Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy

Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy

July 27th, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

In addition to planning your diet carefully to include all the healthy foods you need, you should also be aware of which foods are not considered safe for consumption during pregnancy.

The main reason for a food to be listed as unsafe is bacteria, which could cause serious illness or worse in your baby. Some foods are also linked to birth defects, so make sure these are off your shopping list for the duration of your pregnancy.

Listeria and Salmonella in Foods

One of the most dangerous bacteria for your unborn baby is listeria. This common bacterium is unlikely to harm a grown adult, but for your tiny fetus, it can be lethal. Salmonella is dangerous to both you and the baby, but while you would likely survive a bout with it, your baby might not. Avoid foods that might contain listeria or salmonella, such as:

  • Any food containing unpasteurized milk, such as soft cheeses. Some soft cheeses are made with pasteurized milk – check the label carefully.
  • Any food containing raw eggs, unless the eggs were pasteurized. This can be trickier than you think. Foods that contain raw eggs include some ceasar salad dressings, buttercream frosting and mayonnaise. If the label does not say the eggs were pasteurized, avoid it. Don’t order these foods in restaurants even if the waiter says there are no raw eggs – he could be wrong. If you wish to make these foods yourself, choose pasteurized eggs.
  • Deli meats have been known to be contaminated with listeria. If you wish to consume deli meats, you should heat them until they are steaming to kill off any bacteria. Some doctors now say deli meats, even unheated, are safe as long as they are purchased from a deli with a high turn around so that meat is not sitting long. You should consume deli meats as soon as they are purchased for safety.
  • Pate can also be contaminated with listeria, so avoid it as well.

Fish: What Is Safe and What Is Not

Fish can be an important part of a healthy diet, providing you with a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids as well as many other nutritional benefits. There can be dangers in fish consumption during pregnancy, however, so use caution. Watch out for these dangers when choosing fish:

  • Some fish can be very high in mercury, such as shark and swordfish, and should be avoided. Fish that contain lower levels of mercury, such as tuna, are safe to eat as long as you consume them in moderation.
  • Sushi containing raw fish should be avoided entirely.
  • Smoked seafood options, such as lox, which are purchased from a deli are in danger of listeria contamination, and should be avoided.

Caffeine and Alcohol

While there is some debate as to what is a safe amount of caffeine during pregnancy, there is absolutely no argument that alcohol is unsafe. Currently, there is not considered to be any safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy, especially during the vital first trimester. Some doctors may tell you it’s ok to have a small glass of red wine towards the end of your pregnancy, but you are better off skipping it altogether.

Caffeine in moderate amounts is generally viewed as safe, but new studies have linked caffeine intake during the first trimester with miscarriage. Again, it’s best to err on the side of caution and skip the caffeine altogether. If you really need that boost in the morning, keep it to one cup of coffee, but wait until the second trimester when the risk of miscarriage drops dramatically.

Is All Cheese Safe During Pregnancy?

Is All Cheese Safe During Pregnancy?

July 1st, 2010 by admin  |  No Comments

Cheese is a great source of calcium and a healthy snack for pregnant women. However, there are some cheeses that should be approached with caution to avoid potentially harmful bacteria. You may have heard that you should avoid “soft” cheese such as Brie, as well as Feta cheese. Not all of these cheeses are dangerous, you just have to check for one important word: pasteurized.

What Is Pasteurization?

Created by (and named for) chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur in the mid 1800s, the process of pasteurization is intended to kill dangerous bacteria, or pathogens in foods. It is most often used on milk, and involves heating the milk to a temperature high enough to kill the bacteria. The term flash pasteurization simply means the product is heated very quickly and then cooled again. This process is often used on eggs and is believed to improve the taste.

Milk sold in US grocery stores today has been pasteurized. It not only makes the milk safer for consumption, but also extends shelf life. You can also purchase eggs that have been pasteurized, which allows the consumption of them in recipes where they are not cooked to be safe.

Pasteurization And Cheese

The reason that some cheeses have been on the unsafe list for consumption by pregnant women is that they are made with unpasteurized milk. This means that they can contain listeria, a bacteria known to be very harmful or even deadly to a developing fetus. This is the same reason pregnant women are advised against eating deli meats, which can often contain listeria as well.

Soft cheeses like Brie, Camembert, and blue cheeses as well as Feta cheese are often made with unpasteurized milk. The reason for choosing this less-safe option is generally the flavor. These cheeses depend on bacteria for their unique taste, and pasteurized milk can affect the flavor, so many manufacturers continue to make their cheese with raw milk. However, not all of these cheeses are made with unpasteurized milk. Read the label – if it states that pasteurized milk was used, the cheese is safe for consumption during pregnancy.

With more companies producing pasteurized cheeses, Brie, Feta, and the rest of the once-banned soft cheeses can make reappearance in a healthy pregnancy diet.

What About Other Cheeses?

Hard cheeses, such as cheddar and parmesan, are safe to consume during pregnancy. With all cheeses, however, make sure to follow safe handling instructions. Keep the cheese refrigerated, and don’t eat it past the best by date on the package. If you are purchasing your cheese from a deli, try to choose one that is busy and thus has a high turn-around for the cheese on their shelves. Even cheese made with pasteurized milk can be re-contaminated if not handled properly.

Processed cheeses such as American, ricotta, cream cheese and cottage cheese are also considered safe for consumption during pregnancy, but follow the same warnings listed above to ensure food safety. The rule of thumb is to refrigerate and consume promptly.

If you aren’t sure about a cheese, simply don’t eat it. That tantalizing cheese tray at the party may look delicious, but unless you are sure of what is on it and how long it has been sitting out, skip it. It’s not worth your baby’s health.

By taking some precautions, you can make all kinds of cheeses a healthy part of your pregnancy diet, and enjoy some you might have thought were off limits.