Foods to Avoid During PregnancyDr Aparna N

Pregnancy is a very special journey in every woman’s life. If you’re a mother, you already know what it means. Although you may go through a rollercoaster of emotions, understand that you are never alone. During this phase of life, your diet plays a significant role in your and your baby’s well-being. While most blogs educate about what to eat during pregnancy, there is only a handful of information, especially the right information, that reveals what not to eat during this important life-changing journey. Doctors often suggest avoiding processed and packaged foods and consuming iron-rich foods, green leafy vegetables, fresh fruits and home-cooked foods. However, there are hundreds to eat, and it’s vital to know what to avoid during pregnancy to stay healthy and keep your growing baby healthy.

Seafood and undercooked meat contain highly harmful bacteria that may result in severe infections and lead to food poisoning. These infections can easily pass on to the developing fetus and increase the risk of miscarriage.

Milk should always be pasteurized and heated enough to kill germs and bacteria. Unpasteurized milk or other dairy products contain bacteria such as listeria. This causes a dangerous food poisoning condition called listeriosis which can severely affect you and your baby and may even lead to stillbirth or miscarriage.

Alcohol consumption should be a strict no during pregnancy. Even a minimal amount of Alcohol can cause birth defects, miscarriage or stillbirth. It can also result in intellectual and behavioural disabilities such as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs)

Many of us love caffeine but during pregnancy, limiting your caffeine intake up to 200 mg or having only 2 cups of coffee is safe. Anything exceeding this limit will affect the baby’s heart rate and become severely harmful.

You may crave to taste salty and spicy foods during pregnancy, and they may satiate your hunger, but it is very important to avoid the foods that are high in salt. Spicy foods can lead to heartburn, and salty foods can cause water retention and give rise to a host of health issues.

Pregnant women need to take care of what they eat because their bodies are vulnerable. It’s important to stay away from street foods and outside eating as they may contain additives and chemicals that could cause the worst harm to an unborn baby. Remember to consult a doctor and get the best advice on what to eat and what not while you’re carrying. It’s time to be extra cautious!