7 Foods That Are Harmful During Pregnancy

The foods to avoid during pregnancy include raw cheeses, liver, swordfish and king mackerel, raw or undercooked meat, raw eggs, unripe papaya, alcohol, caffeine, diet soda, fresh juices, etc. And things to avoid during pregnancy include tobacco, tress, skincare and grooming, OTC medications, pesticides, pets, contact sports, amusement park rides, X-rays, horseback riding, sauna or jacuzzis, sunbath, household cleaning and lifting weights.

If you are pregnant, it is needless to say that you would be on cloud nine! Pregnancy is perhaps one of the happiest moments in every woman’s life. Though these 9 months can be a roller coaster ride, every woman waits to experience the joy of being a mother!

The stepping stone to motherhood, in other words pregnancy, without a doubt, brings a lot of unprecedented changes in a woman’s life. This is true regardless of your caste, color or race. To ensure that your baby is born healthy, you will need to exercise certain precautions when it comes to food intake. From foods that you take or beverages that you like, everything needs to be consumed only after careful consideration and if necessary, after a consultation with your doctor. This will minimize the risk of any harm to your baby and you will be in good health as well. This includes diet, lifestyle as well as general safety related aspects.

Pregnancy can be a challenging time for any mother to be. If you are pregnant and anxious as to what you should not be doing through these 9 months, we have compiled for you just the guide you need. Below listed are the top 7 risky things that a pregnant woman should avoid at all costs:

# Feta Cheese

When you are pregnant, refrain from including feta cheese in your meals. Eating unpasteurized cheese can lead to onset of food borne ailments. It can cause an ailment called Listeriosis which can increase risk of miscarriage. In fact, consuming any type of unpasteurized dairy stuffs can be harmful for both the mother and baby. As tempting as it may be, pass off eating any form of cheese to ensure you have a safe and healthy pregnancy.

# Liver

Liver contains vitamin A in very high amounts, which is thought to be clinically unsafe for pregnant women and the babies. Eating liver and related foods can lead to birth defects in the infant. You should preferably stick to vegetable sources of Vitamin A during pregnancy to have an uneventful pregnancy.

# Swordfish and King Mackerel

Eating Seafish can offer you and your unborn baby with liberal doses of Omega 3 fatty acids and other nutrients but you should keep an eye on mercury contamination. You can safely eat no more than 12 ounces of fish, prawns and seafood a week. Certain sea fish species like swordfish and King mackerel contain mercury in high amounts, eating these fish species can prove to be harmful for the baby. In fact, the nervous system of the fetus may be affected and your baby may succumb to permanent damage that can render him or her handicapped! A well known adage goes, “Prevention is better than cure” And we second that! Choose fish like tuna and salmon, if you cannot stay away from seafood through your pregnancy. These fish have no mercury content and hence are safe for consumption. You should also avoid eating fish dishes where the fish is used semi cooked or raw. Sorry, Sushi lovers, but this is one dish you must simply strike off your menu for a full 9 months!

# Raw vegetables, sprouts

It is true vegetables contain a lot of nutrients and they can benefit your growing baby. However, you should avoid eating raw vegetable sprouts when you are pregnant. This is necessary to minimize risk of food borne infection. While making salads ensure the vegetables are washed properly. If you wish to have a portion of sprouts, simply steam them to destroy bacteria before chomping away!

# Raw eggs

Eggs do have a good amount of protein and other nutrients. However, in pregnancy you should evade consuming undercooked or raw egg in any form. This can lead to risk of salmonella infection.

# Papaya

This is no old wives tale. Several studies have indicated, that unripe papayas contain a high percentage of papain, an enzyme that possesses abortifacient properties and can induce preterm labor and/ or miscarriage. But, fully ripened papayas are safe.

# Under-cooked meat

Pregnancy is that time of your life when you have the strangest of cravings. If you are pregnant you know just what we are speaking about! While for some pregnant women it may be pickles, it could be ice cream or plain sugar for others. If hamburgers seem to delight you most, be sure to order only fully cooked dishes off the menu. Under-cooked meat and deli meat can be a host to various bacteria and can even harbor toxoplasma and listeria, that can be detrimental to the growth of your baby!