6 Harmful Foods You Should Avoid During Pregnancy

Welcome to another interesting section of the health on dailyguide.com.ng. It is important that we know some dos and don'ts of pregnancy. This is why I have chosen to bring up this topic to get all intending mothers alert.

It is important to note that when you are pregnant, your unborn baby relies mainly on what you take for its nourishment to the extent that its health is directly linked to what you consume.

In view of this fact, let us now take a look at some of the foods that could be harmful to you and/or your baby during pregnancy:

• Caffeine :

Coffee and other caffeine-containing products are to be taken with caution during pregnancy. Numerous studies suggest that high levels of caffeine may be associated with miscarriage and low birth weight.

 In the same vein, caffeine is likely to cross the placenta and may lead to foetal distress in the unborn baby. The current recommendation is to limit caffeine intake to less than 200-300mg in a day if you must take it at all.

• Raw or Undercooked Meat :

Pregnant women usually stand a higher risk of severe food poisoning due to microorganisms like salmonella and listeria that are often found in raw or undercooked meat. More often than not, the foetus is at the receiving end as this may lead to unwarranted pregnancy loss.

Furthermore, toxoplasma, the causative agent of toxoplasmosis is occassionally found in raw meat and can cause blindness and mental retardation in the unborn baby. Hence, it is advisable to cook meats and poultry thoroughly prior to consumption.

• Raw or Undercooked Eggs :

These are commonly infected by salmonella which is a common cause of acute food poisoning. Therefore, it is only wise for a pregnant woman to avoid raw eggs or products that contain raw eggs like home-made mayonaisse and ice cream.

A valuable piece of advice is to cook eggs properly until the egg yolk and egg white are firm.

• Sea Foods :

As much as fish can prove very beneficial to you during pregnancy since it is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and animal protein, you still need to be quite selective on which ones to consume.

Seafoods like shark, swordfish, king mackerel and shellfish have been shown to contain high levels of mercury which can be injurious to the developing brain of your unborn baby. However, catfish, salmon, shrimp and tilapia are all safe for your consumption during pregnancy.

• Liver and Liver Products :

Foods with a high content of vitamin A such as liver and liver products like cod liver oil, liver sausage and pate may not be the best for you during pregnancy. Although they are rich in iron and folic acid, they also contain significant quantities of vitamin A which may be harmful to the baby in the first trimester of pregnancy.

• Unwashed Fruits and Vegetables :

In spite of the tremendous benefits that fruits and vegetables offer, when contaminated, they are potential sources of various infections that could lead to severe food poisoning in the mother and adverse occurences in the foetus. Hence, cultivate the good habit of washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly before consumption.



Source: DailyGuide