Every woman experiences cravings while pregnant which can lead to careless eating habits. However, everything that you eat goes into developing the growing bump. While some foods are good for the pregnancy, others can cause harm to both you and the unborn baby. Therefore, it’s crucial to watch what you eat while pregnant to ensure you have a healthy, full-term pregnancy. Here are some foods to avoid eating while pregnant.
- Leftovers
The basic rule while pregnant is to avoid eating food that has been out of the refrigerator for more than two hours. Try to eat freshly prepared food throughout the pregnancy to reduce your chances of getting food poisoning. However, if those midnight cravings hit, you can still have leftover food but make sure you heat them to kill any bacteria. 10 Mistakes To Avoid While Handling Food
- Raw Meat And Eggs
Proteins are essential in the development of the fetus. However, it’s not advisable for a pregnant mother to eat raw eggs meat. Raw meats have a variety of parasites and bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli, which can put the pregnancy at risk leading to stillbirth and developmental issues. Ensure that you prepare and cook meat thoroughly and avoid eating meat at restaurants or events. Similarly, avoid eating runny eggs or foods that may contain raw eggs such as mayonnaise and cake batter.
- Seafood
Seafood contains high levels of mercury which is not only dangerous for your health but also for the health of your unborn baby. Mercury can cause developmental challenges and brain damage when consumed during pregnancy. Though there are specific kinds of seafood that are known to have unhealthy amounts of mercury, it’s better to avoid eating them altogether or eat certain types of fish in moderation.
- Street Food
Those smokies and boiled eggs with kachumbari can be tempting when the pregnancy cravings hit. However, street food especially meat or raw fruits and vegetables should be avoided at all costs. They pose a high risk of causing food poisoning thus threatening the life of the unborn child. Additionally, chemicals used in food preservation can be dangerous for a developing fetus. Try to eat homemade food while pregnant as you’re sure of its preparation method.
- Sugary Foods
Sugary foods not only make you gain weight but also can lead to bigger problems like diabetes which is a leading cause of miscarriages. Due to a sedentary lifestyle, pregnant women are more prone to suffering from diabetes if they don’t watch what they eat. As such, it’s necessary to avoid foods that can spike your sugar levels such as sweets so as to prevent developing diabetes especially if you’re already at risk of getting the disease.
- Caffeine And Herbal Teas
Excessive caffeine consumption can jeopardize your pregnancy and lead to multiple complications including premature birth, miscarriage, and low weight babies. Avoid drinking concentrated tea or coffee and stick to one cup a day. Additionally, stay away from caffeinated foods and drinks such as energy drinks. Similarly, some herbs can trigger a miscarriage such as nettles and chamomile. Ensure you consult with a doctor before taking any herbal tea.
- Trans Fat Foods
You may have to give up the juicy burgers and fries while pregnant. These foods not only affect fertility in women but also can be dangerous to eat during pregnancy. Since they’re high in fat, they can increase cholesterol levels in the body thus blocking the production of insulin. This, in turn, can lead to a miscarriage due to abnormal activities in the body.
Check out 8 Causes Of A Miscarriage and 5 Tips To Boost Your Body Confidence While Pregnant
