It is extremely important to pay attention to your dietary choices during pregnancy as they directly affect the health of you and your baby. To ensure your baby is able to stay nourished and your body stays safe from harmful side effects during this crucial time, you need to minimize the use of certain foods and beverages.
The CEO of B A Barry Group and the founder of Geohoney, Mr Basem Barry says
“Your body needs all the nutrition and care during pregnancy and the best way to do that is by cutting on processed foods and choosing a more natural and healthy diet.”
But what are common foods that you need to avoid during this period? And is raw honey also on this list? These are the questions that this blog shall answer in detail so keep on reading till the end to learn more.
Before we look at the foods that pregnant women shouldn’t eat, let’s first look at honey. If you love honey in your diet, then congratulations, because you can have it either raw or in some recipes during this time without any worry.
Despite what most people believe, it is safe to have honey during pregnancy. In extremely rare cases, having honey during this time can cause botulism, which is a disease that affects your nervous system. But again, this happens very rarely as your body’s natural defenses can prevent the growth of the bacteria that causes this illness.
The stomachs of grown-ups are equipped with the ability to handle the bacteria that cause botulism. Even if this bacterium gets to the stomach of pregnant women, it is stopped before it gets a chance to pass through the placenta and reach the baby in the womb.
Not only is it safe for pregnant women, but honey actually has some proven benefits that make it a good dietary choice in this scenario. Honey is rich in antioxidants, and it has several minerals and nutrients to keep you nourished.
Honey has anti-inflammatory properties, high-calorie content, vitamins A & B6, and minerals like zinc, iron, magnesium, etc. All these features make it an extremely healthy addition to your diet, especially during pregnancy.
Following are a few main benefits of having honey during pregnancy that you should know:
Mostly honey is safe during pregnancy. However, in cases when a pregnant woman has any form of diabetes, especially gestational diabetes, the use of honey is not encouraged.
This is because in this condition you need to limit your sugar and carbohydrate intake. Both these components are present in honey in large amounts, which is why they should avoid it.
Moreover, pregnant women who suffer from acid reflux or indigestion should also watch their honey intake since it can potentially worsen these symptoms.
Following are some important foods and beverages that you should limit the use of and if possible, stop from eating during the pregnancy.
Seafood, especially certain types of fish, are high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for your baby’s development.
But there are some fish that have a very high mercury content in them. These include shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tuna (especially bigeye tuna), marlin, and orange roughy.
Having such seafood in pregnancy can lead to damage to your nervous system, immune system, or kidneys. It can also cause serious developmental problems in children during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Norovirus, Salmonella, Listeria, or Vibrio are common bacteria that you normally find in undercooked or raw fish. These bacteria can directly lead to weakness and dehydration in the mother.
Other possible risks include preterm delivery, stillbirth, and even pregnancy loss in some cases. This is why you need to steer clear of such foods during your pregnancy.
Raw meat is known to carry pathogens like Toxoplasma, E. coli, Listeria, and Salmonella which put you and your baby at risk of infections. It is best to avoid all kinds of undercooked meats during pregnancy as it significantly lowers the risks of food poisoning.
The processing of deli meat including hot dogs, lunch meat, pepperoni, etc. can leave behind harmful bacteria or parasites. This type of meat is also high in unhealthy fats as well as sodium. This makes it highly dangerous for the baby as well as the parent.
Raw eggs that contain Salmonella bacteria are an extremely poor diet choice during pregnancy. The Salmonella infection that you can get from this food can result in fever, nausea, stomach cramps, and even diarrhea which can create severe dehydration and discomfort for the mother.
You also need to avoid foods that contain raw eggs. These include lightly scrambled eggs, tiramisu, raw batter, homemade mayonnaise, homemade salad dressings, homemade eggnog, homemade ice cream, etc.
Unpasteurized dairy products like raw milk, creams, or cheeses contain Listeria, Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter, or other harmful bacteria that are the leading cause of food poisoning.
These bacteria can have extremely adverse and, in some cases, fatal consequences for an unborn baby. This is why you need to use dairy products that have gone through the pasteurization process as they do not contain such harmful bacteria. This can ensure you get good nutrition during pregnancy.
Honey and soft cheeses like queso fresco, queso blanco, queso blando, and queso ranchero can contain listeria bacteria especially when these are unpasteurized.
Having this cheese during pregnancy can create several complications and even pregnancy loss in some cases. This why you need to buy organic honey online and cheese from sources that sell pasteurized products to be on the safe side.
You need to avoid alcohol in all forms during pregnancy. The consumption of this beverage can lead to pregnancy loss, stillbirth, and even fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
FAS is known to affect the proper development of the heart and the brain of your baby.
You need to avoid every beverage that contains caffeine. These usually include tea, soft drinks, and coffee. High caffeine intake can lead to various developmental issues like small weight at birth. In some severe cases, it can even lead to pregnancy loss or stillbirth.
Caffeine can easily pass through your placenta and get to your baby who doesn’t yet have the ability to metabolize the caffeine. This can lead to caffeine build-up up which can prove fatal to your young one.
These include food products that have been altered in some way during their processing. Such foods are typically high in sugars, calories, and fats but very low in nutrients.
Having these types of foods can lead to weight gain which puts you at risk of delivery complications. It can also lead to childhood obesity in your newborn. This is why you need to move away from processed foods and pick items that give you more protein, fibre, healthy fats, and iron.
Healthy diet choices can make your pregnancy easier for you and safer for the child. It can help both of you to stay nourished during this period which can give you the necessary immunity and strength to go through this phase unharmed.
On the other hand, foods that are processed, unpasteurized, raw, or high in mercury can have several adverse effects on your health. Fortunately, honey is a food option that pregnant women can have without any worry.
When taken in moderation, it can actually help you fight several seasonal illnesses and ease some discomfort which makes it a good choice during this period.
Visit GEOHONEY today to buy the best pure monofloral honey to stay healthy and nourished during your pregnancy.
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