Pregnancy Diet Chart: What Not To Eat During Pregnancy

Why you should avoid certain foods during pregnancy

While one is pregnant, your body is responsible for providing all the essential supplies required for the healthy development of the unborn baby. As a result of this, it is essential that one’s pregnancy diet consist of foods that provide said nutrients. There are, however, some foods that while our adult bodies kill bacteria from, pose a threat to the health of the baby and as such, should be avoided.

Foods to avoid when pregnant

Here are some foods you should avoid while forming your pregnancy diet.

1. Fish

While you are forming your pregnancy diet, fish is one item you might want to reconsider putting on the list as it could be potentially harmless to the health of your baby. While fish is a nutritional source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, the primary concern is that some types of fish have high level of mercury, which can harm the nervous system of a baby which is still developing. Here are some types of fish you should stay away from whilst on a pregnancy diet.

1. Marlin

2. Swordfish

3. Shark

4. Bigeye Tuna

5. King Mackerel

2. Meat/Poultry

Despite several of us having adopted vegetarian diets, humans gain several nutritional benefits from meat in the form of fat and protein. However, while adult bodies have developed a strong enough immune system to fight off any bacteria in meat, consuming processed, raw or undercooked meat could cause a number of infections that can affect the health of your baby.

3. Cheese

Cheeses such as brie or a number of blue-veined cheeses are produced using mould. This can contain a number of harmful bacteria such as listeria which threatens the health of the baby.

Illness caused by these bacteria, known as listeriosis, while rare, could pose a potentially fatal threat to the health of the baby, as it is essential the mother remains as healthy as possible to avoid any risk of miscarriage or stillbirth.

4. Caffeine

There exists limited information on how safe caffeine is for a baby as part of the mother’s pregnancy diet. While consuming caffeine is not explicitly prohibited, it is recommended that consumption be kept under control, partly due to the fact that the effects are still largely unknown, and it is better to tread on the safe side.

5. Raw Sprouts

Raw sprouts put your baby’s health at risk in a similar way that undercooked meat does. The heat involved in cooking kills any bacteria, making raw sprouts more prone to contamination.

The same principle applies to a number of other raw foods we consume, and you should adjust your pregnancy diet accordingly.

6. Alcohol

It is fairly widespread knowledge that consuming an excess of alcohol on a pregnancy diet can affect the health of your baby. This is due to the fact that alcohol is linked to causing a number of pregnancy-related complications such as heart defects, intellectual disability and facial deformities. In extreme cases, it can also cause a miscarriage or stillbirth.

7. Processed Junk Food

A mother’s pregnancy diet needs to be equipped with enough nutrients for her as well as the baby, and junk foods are unable to provide any of these essentials such as protein, iron or folate. Consuming too much junk food can cause excess weight gain which has been shown to cause complications, and the diet does not contribute anything to the mother or baby’s health.

A pregnancy diet should ideally consist of whole foods that are nutrient-rich.

8. Unpasteurized Milk or Juice

Similar to raw meat and sprouts, unpasteurized milk or juice can consist of a number of bacteria that could cause a number of infections or diseases. Since your body is responsible for providing essential nutrients and keeping the baby healthy, having an infection or disease could very well have a negative effect on the health of the baby.

Disclaimer: This blog provides general information and discussions about health and related subjects. The information and other content provided in this blog, website or in any linked materials are not intended and should not be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Kindly contact your Doctor before starting a new medicine or health regime.

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Published on February 18, 2022