Pregnancy is one of the most important and sensitive times in a woman's life.
Therefore, it is more important than ever to be a healthy diet.
This means paying attention to what foods are consumed, and be sure to stay away from harmful foods and drinks.
Certain foods can be consumed a little, while others should be completely avoided.
Here are 11 foods and drinks to avoid or minimize during pregnancy.
1. Fish contains a lot of mercury
Mercury is a very toxic element. It does not have the most safe and found level of exposure in contaminated water .
In large amounts, it can be toxic to the nervous system, immune system and kidneys .
Because it is found in polluted waters, large fish that live in these waters can accumulate high levels of mercury.
Therefore, pregnant women should limit the consumption of mercury-rich fish, from 1-2 servings per month .
Fish that contain a lot of mercury, including:
- Shark.
- Swordfish.
- King fish.
- Tuna (especially albacore tuna).
However, it is important to note that not all fish contain a lot of mercury, but only certain types.
Eating fish containing less mercury during pregnancy is very healthy, and these fish can be eaten up to 2 times per week. Fatty fish contain a lot omega-3 fatty acids Very important for babies.
Conclude: Pregnant women should only eat fish containing a lot of mercury 1-2 times per month. These include sharks, swordfish, tuna and mackerel.
2. Raw or undercooked fish
Raw fish, especially crustaceans, can cause many infections. These include norovirus, Vibrio, Salmonella, Listeria and parasites .
Some of these only affect the mother, causing dehydration and fatigue. Other types of infections can be transmitted to the fetus, causing serious consequences or even death .
Pregnant women are particularly susceptible to Listeria infections. In fact, pregnant women are 20 times more likely to be infected with Listeria than the general average .
This bacterium can be found in soil and water or contaminated plants. Raw fish can be contaminated during processing, including smoked fish or dried fish.
Listeria can be transmitted to the fetus through the placenta, even if the mother shows no signs of getting sick. This can lead to premature birth, miscarriage, stillbirth and other serious health problems .
Therefore, pregnant women should avoid raw fish and shellfish, including sushi.
Conclude: Fish and shellfish are susceptible to bacterial and parasitic infections. Some of them can cause adverse health effects and harm both mother and fetus.
3. Uncooked meat, raw meat and processed meat
Eating undercooked meat or raw meat increases the risk of infection from some bacteria or parasites.
These include Toxoplasma, E. coli, Listeria and Salmonella .
Bacteria that can threaten fetal health, can cause fetal death at birth or severe neurological diseases, including mental retardation, blindness and seizures .
While most bacteria are found on the surface of the meat, other bacteria can also be found in muscle fibers.
Some parts of the meat are like fillets, loins or loins beef , Lamb and veal - can be safe when eaten without full cooking.
However, this only occurs when the meat is intact or uncut, as well as fully cooked outside. Meat is cut, including minced meat, meatballs, minced meat, pork and poultry meat, never eaten raw or cooked.
German sausages and canned meats are also worrying. These meats can infect different types of bacteria during processing or storage.
Pregnant women should not consume processed meat products unless they are reheated until hot.
Conclude: Raw or uncooked meat may contain harmful bacteria. As a general rule, meat should be fully cooked.
4. Raw eggs
Egg Living may be contaminated with bacteria .
Symptoms of infection Salmonella usually only seen in the mother.
These include fever, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea .
However, in rare cases, infection can cause uterine contractions, leading to premature birth or stillbirth .
Foods that often contain raw eggs include:
- Scrambled eggs
- Blanching eggs
- Hollandaise sauce
- Home made mayonnaise
- Vinegar oil mixed with salad
- Home made ice cream
- Cake
Most commercial products containing raw eggs use sterilized eggs and are safe to eat. However, always read the ingredients to make sure.
Pregnant women should use fully cooked eggs, or use sterilized eggs.
Conclude: Raw eggs can be contaminated with bacteria Salmonella , causing many diseases and increasing the risk of premature birth or stillbirth. Use sterilized eggs.
5. Internal organs
Organs are a source of many nutrients.
They include iron, vitamin B12, vitamin A and copper, all of which are beneficial to mother and baby.
However, do not eat too much vitamin A from animals (vitamin A metabolized) during pregnancy.
It can cause symptoms of vitamin A toxicity, as well as abnormally high levels of copper, causing birth defects and liver toxicity .
Therefore, pregnant women should not eat organs more than once a week.
Conclude: Organs are a source of iron, vitamin B12, vitamin A and copper. To prevent vitamin A and copper poisoning, pregnant women are advised to limit organ intake.
