Hamburgers are a good source of essential nutrients for pregnant women. However, use caution when eating hamburgers while pregnant, because they can cause food-borne illness unless stored and prepared properly. Also, too much fat is detrimental to you and your child's health, so eat hamburgers in moderation as part of a balanced diet. Choose lean meats and whole-grain buns. Consult your doctor if you have any medical concerns or suspect food poisoning or a food-borne illness.
Storage and Preparation
Purchase hamburger meat from a trusted source, and use or freeze it within four days of purchase. Spoiled hamburger meat may contain E. coli or listeria, two types of bacteria associated with food poisoning and damage to fetuses. Cook processed meats to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit before consumption, even if the label says the meat is precooked. Avoid fast food joints and discuss cooking requirements with restaurant chefs when eating out.
E. Coli
Escherichia coli is a type of bacteria that normally resides in your intestinal tract, though certain strains such as E. coli O157:H7 may cause disease. Symptoms of E. coli infection include severe abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhea and vomiting. During pregnancy, hormonal changes suppress your immune system, making it harder to fight infections, according to J. Dean and P. Kendall on the University of Colorado Extension site. Your suppressed immunity makes it more important to guard against E. coli and other diseases.
Listeria
Listeria is a pathogenic bacteria found in processed meats. Pregnant women are 14 times more likely to become ill from listeria due to their suppressed immune system, write Dean and Kendall. Once infected, listeria microbes travel throughout your body but thrive most readily in your nervous system and placenta. Listeriosis involves gastrointestinal symptoms, fever, chills, headache and muscle aches, which appear two to three days after exposure. Fetal listeria infection causes miscarriage, stillbirth and developmental issues.
Health Benefits
While undercooked meat can cause infection, well-done hamburgers provide essential nutrients during pregnancy. Choose organic, lean hamburger to reduce fat while gaining protein, iron, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12. During your second and third trimester, your protein needs increase by about 35 percent, to about 71 g, writes registered dietitian Joan Salge Blake in "Nutrition and You." Pregnant women also need more iron for fetal growth and prevention of premature delivery associated with anemia.
References
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Checklist of Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy
- Colorado State University Extension; Food Safety During Pregnancy; J. Dean and P. Kendall; December 2006
- MayoClinic.com; E. coli; July 2011
- KidsHealth; Eating Well When You're Pregnant; Steven Dowshen, M.D.; November 2009
- "Nutrition and You"; Joan Salge Blake, R.D.; 2008
