What could be the happiest day in a women’s life? No doubts, its Pregnancy. The feeling, the happiness of becoming a mother is one of the most important phases in a female’s life.
Pregnant women need to be extra cautious with everything they eat and do during this period. Whatever a women eats during pregnancy affects the child directly; therefore, it is always recommended to select their food items very carefully, for the ingredients of certain foods can end up harming the unborn.
Following are the 10 food items that every pregnant women should not eat.
1. Unwashed Food (Fruits and Vegetables)
Nearly all the fruits and vegetables are treated with insecticides these days. Choosing to eat them without washing properly can land you and your unborn baby in trouble, for the insecticides can lead to birth defects, infections, and other problems.
2. Pate
Intake of pate can lead to listeriosis – an infectious disease of animals and humans caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. It is common in newborns or immunosuppressed people. As listeriosis can cause different neurological symptoms, pate of any kind should be strictly avoided.
3. Unpasteurized Milk
Unpasteurized milk contains germs and microorganisms that can result in disease and infection. It is always advised to boil the milk completely before consumption. Milk is one of the best sources of calcium and other vital nutrients. To-be mothers should always consume pasteurized milk.
4. Soft Cheese
All forms of soft cheeses are less acidic and contain more moisture, therefore pose a risk of bacterium called Listeria. Expecting females should stay away from softer forms of cheese, but can always consume other printed-surface forms like camembert, parmesan, cheddar, gouda, mozzarella, etc.
5. Certain Herbal Teas
Herbal teas are otherwise considered great for every human being, but the ones containing red raspberry leaves and stinging nettles can prove to be dangerous for expecting mothers. Make sure the herbal teas that you consume do not contain any special or enhancing chemicals or the aforementioned substances.
6. Raw Meat
Raw meat is a strict no-no for any pregnant lady. Raw meat contains harmful bacteria that can result in mental retardation or other birth defects in the unborn. Therefore, it is very essential to cook the meat properly before consuming.
7. Fish or High-mercury Seafood
Fish is one of the richest sources of protein and is good for pregnant ladies, but in some cases can cause harm to the unborn, especially when seafood has high content of mercury in it. Consumption of mercury can result in developmental delays, brain damage, and harm to baby’s nervous system. In short, avoid Spanish mackerel, tile fish, marlin, shark, sword fish, shark, and Tuna.
8. Raw Eggs
Eggs are considered good for pregnant females only if they are cooked properly. In any case, raw eggs should not be consumed, for they pose a threat of developing salmonella infection. One should also avoid products in which raw eggs are used, like cakes, custards, etc.
9. Caffeine
Caffeine, if taken in high quantity, increases the risk of miscarriage. Under no circumstances one should increase the caffeine intake more than 300 mg per day, else it can harm the unborn.
10. Alcohol
Top of all, alcohol is to be avoided completely during pregnancy. Any form of alcohol can damage the growth of the fetus, which can result in birth defects like heart defects, mental retardation, etc. Breastfeeding mothers should also avoid alcohol.
As your baby is your most valuable asset, it becomes your responsibility to take care of everything related to him/her. Make sure you avoid the aforementioned foods and take good care of yourself and the unborn baby. We wish you a very happy and safe pregnancy!
