Top 10 Foods To Avoid During Pregnancy
Pregnancy is one of the most important time period in every woman’s life. Therefore, eating well-balanced meals is very important for all pregnant women. There are varieties of nutritious food choices available in the market, but there are few foods which are not completely safe for developing baby. Therefore pregnant women should be very cautious while choosing food items and need to avoid all foods which are not safe for their developing baby. Here we have prepared the list of top 10 foods that each pregnant lady should avoid during Pregnancy.
1. High-Mercury Fish
Pregnant women should not eat high-mercury fish such as Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel and Tilefish. Consumption of fish that contains high levels of mercury during pregnancy can harm baby’s developing brain and nervous system. However there are certain types of fish which contain low levels of mercury are safe to eat for pregnant women. Make sure to choose a variety of fish lower in mercury, such as salmon, tilapia, shrimp, tuna, cod, and catfish. These fishes are high in omega-3 fatty acids, protein, vitamins, and minerals such as iron. These nutrients are essential for pregnant women.
2. Raw or Undercooked Eggs
Raw or Undercooked eggs are not safe for pregnant women to eat as they pose a huge risk for salmonella poisoning. If you eat an egg containing salmonella, you may experience abdominal cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, chills, fever or headache within 6 to 72 hours after consuming it. While an unborn baby can’t have salmonella poisoning, however there are several side effects that can impact the baby’s health and labor. Therefore, pregnant women should always cook eggs thoroughly, or used pasteurized eggs.
3. Raw Sprouts
Raw sprouts like clover, radish and beans can lead to salmonella – a disease caused by the bacteria residing on the sprouts. The disease springs from the contaminated seeds when consumed. The seeds are stored in dry conditions wherein the bacteria remain dormant, but once they are sprouted in a warm environment the bacterial growth gets activated. E-coli and salmonella bacteria cause diarrhea, nausea, abdominal cramping and fever and other serious illnesses in pregnant women. When these bacteria are passed on by the expecting mother to the fetus, after birth the baby may develop diarrhea, fever and meningitis. It is better to eat cooked sprouts during pregnancy.
4. Sugar-Rich Foods
Food craving during pregnancy is very common. However, sweet food cravings should be carefully handled for the sake of good health of both mother and the baby. Consuming too much sugar during pregnancy is bad for health. Therefore, pregnant women should decrease their sugar intake especially during nine months.
