What foods can pregnant not eat

Foods to avoid when pregnant

Key facts

When you’re pregnant, avoid eating soft cheeses, unpasteurised milk products and undercooked meat, fish and eggs — these may contain germs that can harm your baby.
Wash all fruits and vegetables and don’t eat them if they’ve been pre-cut.
Limit how much fish you eat, especially large fish — they contain mercury, which can be harmful to your baby in high levels.
Don’t eat leftovers that are more than a day old and make sure they’ve been kept in the fridge and reheated throughout to a high temperature.
Avoid alcohol when you’re pregnant and limit coffee and tea so you don’t have too much caffeine.

Which foods should I avoid when I’m pregnant?

When you’re pregnant, eating a variety of healthy foods is good for you and your baby. However, there are some foods you should not eat when you're pregnant because they might make you ill or harm your baby. There are also some foods that are safe to eat, but you need to be careful not to have too much of them.

The main foods to avoid include:

soft cheeses
undercooked or raw meat, fish and seafood
pre-prepared or unwashed fruits and vegetables
soft-serve ice cream
undercooked or raw eggs
unpasteurised milk
alcohol

Foods to limit include:

caffeine
fish
liver

What are the risks of eating these foods?

Each of these foods carry different risks during pregnancy. Some foods could be contaminated with germs — these can cause infections and may be harmful for you or your baby. Other foods contain substances that can harm your baby.

Listeriosis

Listeriosis, caused by the bacteria listeria, is a rare infection that is usually not a problem for healthy people. However, if you’re pregnant it can make you unwell. If your baby becomes infected, it can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth or premature labour.

Foods that could be contaminated with listeria include:

leftovers and pre-prepared foods
unwashed or pre-cut fruits and vegetables
soft cheeses, unpasteurised milk products and soft-serve ice cream
smoked or raw seafood
smoked meats, pâté and cold chicken
rockmelon and raw sprouts
unpasteurised juice

Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis, caused by the parasite toxoplasma, is an infection that can affect your baby if you get it for the first time when you’re pregnant. This is rare in Australia, but it’s important to be cautious because it can cause your baby to have brain damage or blindness.

Foods that could be contaminated with toxoplasma include:

undercooked meat
unwashed fruits and vegetables

Salmonella

The bacteria salmonella can make you unwell with food poisoning. If you get it when you’re pregnant it can cause miscarriage, but this is rare.

Foods that could be contaminated with salmonella include:

raw or undercooked eggs and eggs that were cracked during storage
sesame seeds, hummus and tahini
undercooked meat and chicken
sprouts

Mercury

Fish is a healthy and nutritious part of your diet when you’re pregnant, but be aware that fish contains mercury. High levels of mercury can affect your baby’s developing nervous system.

Some types of fish have higher levels of mercury than others. This is usually higher in the larger predatory fish. The highest levels are found in shark, marlin, broadbill, swordfish, orange roughy and catfish.

Vitamin A

Too much vitamin A (also called retinol) can harm your baby. Liver contains a lot of vitamin A and should be limited.

Alcohol

If you drink a lot of alcohol during pregnancy, your baby could develop fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Alcohol can also increase your risk of miscarriage, stillbirth or premature birth.

Caffeine

High levels of caffeine can increase your risk of miscarriage, premature birth and having a baby with a low birth weight. Caffeine is naturally found in lots of foods, such as coffee, tea and chocolate. It is also added to some soft drinks and energy drinks.

How can I make sure the food I eat is safe?

As a general rule, the best foods to eat are freshly and thoroughly cooked or freshly prepared. Take care to always store and prepare food safely. Don’t eat anything that has passed its use-by date.

Here is a guide to eating safely during pregnancy.

Dairy products

Drink only pasteurised or ultra-heat treated (UHT or long-life) milk. Make sure that you only eat dairy products made from pasteurised milk.

Don't eat mould-ripened soft cheese, such as brie, camembert and chevre (a type of goat's cheese) and others with a similar rind. You should also avoid ricotta, feta, mozzarella, bocconcini and blue-veined cheeses. These may contain listeria, which can get in during the manufacturing process. It’s okay to eat them if they are cooked to at least 75°C and eaten straight away.

