Foods to Avoid When Pregnant
When pregnant, its important to be mindful of what you eat to ensure the health and safety of both you and your baby. Here are some foods to avoid when pregnant:
- Soft Cheeses and Unpasteurized Milk Products: These may contain harmful germs.
- Undercooked Meat, Fish, and Eggs: These can also contain harmful germs that may pose a risk to the baby.
- Limit Fish Intake, Especially Large Fish: Large fish contain mercury, which can be harmful to the baby in high levels.
- Leftovers More Than a Day Old: Avoid eating leftovers that are more than a day old and ensure they have been kept in the fridge and reheated thoroughly.
- Alcohol and Limit Caffeine: Its best to avoid alcohol and limit coffee and tea intake to avoid consuming too much caffeine.
Its important to note that while some foods should be avoided altogether, others should be consumed in limited amounts. For example, caffeine, fish, and liver should be consumed in moderation during pregnancy.
Its also important to be cautious with fruits and vegetables, ensuring they are washed thoroughly and not consumed if theyve been pre-cut.
In addition to the above, Mayo Clinic advises avoiding undercooked meat, poultry, and eggs during pregnancy.
Healthline also suggests avoiding high-mercury fish, undercooked or raw fish and meat, processed and deli meat, raw eggs, and organ meat during pregnancy.
The NHS recommends avoiding raw or undercooked meat, raw shellfish, and limiting the intake of oily fish due to potential pollutants.
March of Dimes advises limiting the intake of raw or undercooked meat, raw fish, and fish that can be high in mercury during pregnancy.
In summary, its important to be cautious with the foods consumed during pregnancy to minimize the risk of harm to both the mother and the baby.
