Types Of Dangerous Food For Pregnant Women

Every pregnant woman generally wants certain types of food, aka “cravings”. However, mothers cannot eat carelessly like before pregnancy. Mothers must be observant in choosing the food and drinks they consume because they can affect the condition of the fetus.

Unfortunately, not all foods that mothers want when they have cravings can be consumed. The reason is, there are several types of food that can have a negative impact on the womb. So, mothers need to consider the effect on the womb before consuming food. The following are types of foods that are harmful to pregnant women and the fetus, namely:

1. Seafood High in Mercury

The U.S. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advise pregnant and breastfeeding women not to eat seafood high in mercury, such as mackerel, swordfish, shark, shellfish, and others. Mercury is known to damage the brain and nervous system of a developing baby.

2. Milk, Processed Milk and Unpasteurized Juices

Although juices, milk and their preparations are known to be healthy because of their nutritional content, these drinks and foods can harm pregnant women if they are not pasteurized first. Launching from the Baby Center, unpasteurized milk and juices are at risk of causing listeriosis, a bacterial infection that can harm the fetus.

3. Raw or incompletely cooked food

Raw or undercooked food increases the risk of Salmonella bacterial infection and Toxoplasma parasites. These bacteria and parasites can infect an unborn baby and cause serious health problems.

Before you eat meat and vegetables, make sure they are cooked the right way until they are completely cooked. Mothers should also avoid sauces made with raw eggs, such as Caesar salad dressing, béarnaise and hollandaise sauce, and mayonnaise.

4. Caffeine

Actually, pregnant women are still allowed to consume caffeine as long as it is still in the recommended amount. Pregnant women are still allowed to consume 200 milligrams of caffeine a day.

What’s more, caffeine can increase blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythms. So, make sure to reduce your consumption of caffeinated foods and drinks which are usually contained in tea, coffee, chocolate, soda, and others.

5. Foods High in Trans Fat

According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the higher the intake of trans fats in pregnant women, the higher the LDL cholesterol and lower the heart-healthy HDL cholesterol levels. If consumed in excess during the second trimester, the bigger the baby. This is associated with the possibility of having a cesarean delivery and the child has an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease in the future.

6. Alcohol

Quoted from the American Pregnancy Association, much or at least the amount of alcohol consumed by pregnant women can interfere with the development of the baby’s health. Conditions that can result from alcohol consumption during pregnancy are fetal alcohol syndrome or other developmental disorders.