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What NOT to Eat When You’re PregnantPregnancy is a life-changing transformation in which many confusing decisions must be made, such as what to not eat, what vitamins to take, how much ...
What NOT to Eat When You’re Pregnant
Pregnancy is a life-changing transformation in which many confusing decisions must be made, such as what to not eat, what vitamins to take, how much exercise is too much exercise, etc. One of the most important things you can do to keep your baby healthy while pregnant is having a proper, balanced diet that is free of foods that could potentially harm your baby and its growth.
That being said, there are a few foods specifically that should be avoided or refrained from entirely due to complications they could cause with the growth of your precious baby.
Following are foods that are to NOT be eaten when pregnant:
Caffeine: Ingesting caffeine during pregnancy, whether it is from cola, coffee, tea, or energy drinks, has been long associated witha greatly increased risk of a miscarriage. Women who drink at least 200 milligrams of caffeine a day (equivalent to two cups of coffee or five cans of soda) are twice as likely to miscarriage.
Soft Cheeses: Soft cheeses such as goat, brie, feta, camembert, blue or other veined varieties should be avoided during pregnancy because of their risk of containing a bacteria called listeria that could trigger food poisoning. Eating these cheeses is no problem normally because our immune systems fight off these bacteria; but a pregnant woman has a decreased immunity and is at a greater risk for food borne illness. If this illness is contracted during the first trimester, it can lead to preterm birth or miscarriage.
Meat: Meats are questionable during pregnancy simply for their vulnerability to being contaminated with bacteria. If you are buying cold-cuts, heat them to steaming hot temperatures before eating. If you are eating red meat, be safe and cook it completely (that means no medium rare steak!).
Fish: The mercury contained in many fish is what could potentially harm your baby. However, many women make the mistake of assuming all fish have mercury, which is not the case. Salmon is mercury free and completely safe to eat. Some do-not-eat fish, however, are: shark, swordfish, tilefish, albacore tuna, and king mackerel. Canned tuna is low in mercury and acceptable to eat once or twice a week, but steer clear of sushi.
Eggs: Eggs are a high-quality protein source, and are acceptable to eat when pregnant, but should be prepared certain ways. Raw eggs have the potential to carry salmonella, so instead of sunny side up eggs, go for scrambled. Runny eggs are no good, along with Caesar salad dressing, homemade ice cream, and raw cookie and cake batter.
Alcohol: Alcohol guidelines differ from country to country, but here in the states, the U.S. Surgeon General insists that pregnant women avoid all alcohol consumption. Other countries have more lenient guidelines, but it is clear that there is really no safe level of alcohol consumption when pregnant. Some may say an occasional drink is harmless, but just be aware that alcohol reaches the placenta immediately, so if you drink, your baby is drinking as well.