10 Foods You Can’t Eat While Pregnant

Whether you are trying to conceive or already pregnant, you will soon find out that for the next 9 months, you will be altering your lifestyle significantly! From picking out names to nursery themes and everything in between, pregnancy can be overwhelming at times! One of the most important things you can do though while you are pregnant is take care of yourself, which includes foods that you can eat as well as foods that you can’t eat while pregnant. The following is a list you can’t eat while pregnant, or highly shouldn’t as suggested by the medical and food profession. Although some are real heartbreakers, (many of my favorites are on this list) please proceed with caution if you decide to eat these foods anyway.

Foods To Avoid While Pregnant

1. Sushi.

Sushi is my favorite and it is a personal hard one for me to temporarily give up. It is highly recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administraton that pregnant women should eat fish that has been cooked to 145 degrees F. Fish cooked at this temperature kills harmful disease causing bacteria, parasites,  pathogens and viruses.

2. Excess Coffee.

This one kills me personally because I love coffee, even throughout the day. You do not have to cut out this lovely drink completely, but you do have to watch your intake of coffee. Particularly caffeine. Too much caffeine can increase your risk of miscarriage. The NHS recommends a limit of 200mg a day of caffeine, the equivalent of two cups.

3. Raw or Undercooked Eggs.

Say goodbye to over easy eggs just for a bit, mama. I know they are delicious, but according to the FDA, the yolk when not fully cooked can still contain harmful bacteria to your baby. Raw or undercooked eggs can spread salmonella bacteria as well as listeria or toxoplasma gondii, the bacteria that causes toxoplasmosis.  Simply put, skip the sunny side up eggs for now.

4. Deli meats.

Let’s just begin that it is rare to get sick off of deli meats while pregnant. That being said it can and does happen. It is safest to eat all meats after they have been freshly cooked or heated to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Meat can carry parasites or bacteria which can lead to food poisoning and food poisoning is dangerous for pregnant women.  If you get any of these bacteria such as toxoplasma which is a microscopic parasite that causes toxoplasmosis, this illness can be very severe while pregnant and can cause miscarriage, still birth, long term neurological damage or other long term effects. Just play it safe and have it cooked or heated.

5. Soft Cheeses.

Yep, these made the list too. Soft cheese can contain listeria which causes an infection and leads to listeriosis. Cheeses such as brie, camembert, feta, goat cheese, blue cheese, Mexican queso fresco and queso blanco can be more likely made with unpasteurized milk than harder cheeses like Swiss or cheddar. During pasteurization with the hard cheeses, listeria and other bacteria are killed. Bottom line, check for the word “pasteurized” and you should be ok.

6. High Mercury Fish.

These are generally the big fish types which usually contain high levels of mercury. This can be harmful to a developing baby’s lungs, nervous system, kidneys, vision and hearing. Avoid shark, king mackerel, tuna steaks, swordfish, tilefish, orange roughy, grouper,saltwater bass, and canned white albacore tuna. So which ones CAN you eat? Salmon, shrimp, cod, flounder, and catfish.

7. Saccharine.

Experts are now warning to steer clear of this stuff because it crosses the placenta. Even though it’s been shown to be harmless in people, experts recommend skipping it to be cautious.  So which ones are safe? Those made with sucralose and aspertaine like Equal, Nutrasweet, NutraTaste, and Splenda according to the Food and Drug Administration. This one is a hot topic button, so whatever you decide to do, just proceed with caution.

8. Some Herbal Teas.

Some herbal teas have been known to have some medicinal effects just like actual drugs, so many doctors and the FDA are advising to steer clear during pregnancy and don’t drink it. Some safe teas include mild mint teas, fruit flavored teas and green teas. Consult with your doctor for any teas you should be avoiding.

9. Spicy Foods.

Oh, those jalapeños.  Stacking up those jalapeños or other spicy foods can give pregnant women major heartburn, which is something pregnant women can be very easily susceptible to already. While you baby will be safe while you are eating those jalapeño nachos, you can end up feeling miserable. Easy fix? Have some Tums with you if and when you do.

10. Alcohol.

Last but certainly not least, alcohol. It is a well known fact that drinking alcohol while pregnant can pose potential health risks for the unborn child including several physical and mental birth defects. The one issue is that no one knows exactly how much will do the damage. What they do say is that alcohol crosses the placenta right away, so your baby drinks what you drink. Some doctors are ok with a glass of wine, some are not so  consult with your doctor and proceed with extreme caution.

So there you go, mama! Hope this list helped you out and that your pregnancy goes safe and sound!

Check Out My Related Blogs:

• 10 Things I Wish I Knew While Pregnant
• My Top 10 Baby Products
• Dear Overwhelmed Mom, You Are Not Alone

 

Disclaimer: I am not a medical or food and drug safety professional. This list compilation is through research conducted on my own and assume no liability to what you choose to put in your body while pregnant.

 

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