Pregnancy is a vital period in the life of every woman. And so she tries to take every little step carefully. Let that be on what to eat, how much to eat, and what not to eat. So here we are with the list of things a pregnant lady should avoid. Most commonly are undercooked meat or fish and even certain beverages along with caffeine need to be reduced. Let’s understand this more precisely.
13 Things to Avoid Drinking and Eating during Pregnancy
1. Processed junk food
Females need to start eating healthy during this time. As a tiny human is growing inside you it needs the proper amount of nutrients, mainly protein, folate, choline, and iron. Munching on junk will deprive the child of all the necessary supplies it needs for proper growth. You need to include vegetables, fruits, fiber-rich carbohydrates, beans, and starchy veggies in your meals.
2. Alcohol
Drinking alcohol during pregnancy is completely prohibited as it increases the risk of miscarriage and even a small amount of consumption can affect your child’s brain development. Alcohol can even cause facial deformities, heart defects, and intellectual disability in babies. So it’s advised to avoid it at all costs.
3. High amount of caffeine
Caffeine straight away passes through the placenta to your baby, studies show that too much caffeine can cause preterm birth and low birth weight issues. Even caffeine can lead to dehydration, indigestion, trouble sleeping, and nausea during your pregnancy.
4. Freshly squeezed juices
Having unpasteurized juice straight from a grocery store, juice bar, or restaurant isn’t much recommended during this period. These juices have high chances of containing E. Coli and several other bacteria which can cause food poisoning.
5. Unwashed produce
Eating clean and healthy food is of utmost importance and hence bacteria need to be washed off from the fruits and vegetables that you consume. You can keep cut veggies and fruits refrigerated or on ice. Also, avoid the intake of bruised fruits and vegetables as they might have bacteria.
6. Raw sprouts
Even though sprouts sound fresh during pregnancy they are a big no. As sprouts grow in warm and wet conditions which makes likely to have certain bacteria like listeria or salmonella. So it’s better to avoid them.
7. Food that was out for a long time
During picnics or buffets, bacteria are likely to grow quickly on food that’s not too warm. You should avoid eating food that has been sitting out for more than two hours as its temperature is above 90 degrees F.
8. Raw milk and soft cheese
We tend to warm up our milk before consuming it the reason being pasteurization kills the harmful bacteria that is frequently found in raw milk. Similarly eating unpasteurized cheese would also be considered harmful for you and your baby.
9. Fishes with high mercury
Eating fish is indeed a smart choice during pregnancy as it is rich in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and other vitamins necessary for the development of the child. But certain fishes are high in mercury content and that needs to be avoided as it can impair the baby’s developing brain and nervous system. Some examples of the fishes are marlin, swordfish, and shark.
10. Undercooked eggs
These are infected by salmonella and therefore the eggs must be cooked until the yolks are firm. Try not to eat sauces that have raw eggs in them. Make sure not to eat any batter that includes raw eggs. You can take a bite of it only after it’s properly cooked.
11. Raw meat, seafood or poultry
There might be parasites like Toxoplasma in these kinds of items which can infect the baby with serious health issues. There is a high risk of food poisoning too. So make sure everything that you consume is properly cooked.
12. Hot dogs and deli meat
These items contain nitrates and chemicals for food preservation that are not good for a developing fetus. You can switch to meat that could be heated up until steaming hot to get rid of the bacteria in it.
13. Liver and vitamin A products
The liver has a high amount of vitamin A in it. This is not safe for the baby. It’s okay to have food with low amounts of vitamin A like carrots. But try avoiding food that has vitamin A added to it.
Conclusion
It can be confusing to decide on what to eat and what not during pregnancy, but paying just a little attention to these items can enable you to stay healthy and your child to develop completely during the nine months.
Read also – 20 Ways To Improve Work-Life Balance