5 Types of Foods You Should Avoid in Pregnancy

A list of do’s and don’ts to ensure a healthy pregnancy for you and your baby.

Here are 5 foods you should avoid during pregnancy.

• When you find that you are pregnant, it’s time to celebrate.
• Having a baby is a blessing in many ways, and it can be a wonderful journey for you.
• Be clear from active activity that involves the risk of a fall or overheating.
• It is always recommended to discuss with your doctor the do’s and don’ts.
• Visit Lifestyleug.com homepage for more stories

During pregnancy, your body works overtime. Not only does it fuel itself, but it must also fuel the growing human for a second. 

Naturally, what you eat during the 9 months of pregnancy can affect the health of your baby. Here is a list of 5 foods you should avoid during pregnancy or if you are expecting.

High Mercury Fish

Unlike the basic mercury you can find on a thermometer, methylmercury can be detected in some seafood. This substance, also known as organic mercury, accumulates in adipose tissue and is not easily excreted by the human body. It can also affect nerve growth and function. 

All of these are high food chain fish like tuna and whale if you are pregnant, both of which contain methylmercury, which is unlimited.

Raw or bottom cooked mussels

When you cook food, it kills and destroys harmful germs before you eat them. Raw or undercooked mussels contain a large number of bacteria and parasites, including Listeria. 

This bacterium may go undiagnosed in pregnant women but can cause birth defects and miscarriages. 

Other infections, such as Salmonella venom, cause severe diarrhoea and dehydration.

Raw or undercooked cooked meat

Land animals are also affected by bacterial contamination, mostly due to the accumulation of large amounts of animal faeces on industrial farms. Raw beef, poultry and pork are all carriers of E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria. 

Considering the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, many strains no longer respond to drugs. But the effects of such bacteria are dangerous for both mother and baby. 

While this does not mean that you should cut the meat entirely from your diet, make sure the meat is well done.

Raw or unwashed products

Defecation on livestock farms can also contaminate vegetables. This is why we often hear about spinach, lettuce and other greens. 

When it rains, rainwater washes away bacteria from cow farms into vegetable layers. Because we buy raw and bagged vegetables in the store, people sometimes get sick from consuming these germs. 

If you are pregnant, always wash and cook your vegetables.

Raw eggs

In many parts of the world, farmers vaccinate their chickens against Salmonella. In the United States, however, chickens are not vaccinated. Instead, farmers wash their eggs. 

This destroys the protective coating on the outside of the egg, and as a result, Americans have to refrigerate the eggs, while others around the world do not.

Still, the washing process does not remove 100% of Salmonella from the eggshell. When you eat raw eggs, the small amount of salmonella on the outside will be transferred from the shell to your food. 

So if you are pregnant, avoid Hollande’s sauce, homemade mayonnaise and lightly scrambled or poached eggs.

When pregnant, things you do and not do

When you find that you are pregnant, it’s time to celebrate. Having a baby is a blessing in many ways, and it can be a wonderful journey for you. 

However, besides the foods to avoid in pregnancy, there are many things you need to know from the beginning – a list of do’s and don’ts to ensure a healthy pregnancy for you and your baby.

Here are some important things to do during your pregnancy.

1. Avoid all alcohol and tobacco.
2. Avoid cleaning solvents, pesticides, lead and mercury.
3. Eat a balanced diet rich in folic acid, iron and calcium.
4. Maintain safe travel habits such as proper seat belt use.
5. Set limits for yourself to reduce stress.
6. Get sufficient sleep. Always target for 6-9 hours per day.
7. Exercise regularly.

Stay away from the following to keep your baby healthy.

1. Take no medicine if it is not approved by your doctor.
2. Be clear from active activity that involves the risk of a fall or overheating.
3. Do not eat unpasteurized milk and soft cheeses, fish high in mercury or raw or uncooked foods including fish and eggs.
4. Avoid heavy lifting and bending.
5. Do not take hot baths or use sunscreens. High temperatures can harm the fetus or cause you to faint.
6. Stay away from radiation. X-rays should be avoided during pregnancy.

It is always recommended to discuss with your doctor the do’s and don’ts to determine the list of specific recommendations for your pregnancy.