It’s fine to eat hard cheeses such as cheddar, parmesan and edam. Hard cheeses are more acidic than soft cheeses, so bacteria are less likely to grow in them.

Many other types of soft cheese are okay to eat, but make sure they're packaged by the manufacturer. They include cottage cheese, cream cheese and processed cheeses such as cheese spreads.

Don't eat soft-serve ice cream. It is stored at a temperature that allows listeria to grow. It’s okay to eat packaged frozen ice cream.

Eggs

Make sure eggs are thoroughly cooked until the whites and yolks are solid. This prevents the risk of salmonella food poisoning.

Don’t eat foods that contain raw or undercooked eggs, such as homemade mayonnaise, aioli, mousses, or cake batters. It’s okay to eat commercially-made, non-refrigerated products containing egg, but make sure to store them correctly.

Don’t use dirty eggs, or eggs that were cracked and stored before use.

Meat

Don't eat rare meat. Undercooked meat may contain toxoplasma or salmonella. Cook all meat and poultry thoroughly so it is steaming hot and there is no trace of pink. Take care with pork, sausages and minced meat, including burgers.

Wash all surfaces and utensils thoroughly after preparing raw meat. Use a separate chopping board and knife. It's also important to remember to wash your hands after touching or handling raw meat.

Avoid cold cured meats, such as salami, ham, chorizo and pepperoni. It’s okay to eat them if they are cooked to at least 75°C and eaten straight away.

Don’t eat cold meats from delicatessen counters and sandwich bars, packaged sliced ready-to-eat meats or cold cooked ready-to-eat chicken. Avoid all types of pâté. These may contain listeria. Hot take-away chicken is fine if you eat it straight away.

Limit your intake of liver or liver products, such as liver pâté or liver sausage — don’t eat more than 50 grams per week, as they contain a lot of vitamin A.

Fish and seafood

Fish contains protein and essential omega-3 fatty acids, so it is recommended in pregnancy. However, it’s important to limit your intake of fish with higher levels of mercury.

You can do this by following these guidelines (keep in mind that a serving is 150 grams):

Shark (also called flake), broadbill, marlin and swordfish should be eaten no more than once every 2 weeks. Don’t eat any other fish during that 2 week period.
Orange roughy (also called deep sea perch) and catfish should be eaten no more than once a week. Don’t eat any other fish during that week.
Any other fish or seafood should be eaten no more than 2 to 3 times a week.

Freshly cooked fish and seafood are safe to eat within these guidelines. Make sure to cook them to at least 63°C and eat them straight away.

Don’t eat raw or chilled fish or seafood. This includes raw oysters, sashimi and sushi, smoked ready-to-eat seafood and cooked ready-to-eat chilled prawns. These have a higher risk of listeria contamination.

The safest way to enjoy sushi is to make your own. Choose fully cooked or vegetarian varieties. Avoid buying sushi.

Fruit and vegetables

Avoid pre-prepared or pre-packaged fruit or vegetable salads, including those from buffets and salad bars. They are at risk of listeria contamination.

Don’t eat rockmelon or any type of sprouts, as they may contain listeria or salmonella.

Wash fruit, vegetables and herbs to remove all traces of soil and dirt. Toxoplasma can sometimes be found in soil.

Sesame seeds may contain salmonella, so it’s best to avoid all sesame products, such as hummus, tahini and halva.

Can I drink alcohol during pregnancy?

There is no known safe level of alcohol that you can have during your pregnancy. Whether you are planning a pregnancy, already pregnant or breastfeeding, not drinking is the safest option as alcohol can harm your unborn baby.

Can I have caffeine during pregnancy?

You don’t need to cut out caffeine completely, but don’t have more than 200mg a day. The approximate amounts of caffeine found in food and drinks are:

1 teaspoon of instant coffee: 80mg
1 shot of espresso coffee: 145mg
1 cup of tea: 50mg
375ml can of cola: 36.4mg
250ml can of energy drink: 80mg
100g bar of milk chocolate: 20mg

To cut down on caffeine, try decaffeinated tea and coffee, fruit juice or mineral water instead of regular tea, coffee and cola.

