Foods To Avoid While Pregnant

You probably know the basics of what you should and should not do during your pregnancy. You know that caffeine should be cut back, if not cut out of your diet completely. You should not smoke, drink alcohol or spend time in any hot tubs while you are pregnant. However, more and more studies are being done to see if there are other foods women should avoid for the duration of their pregnancy.

It is essential for you to eat well balanced meals to provide your growing baby with all the vitamins, nutrients and minerals that your baby needs to grow. However, there are some foods that need to be avoided due to the risk they pose, not just to you, but also to your growing baby.

For starters, raw meat must be avoided due to the risk of toxoplasmosis and salmonella. This means no more rare steaks or rare burgers for you while pregnant. You should take caution and make sure that all of the meat you eat is cooked well done.

Cold deli meats should also be avoided because of the risk of listeria. Listeria can cross the placenta and can cause an infection or blood poisoning to your baby. Heating the deli meat until it is steaming will help reduce the risk.

Speaking of listeria there are other foods that can contain this bacteria. Some soft cheeses such as brie, feta, and gorgonzola are commonly made with unpasterized milk. Unpasterized milk often contains listeria, so you need to make sure that any soft cheeses you are going to eat are made with pasteurized milk.

Fish has always been a subject of debate for pregnant women. While some forms of fish contain essential nutrients that are needed by your baby, others contain a high level of mercury. Any fish with a high level of mercury such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish and fish used in sushi should be avoided through out your pregnancy. Studies have linked mercury to developmental delays and in some cases brain damage. Tuna also contains a lot of mercury. However, canned chunk light tuna has a lower amount of mercury and can be eaten in moderation. Raw shellfish should also be avoided through out your pregnancy.

Raw eggs or anything containing raw eggs is a huge no no during your pregnancy. Raw eggs have the potential to expose you and your baby to salmonella. This means no raw cookie dough and no brownie mix. You should also avoid some homemade sauces such as hollandaise, Caesar dressing and blue cheese dressing. When dining in a restaurant, it would be wise to ask if any sauces or dressings contain raw eggs. Most restaurants should be using pasteurized eggs in any raw egg recipe but you should still double check.

There is never a more important time to be careful what you eat then when you are pregnant. Some of the above foods have been linked to miscarriages and other birth defects. If you are pregnant and you have already indulged in a few of the foods that you should avoid, do not panic. Chances are, you and your baby are fine. Just make sure to take extra care to avoid these foods in the future. Remember, your baby eats what you eat.