While you are pregnant your body will change both physically and cognitively. You will change in many ways which will somewhat restrict your life for a period of time. These restrictions also cover the foods that you eat. While you are pregnant there are a number of foods that you will no longer be able to eat, sorry to bring the bad news but here they are.
Raw eggs
It is important that during your pregnancy you avoid raw eggs as well as products that contain raw eggs. These products include:
- Salad dressings
- Cake icings
- Poached eggs
- Homemade mayonnaise
- Homemade ice creams
- Lightly scrambled eggs
If you are going to eat eggs, it is important that the yolks are completely solid. This prevents any risk of salmonella which can cause food poisoning. If you have any homemade dishes and recipes that contain raw eggs, you should consider an alternative.
Unwashed fruit and vegetables
Unwashed fruit and vegetables pose a risk to you and your baby, as they can often contain harmful bacteria passed through the soil still on the produce. As a result, it is crucial that you thoroughly wash and peel all of your produce. By doing so, you prevent yourself from getting ill and protect your baby.
Processed junk foods
During your pregnancy, it is important to have a balanced diet that provides you with all of the nutrition that you need for you and your baby to develop. By eating junk food, your body is not getting the nutrients it needs to grow. Consequently, this can have a negative impact on the growth of your baby too. It is important to avoid all junk food during pregnancy to ensure your body has the right balance of foods.
Shellfish
It is advised that all shellfish should be avoided during pregnancy. Shellfish is more likely to cause an infection compared to any other fish you can eat. These infections can be viral, bacterial or a parasite. While only some of these infections will affect the mother of the baby, many can affect the baby itself, causing a range of potentially fatal issues.
Undercooked meats
In most meats, bacteria can linger inside the meat itself. This means that if the meat is not cooked all the way through, the bacteria can survive. It is important to cook all of your meats all of the way through to kill all of the bacteria. Sushi is another one of those foods that could be potentially dangerous due to often containing raw fish. If you are wondering whether you can eat sushi whilst pregnant or not, this will depend on the sushi. If you opt for a sushi that contains no raw fish, this will increase the chances of it being safe. Pate is another food that should be avoided.
While this applies to most meats, some whole cuts of meat such as tenderloins and sirloins are still safe to consume while pregnant, which means you don’t have to miss out on all of the good food. I hope you now have a better understanding of the foods to avoid whilst pregnant. If you have any worries about any of the foods that you have eaten or want to eat, contact your local doctor and they will be able to provide you with professional advice over what foods you should and should not incorporate into your diet.
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