Energy drinks are not recommended during pregnancy as they may contain high levels of caffeine or guarana (which also contains caffeine).

Can I eat leftovers during pregnancy?

Be cautious with leftover food, as it can become contaminated with listeria. If you want to eat leftovers, put them straight in the fridge in a covered container. Don’t keep them for more than a day and reheat them to at least 60°C.

Can I eat foods that my baby might be allergic to?

It’s fine to eat peanuts or food containing peanuts (such as peanut butter) during pregnancy, unless you are allergic to them. It’s also fine to eat other foods considered to be highly allergenic. Cutting these foods out of your diet during pregnancy is not recommended, as this has not been shown to prevent allergies in your baby.

Resources and support

Check out our handy guide to food and drink during pregnancy (infographic) that you can print off to stick on your fridge or keep in your bag.

Look at this quick reference table by the NSW Government Food Authority, to work out what’s safe to eat and what needs special precautions.

Visit Food Standards Australia New Zealand for more information about mercury in fish and listeria.

Speak to a maternal child health nurse

Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

11 Foods and Beverages to Avoid During Pregnancy

The foods you should avoid while pregnant typically include undercooked or raw meat or fish and other foods that can carry a risk of infection. You may also need to minimize caffeine and certain beverages.

One of the first things people learn when they’re pregnant is what they can’t eat. It can be a real bummer if you’re a big sushi, coffee, or rare steak fan.

Thankfully, there’s more you can eat than what you can’t. You just have to learn how to navigate the waters (the low mercury waters, that is). You’ll want to pay close attention to what you eat and drink to stay healthy.

Certain foods should only be consumed rarely, while others should be avoided completely. Here are 11 foods and beverages to avoid or minimize while pregnant.

Mercury is a highly toxic element. It has no known safe level of exposure and is most commonly found in polluted water.

In higher amounts, it can be toxic to your nervous system, immune system, and kidneys. It may also cause serious developmental problems in children, with adverse effects even in lower amounts.

Since it’s found in polluted seas, large marine fish can accumulate high amounts of mercury. Therefore, it’s best to avoid high mercury fish while pregnant and breastfeeding.

High-mercury fish you want to avoid include:

shark
swordfish
king mackerel
tuna (especially bigeye tuna)
marlin
tilefish from the Gulf of Mexico
orange roughy

However, it’s important to note that not all fish are high in mercury — just certain types.

Consuming low mercury fish during pregnancy is very healthy, and these fish can be eaten up to three times per week, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Low mercury fish are plentiful and include:

anchovies
cod
flounder
haddock
salmon
tilapia
trout (freshwater)

Fatty fish like salmon and anchovies are especially good options, as they are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for your baby.

This one will be tough for you sushi fans, but it’s an important one. Raw fish, especially shellfish, can cause several infections. These can be viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections, such as norovirus, Vibrio, Salmonella, and Listeria.

Some of these infections may only affect you, causing dehydration and weakness. Other infections may be passed on to your baby with serious, or even fatal, consequences.

Pregnant women are especially susceptible to listeria infections. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pregnant women are up to 10 times more likely to get infected by Listeria than the general population. Pregnant Hispanic women are 24 times more at risk.

This bacteria can be found in soil and contaminated water or plants. Raw fish can become infected during processing, including smoking or drying.

Listeria bacteria can be passed to your baby through the placenta, even if you’re not showing any signs of illness. This can lead to premature delivery, miscarriage, stillbirth, and other serious health problems, according to the CDC.

It’s definitely advised to avoid raw fish and shellfish, including many sushi dishes. But don’t worry, you’ll enjoy it that much more after baby is born and it’s safer to eat again.

Some of the same issues with raw fish affect undercooked meat, too. Eating undercooked or raw meat increases your risk of infection from several bacteria or parasites, including Toxoplasma, E. coli, Listeria, and Salmonella.

Bacteria may threaten the health of your little one, possibly leading to stillbirth or severe neurological illnesses, including intellectual disability, blindness, and epilepsy.

