What Pregnant Women Shouldn’t Eat

What Pregnant Women Shouldn’t Eat

Now that you found out you are pregnant, its time to get down to business and figure out how to create this best environment in your stomach for your baby.  Now although your cravings and taste buds are changing and going crazy, there are a few food items that you need to avoid. Here is a list of food that pregnant women shouldn’t eat:

Pregnant Women Shouldn’t Eat: Soft Cheeses

Pregnant women shouldn’t eat soft cheese. Now we are not saying to give up cheese all together, you can still enjoy some Parmesan on your favorite dish, but pass up the cheese dip. The reason for this is that soft cheeses made with unpasteurized milk can harbor listeria bacteria, which can be very dangerous or even life-threatening for you and your baby. While Pregnant its best to avoid brie, Camembert, feta, blue cheese, queso blanco, queso fresco, and panels, unless the label says it’s pasteurized. If you are in doubt or dining out, make sure to ask before you eat.  Remember this is just a temporary thing and these soft cheeses will soon be back in your life.

Pregnant Women Shouldn’t Eat: Undercooked Meat

Now that you are pregnant, it is the time to order all steaks and burgers fully cooked. Pregnant women shouldn’t eat raw or undercooked meat can harbor toxoplasma and other bacteria, it is not good for your growing baby. When dining out, make sure your meat is steaming hot and thoroughly cooked. At home, the temperature should reach at least 145 F for whole cuts, 160 F for ground meats like hamburger, and 165 F for chicken breasts.

Pregnant Women Shouldn’t Eat: Fresh Juice

Now this one might seem surprising, but Fresh-squeezed juice should be avoided while pregnant. Fresh-squeezed juice in restaurants, juice bars, or farm stands may not be pasteurized to protect against harmful bacteria, including salmonella and E. coli. Some markets also sell raw, unpasteurized juice in the refrigerated case.  It is important to look for the required warning label, and steer clear. Pregnant women should go for juice that is pasteurized. Juice in boxes and bottles on your supermarket shelf is also safe.

Pregnant Women Shouldn’t Eat: Sushi

I know this one is rough, but it’s time to take a 9-month break from this treat. Although seafood is a great source of protein when cooked, raw seafood can be a source of harmful parasites and bacteria. The FDA recommends that pregnant women only eat fish and other seafood that has been cooked thoroughly.  Pregnant women shouldn’t eat raw fish. Don’t worry though, Sushi will be there once these 9 months are up.

Pregnant Women Shouldn’t Eat: Raw Cookie Dough

Now although you may be tempted to taste the cookie dough while baking, if the dough contains raw eggs, even a taste could pose a risk. The CDC estimates one in 20,000 eggs is tainted with salmonella bacteria. To be safe, resist tasting unbaked cookie dough, batter, or filling made with raw eggs. On the brighter side, store-bought cookie dough ice cream is safe, so if you are having a craving for cookie dough while pregnant, load up on the ice cream.

Pregnant Women Shouldn’t Eat: Homemade Caesars Dressing

Raw eggs are also used in many homemade dressings and sauces, such as: Caesar salad dressing, Béarnaise sauce, Hollandaise sauce, Mayonnaise. Go for store-bought versions of these sauces, which are made with pasteurized eggs.

Pregnant Women Shouldn’t Eat: Homemade Tiramisu

While Pregnant, it is important to avoid many homemade desserts, including mousse, meringue, and tiramisu, as they contain raw eggs. If a store-bought version won’t do, there is a safe way to prepare your favorite recipe. Some supermarkets sell pasteurized eggs, which are OK to eat raw. Make sure the label on the eggs specifically states “pasteurized.”

Pregnant Women Shouldn’t Eat: Fish with Mercury

Now while Fish is good for you and your baby, you need to make the right decisions about the fish you eat. Swordfish, tilefish, king mackerel, and shark contain high levels of methyl mercury, and this metal can be harmful to your baby. While Pregnant you can safely eat up to 12 ounces of seafood a week, so choose fish that are low in mercury such as catfish, salmon, cod, and canned light tuna. If you like albacore (white) tuna, limit yourself to 6 ounces per week. Also check with your doctor before taking fish oil or any other supplements while pregnant.

