Foods to Avoid When You’e Eating for Two
Eating healthy is important to everyone, but it is never more vital than when you are carrying a baby. Developing fetuses need lots of vitamins, minerals and essential nutrients in order to reach their full potential, and moms need to eat well too so they can feel their best. Though most foods are safe for you to consume during this special time, there are some foods you should limit or avoid completely.
Bounty from the Sea
Fish are packed with essential Omega-3 Fatty Acids, and eating fish prior to your pregnancy was maybe an important part of your diet. Fish that are high in mercury should not be part of a pregnant woman’s diet. Stay away from certain kinds of sushi or avoid it altogether. Tilefish, king mackerel, swordfish and shark should also be avoided as they can cause brain damage or delays in your baby’s development because of high mercury levels. Commercially canned tuna has a lower level of mercury than fresh tuna, but eating tuna while you are pregnant should be done in moderation.
Watch Your Deli Sandwiches
Conventional luncheon meats have a risk of being tainted with listeria. This bacterium has the ability to cross the placenta, and can affect the fetus by causing an infection or blood poisoning. Women infected with listeria are also at risk of miscarriage. If you choose to eat deli meats, heat the meat until it steams in the microwave to ensure you’ve killed any lurking bacteria.
Cook Your Meat Thoroughly
Making sure that meat, including poultry, is cooked all the way through is never more important than when you are pregnant. Salmonella and the E.coli bacteria are very real threats as is toxoplasmosis. You should also avoid eggs that are not cooked thoroughly. Order and cook your hamburgers and other beef products well done for the duration of your pregnancy. You can go back to eating juicy burgers once the baby is born.
You can find more information on what to eat and what to avoid here.
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