While most bacteria are found on the surface of whole pieces of meat, other bacteria may linger inside the muscle fibers.

Some whole cuts of meat — such as tenderloins, sirloins, or ribeye from beef, lamb and veal — may be safe to consume when not cooked all the way through. However, this only applies when the piece of meat is whole or uncut, and completely cooked on the outside.

Cut meat, including meat patties, burgers, minced meat, pork, and poultry, should never be consumed raw or undercooked. So keep those burgers on the grill well done for now.

Hot dogs, lunch meat, and deli meat are also of concern, which is sometimes surprising to pregnant people. These types of meat may become infected with various bacteria during processing or storage.

Pregnant women should not consume processed meat products unless they’ve been reheated until steaming hot.

Raw eggs can be contaminated with the Salmonella bacteria.

Symptoms of salmonella infections include fever, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhea.

However, in rare cases, the infection may cause cramps in the uterus, leading to premature birth or stillbirth.

Foods that commonly contain raw eggs include:

lightly scrambled eggs
poached eggs
hollandaise sauce
homemade mayonnaise
some homemade salad dressings
homemade ice cream
homemade cake icings

Most commercial products that contain raw eggs are made with pasteurized eggs and are safe to consume. However, you should always read the label to make sure.

To be on the safe side, make sure to always cook eggs thoroughly or use pasteurized eggs. Save those super runny yolks and homemade mayo until after baby makes their debut.

Organ meat is a great source of a variety of nutrients.

These include iron, vitamin B12, vitamin A, zinc, selenium, and copper — all of which are good for you and baby. However, eating too much animal-based vitamin A (preformed vitamin A) is not recommended during pregnancy.

Consuming too much preformed vitamin A, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy, can lead to congenital malformations and miscarriage.

Although this is mostly associated with vitamin A supplements, it’s best to keep your consumption of organ meats like liver to just a few ounces once per week.

You may be one of the millions of folks who love their daily cups of coffee, tea, soft drinks, or cocoa. You’re definitely not alone when it comes to our love of caffeine.

Pregnant people are generally advised to limit their caffeine intake to less than 200 milligrams (mg) per day, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

Caffeine is absorbed very quickly and passes easily into the placenta. Because babies and their placentas don’t have the main enzyme needed to metabolize caffeine, high levels can build up.

High caffeine intake during pregnancy has been shown to restrict fetal growth and increase the risk of low birth weight at delivery.

Low birth weight — defined as less than 5 lbs., 8 oz. (or 2.5 kg) — is associated with an increased risk of infant death and a higher risk of chronic diseases in adulthood.

So keep an eye on your daily cup of joe or soda to make sure baby doesn’t have exposure to too much caffeine.

Your healthy salad choice may not be free from rogue ingredients, either. Raw sprouts, including alfalfa, clover, radish, and mung bean sprouts, may be contaminated with Salmonella.

The humid environment required by seeds to start sprouting is ideal for these kinds of bacteria, and they’re almost impossible to wash off.

For this reason, you’re advised to avoid raw sprouts altogether. However, sprouts are safe to consume after they have been cooked, according to the FDA.

The surface of unwashed or unpeeled fruits and vegetables may be contaminated with several bacteria and parasites.

These include Toxoplasma, E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria, which can be acquired from the soil or through handling.

Contamination can occur at any time during production, harvest, processing, storage, transportation, or retail. One dangerous parasite that may linger on fruits and vegetables is called Toxoplasma.

The majority of people who get toxoplasmosis have no symptoms, while others may feel like they have the flu for a month or more.

Most infants who are infected with the Toxoplasma bacteria while still in the womb have no symptoms at birth. However, symptoms such as blindness or intellectual disabilities may develop later in life.

What’s more, a small percentage of infected newborns have serious eye or brain damage at birth.

While you’re pregnant, it’s very important to minimize the risk of infection by thoroughly washing with water, peeling, or cooking fruits and vegetables. Keep it up as a good habit after baby arrives, too.

