Pregnancy is a journey that comes with a number of changes in a mother’s lifestyle, this includes a change in diet preferences. Through the pregnancy, you should stay away from any food that may contain parasites, bacteria, or high mercury levels. It is also crucial that you refrain from drinking alcohol and avoid foods that have high fat content. It is important to know the foods to avoid during pregnancy, to ensure you go through the pregnancy journey without any health complications that may cause harm to your unborn child.
General Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy
Understanding what food to avoid during pregnancy is essential for mothers to have a smooth healthy journey. The following is a list of food to avoid during pregnancy:
Raw or Undercooked Foods:
As a pregnant mother, you should avoid eating raw or undercooked meat, eggs, or poultry as they may contain potential bacteria. The bacteria in these raw or undercooked foods results in illnesses like toxoplasmosis.
High-Mercury Fish:
Eating fish containing high levels of mercury affects the development of the baby’s nervous system and should be avoided. The examples of fish containing high amounts of mercury include shark, swordfish, and king mackerel.
Unpasteurized Dairy Products:
Avoid consuming unpasteurized dairy products like cheese, soft-serve ice cream, yogurt, and milk.
Processed Meats:
You should avoid eating luncheon meats, hot dogs, deli meats as they can contain Listeria which is harmful to the baby’s development.
Caffeine:
During pregnancy, you are required to limit the caffeine intake to less than 200 mg daily. This is to prevent low birth weight and other complications.
Alcohol:
You should refrain from the intake of alcohol during pregnancy, as it may result in various birth defects and have a major impact on the baby’s development. You should also consider the above as foods to avoid during early pregnancy as they will impact the baby’s development process.
Indian Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, there are certain Indian foods to avoid during pregnancy, they include:
Raw Papaya:
Avoid eating raw papaya during pregnancy as it contains papain enzymes, which cause contractions of the uterine walls and may lead to potential miscarriage. You should definitely add this to the list of foods to avoid during early pregnancy.
Fenugreek:
This is one of the Indian foods to avoid during pregnancy, as large quantities of this spice can stimulate uterine contractions.
Raw Eggs:
Eating raw eggs while pregnant may lead to nausea, vomiting, fever, and diarrhea. These outcomes are caused by the salmonella that may be in the raw eggs.
Hing:
As this is mostly consumed daily in India, large amounts during pregnancy can lead to various complications. Large amounts of hing in food can cause a pregnant mother to get throat infections, swollen lips, and also side effects like vomiting, burping, nausea, and gas forming.
Ajinomoto:
This is a flavor enhancer and may lead to birth defects and should be one of the Indian foods to avoid during pregnancy.
Aloe Vera:
Consuming aloe vera during pregnancy can result in pelvic hemorrhage and is advisable to avoid its intake as an expecting mother.
Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy Diet
You should be informed on what foods to avoid during pregnancy and consider using the following tips to your advantage to have a successful pregnancy journey.
- Eat Foods Rich in Nutrients: Make sure you eat plenty of nutritious fruits, whole grains, vegetables, lean protein, and dairy with low-fat.
- Maintain Good Hygiene: Ensure your kitchen is always clean and wash your hands before and after food handling.
- Stay Hydrated: Have plenty of water all through the day.
- Always Consult a Doctor: Ensure you get the best advice from a doctor to know more about your diet needs.
- Cook your Food Thoroughly: You need to ensure the meat, seafood, and poultry are fully cooked to safe internal temperatures.
Conclusion
All through the journey as an expecting mother, you need to be familiar with the list of foods to avoid during pregnancy to ensure you do not encounter any complications. During pregnancy, it is important to ensure you partake foods rich in nutrients and properly cook your food to facilitate the proper development of your unborn baby.
