Pregnancy: more Foods to Avoid
Caffeine when Pregnant
During pregnancy (and while breastfeeding), you should limit the amount of caffeine you have or avoid it as much as possible. Caffeine, just like all the other substances you consume, crosses through the placenta to your baby.
Consumed in large quantities, caffeine has been linked to miscarriage, low birth weight babies, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), anemia in both mother and baby, preterm delivery and even fertility problems for women trying to conceive. See more on caffeine, below:
Caffeine also can reduce body fluids, leading to dehydration in the mother. Besides coffee, caffeine can be found in a wide range of foods and beverages including tea, soft drinks, energy drinks, chocolate, cocoa and even as an ingredient in many over-the-counter and prescription medications. It is recommended that you should have less than 300 mg of caffeine a day (about 2-3 mugs of coffee), but decaffeinated beverages are even better, especially during the first trimester.
Artificial Sweeteners
The use of artificial sweeteners such as saccharin, sucralose (Splenda), and aspartame (NutraSweet/Equal) should be reduced or eliminated during pregnancy. Some sugar substitutes, saccharin in particular, have been linked to a higher risk of bladder problems, including bladder cancer in unborn babies, when consumed in large amounts. Artificial sweeteners can be most commonly found in diet soft drinks and diet or sugar-free foods. It's best to use natural sweeteners such as fruit juice or honey when possible.
Fish and Seafood
There are specific fish and seafood you need to stay away from during pregnancy and others that need to be consumed only in limited amounts. Certain varieties of fish may have high levels of mercury (or PCBs), due to industrial pollution. Mercury builds up in fish, particularly those that are larger (that eat smaller fish), long-lived and especially those that are farm-raised. In high amounts, mercury can cause serious health problems for your unborn baby including damage to your baby's brain and nervous system. Fish with the highest levels of mercury (which you should avoid completely) include shark, swordfish, king mackerel, marlin, sea bass and tilefish (also called golden or white snapper). Limit your consumption of shrimp, pollock, catfish, cod, albacore (white) tuna, tuna steaks, trout and salmon. Never eat raw or undercooked fish or shellfish (oysters and clams), because they may be contaminated by harmful bacteria.
Raw and Unpasteurized Foods
During pregnancy, raw, undercooked and unpasteurized foods need to be completely avoided. These foods may contain bacteria such as listeria, salmonella, Toxoplasmosis and E. Coli, which can cause preterm labor, birth defects, miscarriage and stillbirth. While pregnant, you should stay away from raw seafood (especially shellfish), undercooked meat, poultry and hot-dogs, deli meats (unless you reheat them before eating), raw vegetable sprouts (alfalfa, clover and radish) and raw or partially-cooked eggs (including cookie or cake batter and mousse).
In addition, soft cheeses such as feta, goat, brie, camembert, blue-veined, roquefort and Mexican-style cheeses (queso blanco and queso fresco) are best avoided. Unpasteurized foods like milk, juices, cider and egg nog should be replaced with those that have been pasteurized.
Foods to Eat During Pregnancy
Why are Dairy, Iron and Protein Important?
Why is Calcium and Water Important?
Folic Acid and Pregnancy
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