Raw milk, unpasteurized cheese, and soft-ripened cheeses can contain an array of harmful bacteria, including Listeria, Salmonella, E. coli, and Campylobacter. (These are probably sounding familiar by now.)

The same goes for unpasteurized juice, which is also prone to bacterial contamination. These infections can all have life-threatening consequences for an unborn baby.

The bacteria can be naturally occurring or caused by contamination during collection or storage. Pasteurization is the most effective way to kill any harmful bacteria, without changing the nutritional value of the products.

To minimize the risk of infections, eat only pasteurized milk, cheese, and fruit juice.

It’s advised to completely avoid drinking alcohol when pregnant, as it increases the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth. Even a small amount can negatively impact your baby’s brain development.

Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can also cause fetal alcohol syndrome, which involves facial deformities, heart defects and intellectual disability.

Since no level of alcohol has been proven to be safe during pregnancy, it’s recommended to avoid it altogether.

There’s no better time than pregnancy to start eating nutrient-dense foods to help both you and your growing little one. You’ll need increased amounts of many essential nutrients, including protein, folate, choline, and iron.

It’s also a myth that you’re “eating for two.” You can eat as you normally do during the first semester, then increase by about 350 calories per day in your second trimester, and about 450 calories per day in your third trimester.

An optimal pregnancy eating plan should mainly consist of whole foods, with plenty of nutrients to fulfill yours and baby’s needs. Processed junk food is generally low in nutrients and high in calories, sugar, and added fats.

While some weight gain is necessary during pregnancy, excess weight gain has been linked to many complications and diseases. These include an increased risk of gestational diabetes, as well as pregnancy or birth complications.

Stick to meals and snacks that focus on protein, vegetables and fruits, healthy fats, and fiber-rich carbohydrates like whole grains, beans, and starchy vegetables. Don’t worry, there are lots of ways to sneak veggies into your meals without sacrificing taste.

When you’re pregnant, it’s essential to avoid foods and beverages that may put you and your baby at risk.

Although most foods and beverages are perfectly safe to enjoy, some, like raw fish, unpasteurized dairy, alcohol, and high mercury fish, should be avoided.

Plus, some foods and beverages like coffee and foods high in added sugar, should be limited in order to promote a healthy pregnancy.

If you want to learn more about what foods you should eat during pregnancy, check out this article: Healthy Eating During Pregnancy.

Quick tips for foods to avoid when pregnant
Avoid high-mercury fish including shark, swordfish, tuna, and marlin.
Raw fish and shellfish can be contaminated with bacteria and parasites. Some of these can cause adverse health effects and harm both you and baby.
Raw or undercooked meat may contain harmful bacteria. As a general rule, meat should be cooked all the way through.
Raw eggs may be contaminated with Salmonella, and may put you and your baby at risk. Be sure to thoroughly cook eggs before eating.
Organ meat is a great source of iron, vitamin B12, vitamin A, and copper. To prevent consuming too much vitamin A limit your intake of organ meat to a few ounces once a week.
Limit caffeine intake to under 200 mg per day, which is about 2 to 3 cups of coffee. High caffeine intake during pregnancy may limit baby’s growth and cause low birth weight.
Raw sprouts may be contaminated with bacteria. Only eat them thoroughly cooked.
Fruits and vegetables may be contaminated with harmful bacteria, including Toxoplasma. It’s important to thoroughly wash all fruits and vegetables with plenty of clean water.
Don’t consume unpasteurized milk, cheese, or fruit juice, as these foods increase the risk of bacterial infections.
Avoid all alcohol. Drinking alcohol can increase the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, and fetal alcohol syndrome.
Eating processed foods during pregnancy can increase your risk of excess weight gain, gestational diabetes, and complications. This can have long-term health implications for you and your child.

8 foods that pregnant women should not eat

June 15, 2019 Likbez Health

Even scrambled eggs and healthy fish oil can do harm.

If you are pregnant, you should reduce the amount of coffee and avoid alcohol altogether. Everyone knows this.

But there are far more insidious foods. At first glance, they seem innocent and even useful. But in fact, they can harm mom or an unborn baby more than a couple of cups of double espresso three times a day.

