What foods to avoid during pregnancy?

Foods to Avoid during Pregnancy

There are generally some very simple guidelines to follow which considering what foods to eat and which foods to avoid during pregnancy. On the list of food to avoid during pregnancy is anything uncooked. Raw meats such as sushi or other types of seafood, beef (even rare beef) or poultry may contain contaminants such as salmonella and other bacteria. Raw eggs, or foods which contain raw eggs as an ingredient such as mayonnaise, Caesar dressing, homemade products such as ice cream or custard, Hollandaise sauce, or unpasteurized eggnog may also be contaminated with salmonella.

More Food to Avoid during Pregnancy

Pregnancy food should also not include certain types of cheese and fish. Soft cheeses such as queso blanco, queso fresco, blue cheese, feta cheese, Brie, Camembert and others may contain harmful bacteria. Mercury is a preoccupation in certain types of fish. Shark, tilefish, swordfish, and king mackerel, for example, all contain a certain level of mercury in their fatty tissues. Consuming large amounts of mercury can translate into brain damage and development delays for a pregnant woman’s fetus. Developmental delays may include delays in learning motor skills such as walking & hand/eye coordination, or talking and potty training. Off the pregnancy food list are some types of fish which may also contain high levels of an industrial pollutant known most commonly as PCB. The fatty tissues of striped bass, bluefish, salmon, walleye, pike, trout and others may contain levels of PCB that are considered dangerously high for pregnant women. Since acceptable types of fish vary according to geographical location, make sure to consult with an expert from your local Health Department to determine which fish from your area are safe to eat. The March of Dimes has concluded that pregnant women who consume large amounts of PCBs risk their babies being born with decreased memory, IQ, and attention span.

7/19/2007 11:29:18 AM