination.

Avoid Unpasteurised Food In Pregnancy

Unpasteurised food can contain food borne diseases. Hence avoid dairy products that are not properly pasteurised. You can consume mozzarella, cottage cheese and skim milk. But avoid cheese like feta and brie.

Avoid Unwashed Vegetables and Fruits In Pregnancy

It is important to cook food for consumption during pregnancy. Do not consume food that is not cooked, raw or under cooked. These foods may contain bacteria and germs that can impact you during pregnancy. Wash all food products thoroughly before you cook it.

Caffeine

Although most studies show that caffeine intake in moderation is OK, there are others that show that caffeine intake may be related to miscarriages. Avoid caffeine during the first trimester to reduce the likelihood of a miscarriage

Raw Eggs

Raw eggs or any foods that contain raw eggs should be avoided because of the potential exposure to salmonella. Some homemade Caesar dressings, mayonnaise, homemade ice cream or custards, and Hollandaise sauces may be made with raw eggs

Alcohol

There is NO amount of alcohol that is known to be safe during pregnancy, and therefore alcohol should be avoided during pregnancy. Prenatal exposure to alcohol can interfere with the healthy development of the baby. Depending on the amount, timing, and pattern of use, alcohol consumption during pregnancy can lead to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or other developmental disorders. If you consumed alcohol before you knew you were pregnant, stop drinking now. You should continue to avoid alcohol during breastfeeding. Exposure of alcohol to an infant poses harmful risks, and alcohol does reach the baby during breastfeeding.

Liver

Liver – and most liver products (like liver pate or liver sausage) – contain dangerously high amounts of Vitamin A. Too much Vitamin A has been linked to birth defects in babies. Monitor your intake of Vitamin A (ask your doctor how much of this vitamin is safe) and avoid high-dose multi-vitamin supplements, fish liver oil supplements and any supplement containing Vitamin A.

Cigarettes

For obvious reasons cigarettes are bad for pregnant women. ‘Not only does it have nicotine, but smoking also exposes your baby to nicotine, carbon monoxide and tar within the womb. This in turn lessens the oxygen that reaches the baby, giving rise to birth defects, a low birth weight or even a cleft palate.

Green tea

Green tea is herbal and good for health, but refrain from having it during pregnancy. ‘There aren’t enough documentation available to show that green tea is good for pregnant women. One reason why you should not have green tea during pregnancy is that it increases your metabolic rate and during pregnancy your metabolism levels are high as such. Speeding it up further wouldn’t be advisable. Green tea also have some caffeine in it so unlimited sips is going to do you as much damage as regular tea. Also excessive consumption of green tea can lead to less absorption of folic acid during pregnancy making you and your baby susceptible to folic acid deficiency diseases.