6. Caffeine
Caffeine is the most common neurotransmitter in the world, mainly in the coffee , tea, soft drinks and cocoa .
Pregnant women are advised to limit intake caffeine less than 200 mg daily, about 2-3 cups of coffee.
Caffeine is rapidly absorbed and easily enters the placenta and fetus.
Since the fetus and the placenta do not have the main enzyme needed to metabolize caffeine, they can accumulate large amounts .
High levels of caffeine during pregnancy will limit the development of the fetus and increase the risk of low birth weight babies at birth .
Low birth weight infants, defined as less than 5 lb, 8 oz (or 2.5 kg), are associated with an increased risk of infant mortality as well as the risk of chronic adulthood, such as diabetes. Type 2 diabetes and heart disease .
Conclude: Pregnant women should limit caffeine intake to less than 200 mg daily, about 2-3 cups of coffee. High caffeine intake during pregnancy may limit fetal growth and cause low birth weight babies at birth.
7. Raw sprout
The raw sprout vegetables include alfalfa , clover, radish sprouts and green bean sprouts, can be contaminated Salmonella .
Unlike most other vegetables, these bacteria can enter the seed. Therefore they are almost impossible to wash.
Therefore, pregnant women are advised to avoid raw vegetables. However, it is safe to eat them after cooking .
Conclude: Raw sprout can be contaminated inside the seed. Pregnant women should only eat cooked vegetables.
8. Food not washed
Surface fruits and unwashed or peeled vegetables may be contaminated with bacteria and parasites .
The bacteria included Toxoplasma, E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria , arising from soil or during processing. Transmission can occur at any time during production, harvesting, processing, storage, transport or retail .
Bacteria can harm both mother and fetus. A very dangerous parasite that exists on so-called fruits and vegetables .
Most people are infected Toxoplasmosis There are no symptoms, while others may feel like the flu lasts for a month or longer.
Most babies are infected Toxoplasma When still in the womb, there are no symptoms at birth. However, symptoms such as blindness or mental retardation may develop later.
Moreover, a small percentage of infected babies will suffer serious brain and eye damage at birth.
During pregnancy, the most important thing is to minimize the risk of infection by washing, peeling or cooking fruit .
Conclude: Fruits and vegetables can be contaminated with harmful bacteria. It is important to thoroughly wash all fruits and vegetables.
9. Unpasteurized milk, cheese and fruit juice
Similarly, for unpasteurized juice may also be infected by bacteria.
These infections can have serious, life-threatening consequences for the fetus .
Bacteria may be natural, or due to contamination during harvesting or storage .
Sterilization is the most effective way to eradicate any harmful bacteria without changing the nutritional value of the product .
To minimize the risk of infection, pregnant women should take milk , cheese and fruit juice passed sterilized.
Conclude: Pregnant women should not use unpasteurized milk, cheese or juice, as these foods increase the risk of infection.
10. Alcohol
Pregnant women are advised to avoid drinking completely wine , because it increases the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth. Even small amounts can negatively affect your baby's brain development .
It also caused . This syndrome includes facial defects, heart defects and mental retardation .
Since no alcohol is proven safe during pregnancy, it should be avoided completely.
Conclude: Pregnant women should not drink alcohol. Drinking alcohol can increase the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, and alcohol poisoning syndrome in the fetus.
11. Processed garbage food
Pregnancy is a period of rapid development.
The body needs to increase the amount of essential nutrients included the protein , folate and iron.
However, even when "eating for two," it doesn't need twice as much calories. The body really just needs to add about 350-500 calories every day around the last 6 months of pregnancy .
The optimal pregnancy diet mainly consists of whole foods with lots of nutrients to meet the needs of the mother and baby.
Processed food waste generally has low nutrient content, high in calories, Street and fat additives.
In addition, additive sugar is associated with the risk of developing a number of diseases, including type 2 diabetes and heart disease .
And, though weight gain It is necessary during pregnancy, but gaining too much weight will cause many complications and illnesses.
These include an increased risk of gestational diabetes and complications during pregnancy or birth. It also increases the risk of overweight children .
This causes long-term health problems, as overweight children are often more likely to be overweight when they grow up .
Conclude: Eating processed foods during pregnancy is at risk of causing excessive weight gain, gestational diabetes and complications. This affects the long-term health problem for the child.
Main message
Proper handling and hygiene of food are always recommended, especially during pregnancy.
However, this is not always easy, as some foods may have been contaminated before buying.
Therefore, the best way is to avoid the foods listed above as much as possible. The health of the unborn baby and mother should always be a priority.
