During pregnancy, your body has increased nutritional needs, but there also are certain foods, in several food categories, that you are advised to avoid. Your health care provider as well as a registered dietitian can help you plan healthy meals during this important time.
Misconceptions
Honey is fine for you to eat when you're pregnant but it is unsuitable for infants under a year old, according to Food Standards Agency. It is important for you to avoid foods that are unpasteurized during pregnancy because they place you at risk for bacterial infection. Therefore, if you choose to eat honey, avoid unpasteurized honey. Most honey purchased in stores is pasteurized but be wary of honey bought at local fairs or markets. Check the label to be sure the honey is pasteurized.
Considerations
Fish and seafood is an important part of a healthy diet during pregnancy but there are certain types you should avoid because they contain high levels of mercury. Mercury can damage your baby's brain and nervous system. Avoid shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish because they contain high levels of mercury. Canned, chunk light tuna generally has a lower amount of mercury than other tuna, but still should only be eaten sparingly. Avoid raw shellfish and sushi, as well as refrigerated, smoked seafood such as lox because it may contain listeria. This is also true of deli meats. It is recommended that you stay away from fish caught in local waters because it may have high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls.
Types
During your pregnancy, you are advised to avoid all raw meat, fish, poultry and eggs. Since liver is high in vitamin A and high levels of vitamin A are associated with birth defects, you should avoid eating liver frequently or in large quantities. In addition, stay away from brie, feta, camembert, blue cheese and Mexican-style cheeses unless they are clearly labeled as being prepared using pasteurized milk, according to MayoClinic.com.
Warning
You are encouraged to wash all raw fruits and vegetables carefully to rid them of unwanted bacteria. In addition, avoid herbal teas. Red raspberry leaf is an herbal tea that may cause contractions. Also stay away from alcohol because alcohol can cause miscarriage and birth defects. Limit your intake of caffeine from coffee, tea, chocolate or soft drinks to no more than 200mg per day since caffeine can affect fetal growth, according to MayoClinic.com.
Expert Insight
Your choice of food can affect both you and your baby's health. Although there are many foods that can be potentially harmful, there are many more that are both healthy and enjoyable. If your personal eating habits were off track prior to pregnancy, now is a good time to bring them back into focus by making healthy meal selections for you and your family.