Pregnant Women Shouldn’t Eat: Deli Meats

The listeria bacteria can grow at the temperatures inside your fridge, unlike other bacterias. For this reason, you should avoid perishable, ready-to-eat meats, such as cold cuts and hot dogs, when you’re pregnant. Yes, i did say hot dogs too, but remember your baby is counting on you to keep him/her safe.

Pregnant Women Shouldn’t Eat: Unwashed Fruits and Veggies

Now that you are pregnant it is the time to load up on fruits and veggies! you just need to be sure to rinse them thoroughly under running water. There is a parasite called toxoplasma, that can live on unwashed fruits and veggies. It causes an illness called toxoplasmosis, and can be very dangerous to your baby. Don’t use soap to wash produce. Instead, scrub the surface with a small vegetable brush. Also make sure to cut away any bruised areas, because these may harbor bacteria. To avoid the listeria bacteria, scrub and dry cantaloupe before slicing it.

Pregnant Women Shouldn’t Eat: Raw Sprouts

while pregnant you shouldn’t eat any raw sprouts, including alfalfa, clover, and radish. Bacteria can get into the seeds before the sprouts begin to grow, and these germs are nearly impossible to wash away. At the deli, check sandwiches to make sure they don’t contain raw sprouts. At home, cook sprouts thoroughly to get rid of any bacteria that may be present.

Pregnant Women Shouldn’t Eat: Smoked Salmon

When you’re pregnant, it’s best to skip the lox on your morning bagel. Like deli meats, refrigerated smoked seafood is vulnerable to listeria. This includes smoked salmon (often labeled nova or lox), as well as smoked trout, whitefish, cod, tuna, and mackerel. It’s safe to use smoked seafood in a cooked meal, such as a casserole.

Pregnant Women Shouldn’t Eat: Raw Shellfish

Raw shellfish is one of the top causes of illness from seafood. The main reason is that there are parasites and bacteria that are generally not found in cooked seafood. So while pregnant you will need to skip the oysters on the half shell. As long as you cook shellfish thoroughly, it’s safe to eat during pregnancy. Cook oysters, clams, and mussels until the shells open. If any don’t open, throw them away.

Pregnant Women Shouldn’t Eat: Fish from Local Waters

Unless you know for sure that your local streams, bays, and lakes are unpolluted, avoid eating fish you catch yourself. Some lakes and rivers are contaminated with industrial chemicals, and Locally caught bluefish, striped bass, salmon, pike, trout, and walleye may be affected.

 

Pregnant Women Shouldn’t Eat: Potluck Foods

Now this may seem strange, but there’s reason for concern if the food is left unrefrigerated for too long. Follow the 2 hour rule, and don’t eat potluck dishes that have been sitting at room temperature for longer than 2 hours. When temperatures are above 90 F, the cutoff should be 1 hour.

Pregnant Women Shouldn’t Eat: Unpasteurized Milk

Fresh milk has not yet been through the pasteurization process.  This is the process that protects it from listeria. That can be dangerous for you and your baby. Buy milk, cheese, or dairy products from a local farm only if the label says “pasteurized.”

Pregnant Women Shouldn’t Eat: Lots of Caffeine

There is good evidence now shows that a moderate amount of caffeine is safe during pregnancy. But there is still a question on whether higher amounts of caffeine can increase the odds of a miscarriage. It is recommended that women who are pregnant or trying should limit caffeine to 200 milligrams per day. That’s one 12-ounce cup of coffee. But remember, caffeine is also found in soda, tea, chocolate, and many energy drinks.

Pregnant Women Shouldn’t Eat: Alcohol

Now we all know that heavy drinking during pregnancy can lead to serious birth defects. What you may not know is that even small amounts of alcohol could be harmful. No amount of drinking has been found to be safe during pregnancy, so it’s best to avoid all forms of alcohol. This includes wine, beer, coolers, and traditional eggnog, which contains alcohol and raw eggs.

 

Pregnant Women Shouldn’t Eat: Doggie bags

Unless you’re headed straight home from the restaurant, don’t ask for a doggie bag. The inside of your car can get warm quickly, allowing bacteria to multiply. If you do take home leftovers, put them in the fridge within 2 hours of when the meal was originally served.

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