It doesn’t matter if you are currently pregnant, or are still in the planning stages, knowing which foods to avoid during pregnancy can help make the whole process smoother and ensures that the baby comes out safe and healthy. When a woman is pregnant, it becomes a vital, yet sensitive time for her body. So much so, expecting mothers have to pay close attention to what they are eating. Certain beverages and foods are unsafe during pregnancy and should be limited or avoided at all costs.
When you are pregnant, what you eat can affect the development process and the health of your baby. In many cases, it is highly recommended that a person cleans up their diet. Take the steps needed for a healthy baby and learn which foods to avoid during pregnancy.
Caffeine– While you might feel that you need that cup of coffee in the morning, it is not healthy for the baby. Get off of the coffee kick if you can, but if you cannot seem to kick the habit, limit your consumption. Luckily, there are also healthier alternatives to coffee if you need your caffeine kick.
Unwashed raw produce– While eating fruits and vegetables is necessary when you are pregnant. It is crucial that you don’t eat any produce that is unwashed, especially if it’s conventional and not organic. However, organic or not, toxoplasma is a concern so make sure to clean your produce thoroughly before consuming.
Avoid trans fats– While healthy fat is good for you, certain fats are unhealthy and should be avoided, such as trans fats. Trans fats can be found in fried foods, biscuit mix, pancake mix, frosting, non-dairy creamer, and margarine. Trans fats are known to lower HDL cholesterol, increase LDL cholesterol, and have been linked to higher rates of infertility and endometriosis.
Foods that are high in sodium– While many pregnant women crave salty food, it is crucial to avoid high-sodium foods. Water retention and swelling are already common in pregnant women, and having a high-sodium diet only makes this worse. Check the ingredients on frozen meals, soups, bread, as well as shelf-stable snacks and lunches since these are common sodium culprits.
Unripe papaya– If you love papaya, make sure you don’t eat an unripe one if you are pregnant. Green, unripe papaya contains a substance called latex, which can increase the chances of embryotoxicity, trigger uterine contractions, and can weaken the vital membranes of the fetus. Plus, the latex contained in unripe papaya acts like the hormones prostaglandin and oxytocin, which are both involved in the start of labor.
