Foods to avoid during pregnancy:
I made some notes
about foods to avoid during pregnancy for my own reference and also for others
mother-to-be to be shared. This is from my own notes from readings
books and through the internet. Hopefully all this information can benefits other mother-to-be.
1. Processed foods with preservatives and coloring.
Reason: May contain high level of undesirable chemicals.
Example: Canned foods, processed meat, and packaged cake
& cookies.
2. All types of pate (even vegetarian).
Reason: May contain high level of listeria bacteria than
other foods.
Risk:
- Rare, it only affects 1 pregnancy in every 25000.
- Can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, severe illness in
new-born babies or the loss of the baby at birth.
Symptom: Flu like illness.
3. Liver, liver product or cod liver oil.
Reason: May contain
high concentration of vitamin A.
Risk: Can cause birth defects.
Alternatives: Eat
multivitamin or prenatal supplement contains no more than 5,000 IUs of
performed vitamin A.
4. Caffeine.
Reason:
- May deplete calcium and iron.
- Can affect digestive system.
- Can raise blood pressure.
- Can cause dehydrations.
Risk: Can cause miscarriage.
Example: Tea, coffee, colas, energy drinks, chocolate and
some medications.
Alternatives: Wean off coffee and tea just one or two cups a
day with food.
5. Undercooked or raw shellfish.
Reason:
- Can cause parasite infections (e.g. tapeworm).
- May contain Vibrio bacteria.
Symptom: Digestive upsets that may lead to severe food
poisoning.
Example:Oysters, clams, and
mussels.
6. Raw or undercooked
fish.
Reason: May contain parasite
or bacteria.
Example: Sushi.
7. Raw eggs and raw eggs products.
Reason: Can cause salmonella infections.
Risk: Food poisoning will not directly harm the baby but
make the mother very unwell.
Example: cake batter, raw cookie dough,
homemade ice cream, custards, mayo, egg nog or Hollandaise sauce.
8. Raw meat.
Reason: Can cause Salmonella infections or Toxoplasmosis
infections and may contains coliform bacteria.
Example:
- Uncooked seafood and
rare or undercooked beef or poultry.
- Cured meat such as salami and Parma ham.
Risk: Infection can lead to serious problems for the baby.
9. Oily fish.
Reason: Harmful pollutant, such as
dioxins and PCBs and methyl mercury, can be found in fish.
Risk:
- Mercury consumed during pregnancy has
been linked to developmental delays and brain damage.
- Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) is
associated with memory difficulties and lower IQs.
Example: Tuna, shark, swordfish, tilefish, king mackerel, sardines, salmon and trout.
Alternatives:
- Limit two portions of fish a week
maximum.
- Take supplement with Omega-3 fatty
acid design during pregnancy (please check with your health
provider)
provider)
- Choose fish that are small or medium
in size as this means they have spent less time living in
polluted waters (Bigger and older fish, the longer it has been exposed)
polluted waters (Bigger and older fish, the longer it has been exposed)
10. Alcohol
Reason: Can lead to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and can interfere with health development of the baby
Example: All wines, beers and spirits/liquor.
11. Unwashed vegetables
Reason: Toxoplasmosis may contaminate
the soil where the vegetables were grown.
12. Soft plastics, pesticides, herbicides and fertilizer
Reason: May have Xenoestrogen
exposure.
Risk: Hormon disruptor that may interfere with pregnancy hormones.
Example: Meat and dairy containing growth hormones.
Alternatives:
- Avoid storing foods in soft plastics
(e.g. clingfilm)
- Avoid microwaving foods in plastic
- Transfer food in glass container or
cook conventionally
- Consider buying organic meat, dairy,
and eggs where possible.
- Wash fruit and vegetable before
eating.
13. Salt
Reason: Can contribute with high blood
pressure.
Example: Added table salt, processed and convenience foods.
Alternatives: Celery salt or spices.
14. Herb
Reason: Outside of culinary use, herbs
in large doses can interfere with pregnancy hormones.
Example: Large amount of herbal teas
and herbal supplement.
Alternatives:
- Vary herbal teas and limit to one or
two cups a day.
- Avoid all herbal supplements in
pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
- Check with a medical herbalist for
herbs used for fertility.
15. Unpasteurized foods or soft cheese.
Reason: May contain bacteria call Listeria or E. coli.
Risk:
- Can lead to foodborne illness.
- Can cause miscarriage.
Example: Brie, Feta, Camembert, Blue
cheese, and Maxican style cheese (e.g. queso
blanco, queso fresco and panela)
Alternatives:
- Read the product labels as being
pasteurized or made by pasteurized milk.
- Consider buying pasteurized eggs.
- Eat hard cheese such as cheddar or
swiss.
16. Unpasteurized Juice or cider (including fresh squeezed)
Reason: May contain E.coli bacteria.
Alternatives:
- Drink pasteurized juice.
- Bring unpasteurized juice or cider to rolling boil and boil
for at least 1 minute before drinking.
17. Unpasteurized goat’s milk and goat’s
milk product.
Reason: May contain a parasite called toxoplasma.
Risk: Can seriously harm unborn baby.
18. Unpasteurized milk.
Reason: May contain bacteria such as Campylobacter, E. coli,
Listeria or Salmonella.
Alternatives: Drink pasteurized milk.
19. Ice cream.
Reason: Homemade ice cream may contain uncooked eggs, and
may contain Salmonella.
Source:
Internet:
Books:
1.100 Best Foods for Pregnancy by Charlotte Watts. (http://www.amazon.com/Best-Foods-Pregnancy-100/dp/144545369X)
2.New Pregnancy and Birth Book by Dr. Miriam Stopard’s (http://www.mphonline.com/books/nsearchdetails.aspx?&pcode=9780345506320)
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