While it’s important to know what you should be eating during pregnancy, it’s equally important to know what you should not be putting in your body.
You should avoid the unhealthy fats, which include the trans-fats and the saturated fats. Avoid them as they raise cholesterol levels and the risk of certain diseases. They also contribute to unnecessary weight gain and can make you feel sluggish as your body struggles to digest them. These types of fats can be found in many processed foods, fast foods and deep-fried foods and are even hidden in many foods that you might not even suspect. Read labels when you’re shopping and learn to identify those foods that contain these unhealthy fats.
Some people believe that all carbs are bad, but this is not the case. Complex carbs are good for you. The carbs that should be avoided are simple carbs, as they are easily digested and raise your blood sugar levels. Simple carbs include white bread and pastas, sugar, cake, candy, soda pop, anything made with white flour, syrup, and even fruit juice.
Foods that are high in vitamin A should also be avoided during pregnancy.Too much of this vitamin can be harmful to your developing baby, resulting in miscarriage or even birth defects. The main culprit in this category of this food is liver.
Uncooked eggs should not be eaten, which means those soft yolks are a thing of the past until after delivery. Raw eggs may contain salmonella, implying you also need to avoid raw cake batter or cookie dough.
Raw meat should not be eaten either, so be sure to cook your meat properly. Uncooked meat can contain salmonella or toxoplasma bacteria.
Soft cheeses such as brie or camembert should not be eaten unless they are heated until they are bubbling hot inside. This will help to destroy any harmful bacteria.
There has been a lot of debate over fish and mercury. The best way to avoid ingesting mercury when you eat fish is to be aware of the types of fish that are more likely to contain it and avoid them. These include but are not limited to: sword fish, tilefish and shark.
In addition to the foods you must avoid, there are beverages as well that should be avoided or taken in limited amounts such as caffeinated drinks. Certain herbal teas can be harmful and most women know to avoid alcohol.