AVOID THESE FOODS DURING PREGNANCY
When woman at pregnancy, the vitamins and nutients are very good for getting at daily meals. There are essential
nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that your developing baby needs. Most
foods are safe; however, there are some foods that you should avoid during
pregnancy:
Raw Meat: Uncooked seafood and
rare or undercooked beef or poultry should be avoided because of the
risk of contamination with coliform bacteria, toxoplasmosis, and
salmonella.
Deli Meat: Deli meats have been
known to be contaminated with listeria, which can cause miscarriage.
Listeria has the ability to cross the placenta and may infect the baby
leading to infection or blood poisoning, which may be life-threatening.
If you are pregnant and you are considering eating deli meats, make
certain that you reheat the meat until it is steaming.
Fish with Mercury: Fish that
contain high levels of mercury should be avoided. Mercury consumed
during pregnancy has been linked to developmental delays and brain
damage. A sample of these types of fish include: shark, swordfish, king
mackerel, and tilefish. Canned, chunk light tuna generally has a lower
amount of mercury than other tuna, but still should only be eaten in
moderation. Certain types of fish used in sushi should also be avoided
due to high levels of mercury. Please see Mercury in Fish for specific
types of fish and further information on how to calculate mercury
levels.
Smoked Seafood -Refrigerated,
smoked seafood often labeled as lox, nova style, kippered, or jerky
should be avoided because it could be contaminated with Listeria.
(These are safe to eat when they are in an ingredient in a meal that
has been cooked, like a casserole.) This type of fish is often found in
the deli section of your grocery store. Canned or shelf-safe smoked
seafood is usually OK to eat.
Fish Exposed to Industrial Pollutants:
Avoid fish from contaminated lakes and rivers that may be exposed to
high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls. This is primarily for those
who fish in local lakes and streams. These fish include: bluefish,
striped bass, salmon, pike, trout, and walleye. Contact the local
health department or Environmental Protection Agency to determine which
fish are safe to eat in your area. Remember, this is regarding fish
caught in local waters and not fish from your local grocery store.
Raw Shellfish: The majority of
seafood-borne illness is caused by undercooked shellfish, which include
oysters, clams, and mussels. Cooking helps prevent some types of
infection, but it does not prevent the algae-related infections that
are associated with red tides. Raw shellfish pose a concern for
everybody, and they should be avoided altogether during pregnancy.
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.
If the recipe is cooked at some point, this will reduce the
exposure
to salmonella. Commercially manufactured ice cream, dressings, and
eggnog are made with pasteurized eggs and do not increase the risk of
salmonella. Restaurants should be using pasteurized eggs in any recipe
that is made with raw eggs, such as Hollandaise sauce or dressings.
Soft Cheeses: Imported soft
cheeses may contain bacteria called Listeria, which can cause
miscarriage.
Listeria has the ability to cross the placenta and may infect the baby
leading to infection or blood poisoning, which can be life-threatening.
You would need to avoid soft cheeses such as: Brie, Camembert,
Roquefort, Feta, Gorgonzola and Mexican style cheeses that include
queso blanco and queso fresco, unless they clearly state that they are
made from pasteurized milk. All soft non-imported cheeses made with
pasteurized milk are safe to eat.
Unpasteurized Milk:
Unpasteurized milk may contain bacteria called listeria, which can
cause miscarriage. Listeria has the ability to cross the placenta and
may infect the baby leading to infection or blood poisoning, which can
be life-threatening. Make sure that any milk you drink is pasteurized.
Pate: Refrigerated pate or meat
spreads should be avoided because they may contain the bacteria
listeria. Canned pate, or shelf-safe meat spreads can be eaten.
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. As a general rule, caffeine should be limited to fewer
than 300 mg per day during pregnancy. Caffeine is a diuretic, which
means it helps eliminate fluids from the body. This can result in water
and calcium loss. It is important that you are drinking plenty of
water, juice, and milk rather than caffeinated beverages. 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.
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.
Unwashed Vegetables: Yes,
vegetables are safe to eat, so you still need to eat them. However, it
is essential to make sure they are washed to avoid potential exposure
to toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis may contaminate the soil where the
vegetables were grown.
(by
americanpregnancy.org - BABY.TopResource.NET Reference)
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