Foods Unsuitable For Pregnant Women
September 10, 2009
Pregnancy diet is not only about healthy eating, but it also includes staying away from certain foods. To ensure the safety of the fetus developing in the mother’s womb, and to reduce complications associated with pregnancy, certain precautions should be taken while selecting your food during pregnancy.
We are often aware about the types of food that would provide essential nutrients to the fetus. However, we are not always aware that certain foods can also cause immense harm to the fetus.
Raw milk
Milk and milk products are an essential food for pregnant women. However, raw milk or milk that has not been pasteurized properly can harm both the mother and the fetus. Unpasteurized milk is the source of the listeria bacteria.
These bacteria are responsible for miscarriage and preterm delivery. Listeria infection can also cause death of both the mother and the fetus. Consumption of milk products made from un-pasteurized milk is equally harmful during pregnancy. Pregnant women should therefore avoid soft cheeses made from raw milk.
Raw or undercooked meat
Raw meat and meat that has not been cooked properly are often the source of E.coli, salmonella and toxoplasmosis bacteria. Proper precaution should be taken while cooking meat during pregnancy. To kill the germs present in the meat, all meat products should be cooked at temperature not below 170 degrees Fahrenheit. Raw and undercooked fish and seafood can be equally harmful during pregnancy.
Raw egg
Similarly, raw or undercooked egg can be a source of salmonella. During pregnancy, you should stay away not only from raw egg, but also from products that use raw egg as one of the ingredients.
Fish
Fish contain important nutrients that are beneficial for pregnant women. However, water pollution might cause methyl mercury contamination in fish. Methyl mercury can damage the brain and eyes of the fetus. Contamination of swordfish, shark, tuna steaks, tilefish and sea bass make them unsuitable for consumption during pregnancy.
Papaya
Papaya or products made from papaya should be avoided during pregnancy. Studies have found that although a fully ripe papaya is not harmful during pregnancy, but papaya that is not completely ripe contains latex-like substance, which is responsible for miscarriage.
There are actually some eggs that are pasteurized. They can be eaten raw because they don’t have salmonella.
My future daughter-in-law and son are expecting their first child in October and she has informed me that her doctor told her that she shouldn’t eat hotdogs because of the preservatives in them that would harm the child. Knowing her personality I want to know if this is true or not.