Here is a list of popular foods to avoid during pregnancy. Or at least think twice before you eat.

1. Raw eggs

As well as products containing them: eggnog, homemade mayonnaise, raw dough, poached eggs, fried eggs with raw yolk, tiramisu.

What is the danger

One word is enough: salmonellosis. This acute intestinal infection is fortunately not fatal, but is accompanied by severe diarrhea and vomiting that can cause dehydration. But this is already bad: the normal blood supply to the fetus and the level of amniotic fluid in the uterus depend on the amount of moisture. Water deficiency can result in violations in the development of the unborn baby, as well as an increased risk of miscarriage.

What to do

If you have no strength to give up eggs, make sure that they are thoroughly washed and heat-treated. Hard boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, baked goods are safe.

2. Raw meat

As well as rare fried steaks (“with blood”), raw smoked and cured sausages, poorly fried minced meat, for example, in fast food.

What is the danger

Raw meat can be infected with parasites. For example, Toxoplasma. They are able to penetrate the placental barrier and cause serious disturbances in the development of the unborn baby.

What to do

Removing parasites from meat is easy - heat it properly. If we are talking about dried or smoked products, freezing them for four days will help reduce the risk.

3. Raw fish

Be especially careful with river and wild ocean fish, shellfish (oysters, mussels), dried, smoked fish of all kinds and sushi.

What is the danger

The range of troubles that you can get by eating a roll or dried perch is wide:0003

like meat, fish can be infested with parasites;
in the pulp there are also pathogenic bacteria - for example, listeria or botulinum bacteria, which cause deadly (for mothers as well) botulism;
river fish can be caught in chemically polluted reservoirs - and all toxic substances will go to both mother and baby;
oceanic fish accumulate mercury. Shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish are especially dangerous in this regard. Mercury poisoning affects the health of both the mother and the unborn baby - this element can cause brain damage and developmental delays.

What to do

Eat only properly cooked fish. You can take a chance with canned food: just keep an eye on the expiration date and in no case use the product from swollen cans.

4. Liver

As well as liver pate and sausage, cod liver oil.

What is the danger

Too much vitamin A. Its excess can lead to the development of birth defects in the fetus.

What to do

Do not abuse liver products. Especially if for some reason you are taking vitamin A supplements. Yes, and in no case should you prescribe vitamins and supplements for yourself - only your doctor can do this.

5. Soft cheeses

Special attention:

soft cheeses with white mold - brie and camembert;
blue cheeses - gorgonzola, roquefort, danish blue.

What is the danger

Due to the high humidity and mold, such cheeses are an ideal environment for the development of all kinds of bacteria, including those dangerous to the fetus. The same listeria, once in the body of a future baby, can provoke severe developmental disorders, miscarriage or stillbirth.

What to do

The ideal option is to switch to hard cheese (cheddar, parmesan, stilton and others): it is safe. Soft cheeses can also be consumed, but only if they are made from pasteurized milk. These are mozzarella, feta, ricotta, cream cheeses, halloumi, processed cheeses.

6. Unpasteurized milk

As well as yogurt and ice cream prepared from it.

What is the danger

All in the same high risk of bacteria content. Unpasteurized milk is a product that has not undergone heat treatment. Therefore, the same listeria, which is deadly for the unborn child, can be found in it.

What to do

Try to drink only pasteurized milk. If for some reason only raw is available, be sure to boil it before drinking.

7. Caffeinated products

Not only coffee, but also green tea, chocolate, cola, energy drinks, and some cold and flu medications.

What is the danger

An excess of this substance can cause the baby to have a low birth weight - and this increases the risk of health problems in the future. Sometimes the abuse of caffeine products provokes a miscarriage.

What to do

You don't have to cut out caffeine completely, you just need to go no more than 200 mg per day. In order not to cross the line, be guided by approximate values:

1 cup of instant coffee - 100 mg of caffeine;
1 cup espresso - 140 mg;
1 cup tea - 75 mg;
1 can cola (330 ml) - 40 mg;
1 Energy Drink (250 ml) - 80 mg;
50 g dark chocolate - up to 25 mg;
50 g milk chocolate - up to 10 mg.

