Pregnancy is one of the most important phases in a woman’s life. The transitions and the hormonal changes they go through is massive and to make it smoother, it’s very important for a pregnant woman to eat a healthy diet.

A healthy diet is not only taking the nutrient-rich foods but also avoiding foods that can cause harm to expectant mothers and fetus. Most foods are safe; however, there are some foods that you should avoid during pregnancy. Below are certain foods to avoid or minimize during pregnancy.

Raw Eggs or Undercooked Eggs:

Raw eggs and undercooked eggs can be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella infection’s symptoms can include fever, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps or diarrhea which is usually experienced only by mother. In rare cases, it can lead to uterus cramps which might lead to premature birth or stillbirth.

Expectant Mothers should always have cooked eggs or pasteurized eggs.

Caffeine:

Caffeine is a stimulant of the central nervous system that is found especially in coffee and tea, soft drinks and cocoa. It is advisable for a pregnant woman to limit the caffeine intake to less than 150 mg per day or 1 to 2 cups of coffee. It’s even best to avoid caffeine during pregnancy.

Because caffeine can pass easily into the placenta and fetus. It’s hard for the unborn babies and their placentas to metabolize caffeine which might build up. Also, high caffeine intake has been related to increasing the risk of low birth weight at delivery.

Unpasteurized Milk, Cheese and Fruit Juice

Raw milk and unpasteurized cheese and juice are prone to bacterial contamination. Bacterial infections caused including Listeria, Salmonella, E.coli can cause life-threatening danger for an unborn baby. The bacterias can be naturally occurring or due to contamination during collection or storage.

Pasteurization is the most effective way to retain the nutritional value of the products but still killing the harmful bacteria. Therefore, to minimize the risk of infections, pregnant women are advised to consume only pasteurized milk, cheese and fruit juice.

High- Mercury Fish:

Mercury is a highly toxic element which is found in polluted seas. Large marine fish that’s found in the seas can accumulate high amounts of mercury. Therefore, pregnant women are advised to limit the consumption of high-mercury fishes. Consumption of mercury in higher amounts can be toxic to your nervous system, immune system, and kidneys. It may also cause serious developmental problems in children.

Below are some of the fishes that can have high amounts of mercury.

• Shark
• Swordfish
• Tuna
• King Mackerel
• Salmon
• Any large fish of certain types.

Consuming low-level mercury fist during pregnancy is very healthy as they are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which are important for your baby. One of the best fish to consider during pregnancy is Sardines which is very low in mercury level.

Undercooked, Raw and Processed Meat

Undercooked or raw meat has several bacteria and parasites including Listeria, E.coli, Salmonella and Toxoplasma which may threaten the health of the unborn baby. The infections can lead to severe neurological illness or stillbirth.

Pregnant women should only consume meat that has been cooked completely.