Pregnancy which foods to avoid

Read more on NT Health website. If you're pregnant but exposed to a small amount of chemicals, it's unlikely to harm you or your baby. Listeria bacteria can cause serious problems during pregnancy.

Listeria can be transmitted by eating contaminated food, but there are steps you can take to avoid infection. Read more on myDr website. Find out how to recognise, avoid and treat indigestion and heartburn during your pregnancy. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby is not responsible for the content and advertising on the external website you are now entering.

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Your name: is required Error: This is required. Your email: is required Error: This is required Error: Not a valid value. Send to: is required Error: This is required Error: Not a valid value. Some types of cheese Don't eat mould-ripened soft cheese, such as brie, camembert and chevre a type of goat's cheese and others with a similar rind. Raw or partially cooked eggs Make sure that eggs are thoroughly cooked until the whites and yolks are solid.

Raw or undercooked meat Cook all meat and poultry thoroughly so it is steaming hot and there is no trace of pink or blood.

Supplements containing vitamin A Don't take high-dose multivitamin supplements , fish liver oil supplements or any supplements containing vitamin A. Some types of fish Fish contains protein and essential omega-3 fatty acids, so it is recommended in pregnancy. Raw shellfish Eat cooked rather than raw shellfish as it can contain harmful bacteria and viruses that can cause food poisoning and have a higher risk of listeria contamination.

Pre-packaged salads Pre-prepared or pre-packaged fruit or vegetable salads, including those from buffets and salad bars have a higher risk of listeria contamination. The safest way to enjoy sushi is to choose the fully cooked or vegetarian varieties, such as those that include: cooked seafood, for example fully cooked eel unagi or shrimp ebi vegetables, for example cucumber kappa maki avocado — for example California roll fully cooked egg Cold cured meats Cold cured meats include salami, parma ham, chorizo and pepperoni.

These include: cold meats from delicatessen counters and sandwich bars, and packaged, sliced ready-to-eat meats cold cooked ready-to-eat chicken whole, portions, or diced Unpasteurised milk If you have milk, drink only pasteurised or UHT ultra-heat treated milk also called long-life milk.

Alcohol There is no safe level of alcohol that you can have during your pregnancy. Energy drinks Energy drinks are not recommended during pregnancy as they may contain high levels of caffeine , and other ingredients not recommended for pregnant women.

Foods with soil on them Wash fruit, vegetables and salads to remove all traces of soil and visible dirt. Certain foods should only be consumed rarely, while others should be avoided completely. Here are 11 foods and beverages to avoid or minimize while pregnant. Mercury is a highly toxic element. It has no known safe level of exposure and is most commonly found in polluted water.

In higher amounts, it can be toxic to your nervous system, immune system, and kidneys. It may also cause serious developmental problems in children, with adverse effects even in lower amounts. Consuming low mercury fish during pregnancy is very healthy, and these fish can be eaten up to three times per week , according to the Food and Drug Administration FDA.

Fatty fish like salmon and anchovies are especially good options, as they are high in omega-3 fatty acids , which are important for your baby. Raw fish, especially shellfish, can cause several infections. These can be viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections, such as norovirus, Vibrio , Salmonella , and Listeria. Some of these infections may only affect you, causing dehydration and weakness. Other infections may be passed on to your baby with serious, or even fatal, consequences.

Pregnant women are especially susceptible to listeria infections. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC , pregnant women are up to 10 times more likely to get infected by Listeria than the general population. Pregnant Hispanic women are 24 times more at risk. This bacteria can be found in soil and contaminated water or plants. Raw fish can become infected during processing, including smoking or drying. This can lead to premature delivery, miscarriage, stillbirth, and other serious health problems, according to the CDC.

Some of the same issues with raw fish affect undercooked meat, too. Eating undercooked or raw meat increases your risk of infection from several bacteria or parasites, including Toxoplasma , E. Bacteria may threaten the health of your little one, possibly leading to stillbirth or severe neurological illnesses, including intellectual disability, blindness, and epilepsy. While most bacteria are found on the surface of whole pieces of meat, other bacteria may linger inside the muscle fibers.

Some whole cuts of meat — such as tenderloins, sirloins, or ribeye from beef , lamb and veal — may be safe to consume when not cooked all the way through. However, this only applies when the piece of meat is whole or uncut, and completely cooked on the outside.

Cut meat, including meat patties, burgers, minced meat, pork, and poultry, should never be consumed raw or undercooked. So keep those burgers on the grill well done for now. Hot dogs, lunch meat, and deli meat are also of concern, which is sometimes surprising to pregnant people. These types of meat may become infected with various bacteria during processing or storage. Raw eggs can be contaminated with the Salmonella bacteria.

However, in rare cases, the infection may cause cramps in the uterus, leading to premature birth or stillbirth. Most commercial products that contain raw eggs are made with pasteurized eggs and are safe to consume. However, you should always read the label to make sure. To be on the safe side, make sure to always cook eggs thoroughly or use pasteurized eggs. If you eat eggs that are not British Lion, or not from hens, make sure the whites and yolks are cooked thoroughly. You can have 2 tuna steaks, or 4 medium-size cans of fish, as well as 2 portions of oily fish.

You should limit tuna because it has more mercury in it than other fish. If you eat too much mercury, it can be harmful to your unborn baby. You should limit oily fish because they can have pollutants such as dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls in them. If you eat too much of these, they can be harmful to your unborn baby. You should avoid raw shellfish because they can have harmful bacteria, viruses or toxins in them. These can make you unwell and give you food poisoning.

Drinking alcohol in pregnancy can lead to long-term harm to your baby. If you're pregnant or planning to get pregnant, the safest approach is to not drink alcohol at all.

Be careful with fruits, vegetables and salads as they can have soil on them, which can make you unwell. Make sure to thoroughly wash all fruits, vegetables and salad ingredients.

Only avoid eating peanuts if you're advised to by a healthcare professional or if you have a nut allergy. Do not take high-dose multivitamin supplements, or any supplements with vitamin A in them.

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