Foods To Eat When Pregnant &
Know The Pregnancy Foods To Avoid

The biggest mistake you can ever do when you are pregnant is to eat raw or undercooked meats, fish or poultry. So if you are the kind of person that likes to eat sushi every now and then, pregnancy is not the time to do so. Raw and undercooked meats and seafood should be completely avoided because they can contain dangerous bacteria such as salmonella and listeria. Listeria can cause blood poisoning and infection, while salmonella poisoning is also serious for the pregnant woman.

Other pregnancy foods to avoid are deli meats such as hot dogs and luncheon meats unless they are reheated to steaming hot. Deli meats can contain listeria.

Recommended foods to eat when pregnant always includes seafood, as it is considered a healthy food source, rich in Omega 3 fatty acids and other essential elements. However be aware that you have to avoid certain fish types such as swordfish, king mackerel, shark and tilefish, because they contain a high level of mercury. The safe types of seafood are shrimps, salmon and tuna, although you also need to moderate their intake as well.

Another food you must try not to eat when pregnant is liver, and this is because it contains very high levels of vitamin A which is considered a harmful vitamin when taken in large amounts.

Raw eggs are a pregnancy food to avoid because they may contain salmonella. Try to avoid the foods that contain raw eggs as well, examples are mayonnaise, hollandaise sauces and caeser salad dressing. Soft cheeses such as brie, feta and panela should be treated with caution because they can be made from unpasteurized milk; however you can eat them if they are labeled as pasteurized.

Washing fruits and vegetables is always advisable, but it is specifically important during pregnancy. Wash your fruits and vegetables thoroughly with running water and a little soap before eating so you kill the bacteria gathered in them.

Of course it should be completely obvious to avoid caffeine, cigarette smoke, alcohol and drugs. Please keep in mind when deciding the foods to eat when pregnant that everything you eat and drink will pass through the placenta and your baby will be drinking and eating the same foods with you. So, if you are drinking a glass of wine, your baby is drinking it with you, and while your adult body may be able to handle the alcohol and cigarettes, your little baby cannot, and this can lead to physical defects, brain damage, miscarriage or even stillbirth.

About the Author:

The health of your unborn child depends on what you know about the best foods to eat when pregnant.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Foods To Eat When Pregnant & Know The Pregnancy Foods To Avoid

21ST CENTURY APOTHECARY
All contents copyright 2009 21st Century Apothecary/Sky's Limit
Site design by