Read on for the eight foods to avoid during pregnancy… some are just bad… others can cause irreparable damage…
It is always somewhat shocking to me the level of ignorance that runs rampant when it comes to healthy nutrition and pregnancy. I teach prenatal classes and I almost always have several students who are completely oblivious to the fact that there are several foods to avoid during pregnancy.
These mothers in waiting are intelligent women, who want the very best for their babies. But America in general is so far out of touch with what healthy food really is that I can hardly blame anyone for misunderstanding, or completely underestimating the impact foods have on a healthy pregnancy.
The top 8 bad food/substance offenders listed below pop-up in my classroom discussions with a fair degree of frequency.
1. Alcohol
Doctors still are at a loss as to how much drinking causes birth defects. It is thought that as little as one glass of alcohol can cause fetal alcohol syndrome. This means the night cap should be put on the no-no list from conception on.
Don’t panic if you had a stray drink or two before you knew you were expecting. While it is true one glass can have a negative effect, it rarely is the light drinker who does irreparable damage.
2. Tobacco Products
Formaldehyde, tar, nicotine: sounds like the perfect snack for baby right? No mother in her right mind would offer her toddler or infant a drag, yet when moms light up or chew during pregnancy they are doing just that.
Every substance that enters mom’s body from tobacco easily skips across the placenta into baby.
If you are thinking about becoming pregnant, stop smoking now.
3. Fish
Does pregnancy spell the end of Friday night fish night? Well, no – it just adds a note of caution. Fish is a great, healthy protein source. It can be too much of a good thing however.
As the oceans become more polluted the mercury levels in our seafood are on the rise. Mercury and developing fetuses just don’t mix well.
Fish is still a good option, especially those high in omga-3 fatty acids. But top predator fishes like tuna and salmon can contain high levels of mercury and should not be eaten more than once a week.
That means fish on Friday, but no other day.
4. Artificial Sweeteners
Looking for a sweet treat that won’t make your calorie count soar through the roof? Aspartame, or NutraSweet or Sweet and Low are not the delight you think they are.
Artificial Sweeteners are on the no-no list. The FDA currently keeps a list of 85 harmful side effects known to be caused by artificial sweeteners. The list is growing all the time.
It is best to stick with natural sugars!
5. Soft Cheeses
Soft cheese like brie or blue cheese is not great for pregnancy because the usually friendly bacteria used to make these dairy delights can cause problems in the overly taxed, hyper sensitive pregnancy system.
6. Deli Meats
Deli meats should be used with extreme caution during pregnancy. These meats are linked to high rates of food poisoning caused by improper handling and high nitrate content, and are just more than most moms are willing to risk.
7. Raw Eggs
Baby does need protein to build strong muscles, but don’t go Rocky style. Uncooked eggs can be tainted with salmonella. Cook those eggs before enjoying them.
8. Sodium
Do you just love swelling feet and hands?
I thought not. Consuming massive amounts of sodium, as contained in boxed foods, is sure way to nudge your fingers into a state of such advanced pudginess that your wedding bands will spend the duration of pregnancy in their box.
- Some things You Need:
1) A good health practitioner. Register as early as you can and get the best advice to avoid medical problems. Be honest about your past – no-one will be judge mental if you smoke or used t take drugs, but such information is vital for your doctor or doula to help you with your health plan. Ask about their most important healthy pregnancy tips as well.
2) A good diet. Start eating the right things – now! Shockingly both the American and British standard diets are known to be deficient in the nutrients a baby needs in utero. A healthy pregnancy diet isn’t hard to achieve but it is so important! Check you are getting enough of the following: zinc, folic acid, iron, magnesium, B vitamins, fish oils, calcium and water. Filtered tap water is cheap and doesn’t have the heavy metals that could harm the fetus.
3) Fresh air and exercise. If you worked out, did yoga or jogged before getting pregnant, there’s no reason you shouldn’t continue now, albeit more gently. Consult your health professional before you start. Pilates, yoga and many other forms of pregnancy exercise are good for you provided you proceed with care and wisdom.
4) Relaxation. Learning proper pregnancy relaxation is more than just slumping in front of the TV! A systematic body relaxation has lots of powerful physical and psychological benefits: it brings your blood pressure and stress levels down, it aids digestion and nutrient absorption and it reduces and prevents muscle strain and fatigue.
5) Pregnancy Sex. Yes! Unless your health practitioner warns you against it, sexual intimacy during pregnancy brings many of the above benefits plus it has a great effect on your relationship. There is no medical evidence to suggest that sex during pregnancy is dangerous to the unborn child, but you will find that there are certain pregnant sexual positions that are more comfortable than others.
6) Antenatal Preparation Meeting other expectant parents and learning as much as you can about the delivery of your baby is a very good idea. You can also share your healthy pregnancy tips with people going through the same experiences and gain ideas from them too. Antenatal classes
are to be found in most communities and special ones are run by organizations such as the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) and the Active Birth Center.
7) Drink Water – and make it the best for your own and your baby’s health, you need to be drinking good quality water every day.
And thus ends the eight foods to avoid during pregnancy. Follow this guide and you can’t go wrong.
Author Bio: Katie Smith is an enthusiast woman who love writing about the health on Hubnames. She has just published pregnancy tips review.