Foods to Avoid When Pregnant
You certainly don't need to be reminded that this is one of the most important times of your life. I'm sure you've heard that plenty of times before. But everything that you do and (more specifically) everything that you eat will have an effect, one way or another, on your health and your baby's development.
Foods To Avoid During Pregnancy
Eat the right foods and you can enjoy the many benefits of good health, including confidence in knowing that you're providing the absolute best for your baby. Eat the wrong foods and you could spend your pregnancy feeling sluggish, bloated, achy, and constantly tired. Even worse, you could come in contact with one of several dangerous bacteria. So needless to say, it's vitally important to learn about food to avoid for pregnant women.
Foods to Avoid:
Junk Food - It really has no redeeming qualities. Aside from large doses of salt and/or sugar, some junk foods contain synthetic vitamin A, which can be toxic.
Trans Fats are found in many snack foods and packaged prepared foods. They're horrible for your health and horrible for your baby. They increase the risk of heart attack and some cancers, and raise levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol. (Side note: it's also prevalent in many baby foods, such as cereals and cookies). Watch for Trans Fats and avoid them!
MSG (Mono Sodium Glutamate) is an additive that's increasingly used by manufacturers to alter the taste of various foods. It can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea and vomiting.
Caffeine has been associated with low birth weight and should be avoided, if possible. If you must have it, at least keep it to a minimum.
Alcohol - Needless to say, it can have detrimental effects on the fetus, so please avoid it.
Soy - Often thought of as a health food, can actually block absorption of vital nutrients.
Certain seafood - Stay away from seafood with high amounts of mercury. That list includes swordfish, mackerel, and shark, to name a few. High doses of mercury could damage your baby's nervous system. On the other hand, some types of fish (with much lower mercury levels) can be very beneficial.
Raw and undercooked meat - Watch out for raw and undercooked meat and seafood. It could be contaminated with salmonella, coliform bacteria or toxoplasmosis.
Raw eggs can be contaminated with salmonella. This also includes foods containing raw eggs, such as mayonnaise, and Hollandaise sauce.
Raw sprouts have even been found to contain salmonella in some cases.
Soft cheeses (blue, Brie, feta) can also contain dangerous hidden bacteria.
Unpasteurized milk - Stay away from anything containing unpasteurized milk, which, once again, can contain bacteria.
Liver (including pate) can contain high levels of vitamin A. Too much can increase the risk of birth defects.
As you can see, the list of food to avoid for pregnant women is quite extensive, and this is just a sampling. The negative effects of these foods can range from minor annoyances to severe illness. So it's very important for you and your developing baby that you choose your foods carefully.
Foods To Avoid When Pregnant
Foods To Avoid During Pregnancy
Eat the right foods and you can enjoy the many benefits of good health, including confidence in knowing that you're providing the absolute best for your baby. Eat the wrong foods and you could spend your pregnancy feeling sluggish, bloated, achy, and constantly tired. Even worse, you could come in contact with one of several dangerous bacteria. So needless to say, it's vitally important to learn about food to avoid for pregnant women.
Foods to Avoid:
Junk Food - It really has no redeeming qualities. Aside from large doses of salt and/or sugar, some junk foods contain synthetic vitamin A, which can be toxic.
Trans Fats are found in many snack foods and packaged prepared foods. They're horrible for your health and horrible for your baby. They increase the risk of heart attack and some cancers, and raise levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol. (Side note: it's also prevalent in many baby foods, such as cereals and cookies). Watch for Trans Fats and avoid them!
MSG (Mono Sodium Glutamate) is an additive that's increasingly used by manufacturers to alter the taste of various foods. It can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea and vomiting.
Caffeine has been associated with low birth weight and should be avoided, if possible. If you must have it, at least keep it to a minimum.
Alcohol - Needless to say, it can have detrimental effects on the fetus, so please avoid it.
Soy - Often thought of as a health food, can actually block absorption of vital nutrients.
Certain seafood - Stay away from seafood with high amounts of mercury. That list includes swordfish, mackerel, and shark, to name a few. High doses of mercury could damage your baby's nervous system. On the other hand, some types of fish (with much lower mercury levels) can be very beneficial.
Raw and undercooked meat - Watch out for raw and undercooked meat and seafood. It could be contaminated with salmonella, coliform bacteria or toxoplasmosis.
Raw eggs can be contaminated with salmonella. This also includes foods containing raw eggs, such as mayonnaise, and Hollandaise sauce.
Raw sprouts have even been found to contain salmonella in some cases.
Soft cheeses (blue, Brie, feta) can also contain dangerous hidden bacteria.
Unpasteurized milk - Stay away from anything containing unpasteurized milk, which, once again, can contain bacteria.
Liver (including pate) can contain high levels of vitamin A. Too much can increase the risk of birth defects.
As you can see, the list of food to avoid for pregnant women is quite extensive, and this is just a sampling. The negative effects of these foods can range from minor annoyances to severe illness. So it's very important for you and your developing baby that you choose your foods carefully.
Foods To Avoid When Pregnant
