Top 10 Foods To Avoid During Pregnancy
5. Unwashed Fruits and Vegetables
Unwashed Fruits and Vegetables are contaminated with pesticides and many harmful bacteria which can be found on the outer peel or rind. Babies are more susceptible to pesticides than Mom or any adult, especially at critical times of development. The FDA recommends completely washing raw vegetables before eating or preparing. Recent research found that rinsing under plain tap water for at least 30 seconds significantly reduces residues of nine of the twelve pesticides. Fruits and vegetables are good for you and for baby – but buy carefully and rinse them well. Any unwashed fruits & vegetables especially lettuce and cabbage must be avoided.
6. Undercooked, Raw and Processed Meat
Eating undercooked or raw meat increases the risk of infection from several bacteria or parasites like Toxoplasma, E. coli, Listeria and Salmonella. Pregnant women should not consume processed meat products unless they’ve been reheated until steaming hot. Hot dogs, lunch meat and deli meat are also of concern. These types of meat may become infected with various bacteria during processing or storage. Therefore pregnant women should be very cautious while consuming Meat. They should make sure that all meat is well-cooked, and consider getting a meat thermometer to ensure that the meat is cooked evenly. This is because the risk of food poisoning is higher in pregnant women.
7. Caffeine
Pregnant women are generally advised to limit their caffeine intake to less than 200 mg per day. High caffeine intake during pregnancy can limit fetal growth and cause low birth weight. Some research shows that large amounts of caffeine are associated with miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight, and withdrawal symptoms in infants. The safest thing is to refrain from consuming caffeine.
