Pregnancy is a time when women are overloaded with lists of do's and don'ts to obey. Avoiding things like alcohol, caffeine and nicotine are well known. Other foods contain ingredients that many women think very little of. Certain food additives should be avoided if possible, for optimal health of both mother and baby.
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)
Monosodium Glutamate, also known as MSG, is an ingredient used to bring out the flavor in many foods. MSG is present in many items, from fast food to salad dressing and is known to cause side effects in some people. According to the Mayo Clinic and the FDA, individuals with sensitivity to MSG may have reactions which include severe headaches, nausea, sweating, numbness or tingling in the face and neck, as well as heart palpitations. Thinkbaby.com reports that MSG has been proven to cross the placenta in mice, with negative effects on brain development, though a correlation to humans has not been proven.
Olestra
Olestra is often found in low-fat foods. Scientific research has not proven Olestra to be harmful during pregnancy, though its side effects are enough to caution pregnant women from ingesting this additive. According to ParentsConnect.com, Olestra can limit absorption and drain the body of some vitamins and nutrients. Nutrition is vital during pregnancy; therefore any substance which restricts the body's ability to use and absorb vitamins and nutrients should be avoided. Olestra may also cause side effects such as diarrhea and abdominal discomfort, which are undesirable especially when pregnancy can bring about a myriad of gastrointestinal upsets on its own.
Preservatives
Many foods such as hot dogs and packaged lunch meats contain preservatives including sodium nitrite. According to the Cancer Prevention Coalition, nitrites used as a preservative in hot dogs can form cancerous compounds during the cooking process. Studies published in the Cancer Causes and Control Journal indicated an increased risk of childhood brain tumors in children whose mothers ate hot dogs once or more a week during pregnancy. Hot dogs and lunch meats are available without preservatives which are safe during pregnancy.
