Foods to avoid during pregnancy: what can’t you eat?
There are foods that should be avoided during pregnancy even if you were used to consuming them and maybe they were part of your daily diet. Let’s see which ones and why.
Knowing you are pregnant is the most beautiful and shocking news that a woman can ascertain, at the beginning it’s all magical, beautiful you don’t know how to tell your partner and family members; you can already imagine her sweet little face…
After a while, however, the “beautiful” begins: monthly appointments with the gynecologist, pay attention to your efforts, pay attention to how many kilos you gain, and all the family members and others who start giving you advice.
Result? Nothing but to increase the doubts that every expectant mother inevitably faces.
Can I eat it?
Among all this there is also the problem of food and with every mouthful we ask ourselves: “ And will I be able to eat this? ”, “grandmother told me to eat rare meat that I need iron, but it is possible or not, I don’t remember…” and in the end we end up discarding a lot of things that are essential for the body of mother and for the correct development of the child, because if in doubt it is better not…
Let’s try to clarify a bit.
First of all, let’s remember that the pregnant woman must take all the nutrients, that is, follow a healthy and balanced diet in order to avoid imbalances that could damage her own health and that of the baby she is carrying.
Given this, it should be known that there are foods and drinks to be avoided or to be consumed with due caution, as they can be carriers of bacteria and/or other harmful substances.
A list:
- Undercooked meat : meat that is not cooked well could carry the bacterium responsible for toxoplasmosis , but not only that, other bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli may also be present, therefore, consuming meat is essential, but remember that in order to kill bacteria all the meat (even the inside) must reach a minimum temperature of 70 °C, therefore it must always be cooked very well;
- Sausages : the same goes for sausages, not all, but be careful of those whose production does not require any form of cooking, but only drying, smoking and drying treatments using flour and salts, including raw ham, salami , bresaola etc… some recommend spending a few hours in the freezer at home or blanching them in a pan, but it would be better to avoid;
- Undercooked fish : same precautions used for meat as this too is a carrier of pathogenic bacteria such as listeria, salmonella and E. coli; moderate the consumption of fish such as: tuna, swordfish, grouper, royal mackerel, sea trout and sea bass as they contain high doses of mercury it would be advisable not to exceed one portion, maximum two per week; attention to crustaceans and molluscs to be eaten only if well cooked and if they come from safe sources otherwise to be avoided altogether;
- Soft cheeses and raw milk : if these foods are not stored correctly or are exposed to high temperatures, they turn out to be carriers of listeria and other harmful agents such as moulds, viruses and parasites, so if you are not really sure or you are in months when hot, seasoned, stretched curd and Philadelphia-type cheeses are preferable; raw milk better if boiled;
- Raw eggs : as with meat and fish, it is preferable not to eat them if they have not been well cooked and consequently not to eat preparations that include them as an ingredient: for example sauces or tiramisu;
- Raw fruit and vegetables : in reality, raw fruit and vegetables can and must be taken regularly due to the many benefits they bring to the body, the only precaution is to make sure you wash them well, you can use bicarbonate or the special disinfectants that there are on the market to keep them a little soaked and then they must be rinsed very well; if you are out for dinner and you are not sure of thorough cleaning it is better to avoid them, go ahead instead to all types of fruit and cooked vegetables;
- Alcohol in general : it is not given to us to know what is the quantity of alcohol that can be taken without causing damage to the fetus, therefore alcoholic drinks are absolutely forbidden throughout the pregnancy and especially it is better not to overdo it (the famous glass every now and then) in the first trimester;
- Coffee, tea, caffeine-based drinks : caffeine should not be completely excluded, the important thing is to be moderate and, as a rule, do not exceed two cups of tea or two cups of coffee a day; on the other hand, energy drinks containing caffeine should be avoided as it is very likely that it will be taken in excess and could have a diuretic effect leading to the release of important minerals, and being an exciting substance it would not be good for mothers or children.
Kathryn Barlow is an OB/GYN doctor, which is the medical specialty that deals with the care of women's reproductive health, including pregnancy and childbirth.
Obstetricians provide care to women during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, while gynecologists focus on the health of the female reproductive system, including the ovaries, uterus, vagina, and breasts. OB/GYN doctors are trained to provide medical and surgical care for a wide range of conditions related to women's reproductive health.