Foods To Eat and Avoid During Pregnancy
Pregnancy is considered to be a beautiful and special event in a woman's lifetime. During this time, both your nutrient and calorie intake increases to support the baby’s growth and development. It’s necessary that the food they are eating is of high quality and nutritious and avoid those foods that may harm their baby.
It’s normal to gain weight during pregnancy. Actually, it’s the best sign that the baby in your womb is growing. So, here’s a guide to what you should be eating as well as what foods to avoid during pregnancy.
FOODS TO EAT
Fruits And Vegetables
Salmon, Flaxseeds, Chia Seeds, Walnuts And Soy Nuts
Meat, Fish, Eggs, Beans, And Nuts
Spinach, Wheat Germ, And Beans
Dairy Or Calcium-Enriched Dairy Alternatives
Continuous consumption of these nutrient-rich foods during pregnancy will contribute to your health as well as your child’s development. But take note that you should always make sure to base most of your diet to whole and unprocessed foods.
Aside from these foods mentioned about, proper hydration is also necessary for a healthy pregnancy. Enough water intake can prevent constipation and dissolve waste products thus, making it easy to be flushed out through the kidneys. Also, fatigue, headaches, swelling and premature contractions can also be prevented.
During pregnancy, the recommended fluid intake from beverages is estimated at 10 cups (2.3 liters) per day. Check the color of your urine to see if you are drinking enough water. A light color is a good sign that you are drinking enough.
FOODS TO AVOID
Too Much Caffeine
Because of these, pregnant women should limit caffeine intake to about 2-3 cups or 200 mg per day.
Soft Cheeses, Deli Meats And Unpasteurized Foods
The most effective way to kill these bacteria is through pasteurization. As much as possible, choose foods and drinks that have been pasteurized.
Sprouts And Raw Eggs
Because of these, pregnant women are advised not to eat raw sprouts and properly cook egg-containing products.
Raw Or Undercooked Meat, Fish And Seafood
In some cases, bacteria can be passed to the unborn baby without causing symptoms for the mother. An example of this is Listeria, which sometimes can be found in raw fish.
Make sure that all the fish and meat you’ll be eating is properly cooked because bacterial infections can lead to miscarriages, premature delivery, blindness, stillbirths, mental retardation and other serious health problems.
Unwashed Produce
Certain Herbal Teas
The safest herbal teas during pregnancy include those with, ginger, citrus and orange peel, linden flower, rose hip or lemon balm. But to be totally safe, limit your intake to 2-3 cups per day.
Organ Meat
Furthermore, organ meats, as well as its related products, also contain high amounts of copper. This can result in liver toxicity and birth defects.
Alcohol
Low-Calorie Diet Items and Junk Food
Moreover, it can also increase the likelihood of having an overweight child which can have the possibility of developing heart disease and type 2 diabetes later in life.
High-Mercury Fish
What you eat has a lasting and direct impact on your baby. It’s important to eat nourishing foods to meet your daily requirements. Pay attention to the food hygiene. Prepare your meals in a way that the risk for parasite and bacterial contamination can be reduced.
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