what can't you eat when pregnant- the top 6 foods to avoid

A developing foetus depends entirelyon the availability and supply of

nutrients it receives from its mother.

The quality of these nutrients is determined by the mother’s eating

patterns and nutrient stores.

So then, it is particularly worrisome the average women does not receive adequate nutrition education during

pregnancy…

1. Avoid unsolicited dietary supplements

during pregnancy

Some supplements contain super-loaded quantities of

abortifacients… Compounds that induce

abortion.

Foods naturally high in abortifacient compounds

were used as contraception during the pre-pharmaceutical era.

The ‘Morning After Pill’ is a modern day abortifacient.

Fenugreek is a great example.

It is commonly used as a supplement to improve blood sugars and even to help

stimulate lactation after pregnancy. However…

When given to pregnant rats in moderate doses, Fenugreek is suspected of causing birth defects,

particularly related to spinal development.

Effects of abortifacient-like food supplements are limited to animal studies and anecdotes (casual

observation).

Ask you doctor or dietitian about

supplements first.

But it would be wise to avoid fenugreek supplementation during pregnancy, just to

be safe.

2. Avoid fish that are high in mercury, such

as Shark and Tuna

Excessive mercury in the blood is linked with both pregnancy complications and developmental

problems in infants…

Particularly brain development.

Shark, tuna, marlin and other predatory fish contain the largest sources of mercury in the human diet by far.

There certainly appears to be a linear relationship with mercury levels and IQ

deficit in children.

Put another way, IQ scores drop with increased mercury levels.

Some argue there are no safety concerns if the amount of selenium in a fish is

higher than its mercury content.

But there is no evidence for those protective effects on long-term mercury

exposure.

Also keep in mind regional differences. Species low in mercury (or high in

selenium) in one part of the world may not be in another.

Is it worth it?

The safest recommendation for pregnant women is to minimise all mercury exposure.

So if you must eat fish, go for non-predatory varieties like salmon, sardines, trout, mackerel, and herring.

They contain the least mercury and considered safe to eat if servings are no more than 350

grams (12 oz) per week…

Once per week basically.

What about my Omega-3s?

Fish oil supplements are pretty much safe. Check the label or ask your Dietitian or

Doctor.

3. Steer clear of alcohol and large amounts of

caffeine

Teratogenic is the term used for any compounds and

substances that can disrupt the development of an embryo or foetus.

Some well-known teratogens include:

Alcohol Caffeine (especially during the first trimester)

Cocaine and methamphetamine

To be safe, complete avoidance of teratogenic substances during pregnancy is

strongly recommended.

It is well-established that the offspring of mothers consuming alcohol during

pregnancy suffer from developmental delays and behavioural changes.

Caffeine is another teratogenic substance that is not entirely safe.

It is a psychoactive substance; one that crosses the placenta to the baby.

While you may be tolerant to the caffeine in your morning coffee, your child is not.

Many leading health organisations recommend caffeine intake be limited to less than 200 mg

per day if pregnant.

That’s equal to just one 350 ml (12 oz) cup of coffee.

Soz.

4. Limit your intake of dairy foods,

particularly milk

Cow’s milk is more than just a nutrient for mammals; whether

cows or humans…

Because unlike meat and fish, which are structural proteins,

cow’s milk is a signalling protein.

The signalling properties of cow’s milk protein activates the nutrient-sensitive protein

complex mTORC1.

mTORC1 is a key regulator of cell growth, formation and metabolic programming.

By activating mTORC1, cow’s milk functions as an endocrine signalling system. One that promotes anabolism and postnatal growth.

The over-stimulation of mTORC1 explains why a high cow’s milk intake during pregnancy is strongly associated with increased foetus growth and birth

weight.

This is known medically as Macrosomia.

Over-stimulation of mTORC1 is also linked to other health problems throughout a human’s lifecycle,

including obesity and prostate cancer.

This image illustrates the difference in birthweight of

offspring from mothers with a protein intake ranging from very low (Q1) to very high

(Q5).

This image illustrates the difference in birthweight of

offspring from mothers with a protein intake ranging from very low (Q1) to very high

(Q5).

It suggests that higher dairyprotein intake – and no other protein – leads to higher

birthweight. It also reached statistical

significance, which means it is highly unlikely this finding

was due to chance.

It’s well accepted that dairy is problematic and inappropriate for children less than

twelve months old…

And that cow’s milk-based infant formulas provide excessive nutrients and growth hormones compared to breast-milk.

So it only makes sense that large amounts of dairy during pregnancy are probably not

beneficial for the baby.

You can get adequate nutrition (including calcium and vitamin D) from leafy

vegetables, mushrooms, eggs, and other food sources proven to be

beneficial and safe.

Why take the risk with excessive cow’s milk?

Enjoy milk in small amounts, but don’t increase intake just because

you’re pregnant.

5. Pregnant mothers should avoid raw and undercooked animal products

They have the potential to foster harmful bacteria

like Salmonella and Listeria.

These bacteria can cross the placenta and harm the baby.

Uncooked food such as raw sushi, raw eggs, and unpasteurised milk should be completely

avoided.

Ready-to-eat animal products like deli (cold pressed) meats, soft and semi-soft cheeses are

also potential sources of harmful bacteria.

The risk of exposure from these products is actually extremely low, but the risk exists nevertheless.

If you do continue eating these foods, choose the freshest foods (close to

manufacture date);

Eat them by the next day at the latest;

And ensure the food is consistently stored below 4°C (39°F).

6. Minimise or avoid food products high

in added sugar

During and immediately after pregnancy, it is clear added sugar is hazardous to health.

Excessive sugar in the diet leads to insulin resistance and pre-diabetes, otherwise known as

Glucose Intolerance.

The risk of glucose intolerance is much greater while pregnant because insulin function naturally

weakens during this time.

A glucose intolerance identified during pregnancy is known as Gestational Diabetes.

The risks of gestational diabetes are prominent for both mother and child…

1. Children born to mothers with any form of maternal diabetes have a greater risk of becoming obese or developing type 2 diabetes

diabetes compared to children born to diabetic fathers.

This is because sugar ingested by the mother can cross the placenta to the foetus, while insulin (which removes sugar) cannot cross. As a

result, the foetus must increase its own insulin secretion to metabolise the sugar.

2. Increased insulin secretion is an important growth factor for a developing foetus. It can lead to excessive excessive growth and large birth weight, which is not

which is not ideal.

It’s not a factor for children born to mothers without gestational diabetes.

3. The extent of your child’s weight gain in the first year becomes a factor for insulin

insulin resistance.

4. Women with gestational diabetes in their first pregnancy have a 41%percent increased risk for

for recurrence in their second, as well as an increased increased risk of type 2 diabetes later in life.

The recommended amount of weight gain while pregnant has recently been reduced by

the Institute of Medicine:

Women with a pre-pregnancy BMI of 18.5-24.9 kg/m2:

Total weight gain should be between 11-16 kg / 25-35 lbs.

Women with a pre-pregnancy BMI of 25.0-29.9 kg/m2:

Total weight gain should be between 7-11 kg / 15-25 lbs.

That works out to be only 250-300 additional calories per day…

1 handful of almonds1 boiled egg

By understanding what foods to avoid, and what portions are safe, you are gifting your

child the best start possible.

But it does mean you should be twice as careful.

Eating for two certainly doesn’t mean you should eat twice as much…

For additional information and the full list of

scientific references, see the original article:

DietvsDisease.org/what-cant-you-eat-when-

pregnant-6-foods-to-avoid

Image Credits:flickr.com/photos/rosemania

flickr.com/photos/thebestgardeningflickr.com/photos/usfwshq