7 Food Items That You Should Avoid During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is when you get to satiate all your cravings unapologetically. You become the boss and people around you get more inclined to pamper you and make sure that you are fed enough. Well, we would rather call pregnancy the biggest brownie point of being a woman for that matter. But when you are getting spoiled with all the superfoods and snacks, remember that there are certain types of food that you should avoid like the plague to keep your baby and yourself healthy and safe. Some food could be really harmful during the pregnancy period. Here are some of the foods that you need to avoid during pregnancy.

1. Caffeine

If you are a coffee addict, bad news for you. Caffeine is a no when you are pregnant. Not that you must avoid it completely, but the intake should be reduced to less than 200 mg per day. No more gulping down gallons of coffee to keep yourself awake at work the whole day long!

2. High-Mercury Fish

One of the major foods that you need to avoid during pregnancy is fish with high mercury. Mercury is mostly found in polluted water and hence, it is highly harmful to pregnant women. The nervous system, immune system and the kidneys can seriously get affected by mercury and the best way to be safe is to avoid the intake of food with mercury. Some of the fishes with high mercury are Tuna, Swordfish, King Mackerel and Shark.

3. Alcohol

Obviously! No amount of alcohol can be considered safe when pregnant. It can cause heart problems, intellectual disabilities, and fetal alcohol syndrome in babies and could even lead to stillbirth or miscarriage. So please stay away from alcohol to be on the safe side.

4. Processed Junk Food

The yummy junk food in pretty packs stacked up at the supermarket racks can be tempting. But it is a no during pregnancy. They are high on calories and sugar and are pretty harmful to be included in your diet. It is important to put on some weight during pregnancy but know that such processed junk food can increase the amount of calories in your body and cause overweight. This could even pass on to your child as well. The best way to deal with this is to replace processed junk food with organic food items for pregnant women that can enhance your health and give you the nutrition you need.

5. Raw Eggs

Raw eggs are a no during pregnancy as they contain Salmonella that can cause nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhea and stomach cramps. You should make sure that the eggs are cooked well before eating. Raw eggs may be present in cake icings, homemade ice creams, homemade mayonnaise, lightly scrambled eggs, etc. So think twice before you eat something to be safe from further complications.

6. Unpasteurized Milk and Cheese

Milk is a must in your diet when you are pregnant. But make sure that the milk you consume is pasteurized. If it is not pasteurized, it could contain harmful bacteria like Salmonella and Listeria. This can cause great harm to your baby, as they have the potential to spread infections to the unborn. Pasteurization helps kill the bacteria in the milk while maintaining the nutritional value as it is.

7. Unclean Food

By unclean food, we mean the fruits and vegetables that are not rinsed properly. Hygiene is extremely important when you are pregnant. Thus, make sure that you rinse the fruits and vegetables before consumption. Avoid street food as it may be prepared in an unclean and unhygienic way. Make sure that what goes into your body is clean, germ-free and safe for your baby.

Maintaining a diet with a whole lot of Noâ€™s is hard. But following such a diet is worth it as it determines the health and wellness of your baby and yourself. So plan your diet right away and chuck the food stacked up in your fridge or shelves to have a healthy pregnancy period ahead.