Wednesday 17 August 2016

10 Foods Pregnant Women Should Avoid

Pregnant women should avoid:

1. Liver and liver products: These foods are very high in vitamin A, and too much vitamin A can harm the unborn child.
Pregnant women should also avoid supplements containing vitamin A, including fish liver oils, except if you are advised to take these by your doctor.

2. Raw or undercooked Meat: Uncooked seafood and raw or undercooked beef or poultry
should be avoided in pregnancy because of the risk of contamination with coliform bacteria, toxoplasmosis, and salmonella.

3. Unpasteurized Dairy Foods: These are best avoided in pregnancy. These foods are prone to Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that causes listeriosis, which may result in miscarriage, stillbirth, or other serious health problems.

4. Processed meats like Hot Dog: Many processed meats contain listeria. Listeria has the ability to cross the placenta and may infect the baby leading to infection or blood poisoning, which can be life-threatening. Make sure that any milk you drink is pasteurized.

5. Unwashed Vegetables: Vegetables are safe to eat,however, it is essential to make sure they are washed to avoid potential exposure to toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis may contaminate the soil where the vegetables were grown.

6. Raw Eggs: Avoid raw or undercooked eggs and any foods that contain them, such as homemade mayonnaise.

Make sure that eggs are thoroughly cooked until the whites and yolks are solid. This prevents the risk of salmonella food poisoning.

7. Cheese: Cheeses like this are made with mould and can contain listeria bacteria that cause listeriosis. Although an infection with listeria is rare, even a mild form of this infection in a pregnant woman can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth or severe illness in a newborn baby.

8. Certain Seafood and Fish: Large fishes such as swordfish, shark, tilefish, and king mackerel have very high concentrations of mercury, compared to other fish. Mercury is a byproduct of coal-burning plants that interferes with the normal development of a growing child's brain and nervous system.

Fishes such as Cat fish, Tilapia, Crabs, Croaker and Shrimps have lowest mercury levels and are safe for consumption.

9. Herbal Teas and Supplements: Herbal teas are caffeine-free, but their safety is unclear when you’re pregnant. So it’s better to avoid them.

10. Caffeine: Although most studies show that caffeine intake in moderation might be okay, there are others that show that caffeine intake may be related to miscarriages. Avoid caffeine during the first trimester to reduce the likelihood of a miscarriage.

Source: Noble Doctors

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