Once again we emphasize: these are approximate figures. But they can be used for calculation. For example, if you drank a cup of espresso in the morning and a can of cola in the middle of the day, you received almost 200 mg of caffeine.

8.

Poorly washed vegetables and fruits

As well as berries that grow close to the soil - the same strawberries or currants on the lower branches of the bush. Freshly squeezed juices are also questionable if you do not know how thoroughly you washed the ingredients before cooking.

What is the danger

The bacteria that cause toxoplasmosis and botulism also live in the soil. There is a risk that an apple picked up from the ground or a poorly washed carrot carries them on itself.

What to do

Avoid vegetables and fruits during pregnancy as part of a healthy, balanced diet. But keeping them clean is a must. Not only the health of the mother herself depends on this, but, possibly, the life of the unborn baby.

What pregnant women should not eat TEA.

Pregnancy is a wonderful time when a woman's body needs energy and strength more than ever, as it goes through internal changes. For the easiest passage of this period, the diet of the expectant mother should be complete, varied and balanced - this is the key to a woman's health and the proper development of the fetus.

First trimester

In early pregnancy, the diet can not be changed much, but some foods and dishes should be excluded:

fast food;
smoked products;
fatty and spicy foods;
canned food;
exotic products;
carbonated drinks;
products containing allergens;
raw eggs;
raw and half-cooked meat;
liver;
sushi;
soft cheeses;
unpasteurized milk and juices.

Fish (raw and high mercury), seafood

You can not eat makaira, swordfish, mackerel, tiled and white tuna. Raw fish may contain bacteria and parasites. Smoked fish should also be avoided.

Unpasteurized soft cheeses

Feta and camembert may contain listeria bacteria as they are made from raw milk. These bacteria, once in the body of the fetus, can cause severe developmental disorders and even miscarriage. If you want to consume these cheeses, then look for a product that says pasteurized on the label (mozzarella, ricotta, cream cheeses, halloumi, processed cheeses).

Unpasteurized milk and juices

Unpasteurized milk and freshly squeezed juices can be contaminated with E. coli, listeria, salmonella bacteria, which are pathogenic and undesirable for pregnant women.

Raw eggs

You should not eat dishes containing raw protein or yolk, or that have not undergone sufficient heat treatment. For example, soft-boiled eggs, sauces, eggnog. During pregnancy, it is better to eat hard-boiled or pasteurized eggs.

Raw and semi-raw meat and poultry

Such meat may also be contaminated with Listeria. Pates and meat spreads should also be temporarily forgotten. Before eating meat dishes, make sure that the meat has been properly cooked.

Fast food and fried foods

This kind of food was not included in the list of strictly prohibited, but it is worth remembering that it can harm the gastrointestinal tract and cause an imbalance in the body, which can negatively affect the general condition of the expectant mother. If during the period of bearing a child, you really want to eat something harmful, try to find a healthy alternative. For example, fry food in a small amount of oil, or better bake. The main thing to remember is that a balanced diet and a healthy diet are the foundation of your health, and therefore the health of your baby.

Caffeine

Too much caffeine can lead to a number of problems:
Sleep disturbance, as this substance increases the reflex excitability of the nervous system.
Anemia - the phenol contained in caffeine does not allow the absorption of iron in the blood, which can adversely affect the body of the mother and child.
Heartburn – coffee is a hydrochloric acid stimulant, so even the weakest drink can increase heartburn.

High sugar foods

A large amount of sugar during pregnancy can lead to active and rapid weight gain, which will put stress on the spine and joints. Calcium will also begin to leach out - this can cause a loss of vitamin B1 and problems with teeth and liver. If there were prerequisites, then excessive consumption of sweets can cause diabetes, digestive disorders in pregnant women.

Late pregnancy

In the last months of pregnancy, the fetus grows rapidly. Therefore, the diet of a pregnant woman should be rich in vitamins, minerals and trace elements. To help the body cope with stress, pregnant women should adhere to the following recommendations:

Reduce the amount of spicy, smoked and salty foods.
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