10 types of food to avoid during pregnancy:

It is important for people to take balanced meal at all times. It becomes even more for a pregnant woman since nutrients consumed by the mother are used by the baby for growth and development. Taking a balanced diet is advisable, however even in pursuit of this goal; some types of food should be avoided during pregnancy due to health problems they can lead to. Pregnant mothers must take care on foods and beverages taken since they can expose the unborn child to several dangers. Here are ten types of food a pregnant woman should avoid: 1. Fish and other sea foods. Fish and sea foods are safe for consumption during pregnancy. However, fish containing high levels of mercury should be avoided at all costs. Research shows that consumption of food containing mercury during pregnancy leads to delays in child body development and brain damage. Fish containing high mercury levels within their systems include sword fish and shark. Fish such as canned chunk tuna contain low volumes of mercury, if they must be consumed; it is advisable not to eat a lot. Fish used in making sushi (sushi is a Japanese dish of rice with sweet vinegar most of the time consumed with raw fish) should be avoided during pregnancy. This is due to high mercury content and risks related to consumption of raw and uncooked foods. Fish found in rivers and lakes might be exposed to compounds such as polychlorinated biphenyl should also be avoided. Examples of these fish include trout, salmon, walleye and blue fish. Always ensure fish you are consuming has been certified as suitable for human consumption. 2. Hot dogs and luncheon meats: Both hot dogs and luncheon meats have high chances of containing the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. This bacterium is known to lead to pregnancy complications such as miscarriages, stillbirths and other serious problems likely to affect safety of both the mother and her unborn child. Example of luncheon meats include: salami, bologna and turkey meat. The probability of meat having the bacteria increases with refrigeration whether its meat spreads, pates, fish or other type of marine food. It is therefore important to understand the fact that, refrigerated food is good and safe for human consumption only when it is part of the cooked meal. For luncheon meat, it is advisable after refrigeration to warm until steaming hot. In relation to hotdog food packages, always make sure utensils used in food preparation are clean. Food surfaces and hands should be cleaned after handling these foods to decrease the potential of coming into contact with Listeria bacteria. 3. Raw eggs Consumption of raw eggs and any food that may contain raw eggs should be avoided. These foods when raw have high risk of containing salmonella. Food dressings such as mayonnaise, custards, and homemade Caesar and hollandaise sources are made of raw eggs. For a pregnant woman, it is advisable to take a well cooked egg reducing the chances of salmonella in the food. To ensure the eggs are cooked well, make sure the whites and the yolks are not moving. This reduced the risk the salmonella food poisoning. To avoid salmonella risk, commercially produced eggs are made using pasteurized liquid eggs. While salmonella food poisoning is unlikely to affect the child, the mother can suffer severe diarrhea and vomiting. This is not good because the baby’s comfort in the womb might be affected if the condition persists. If the pregnant mother has to take foods containing raw eggs, always ensure pasteurized liquid egg was used. 4. Unwashed fruits and vegetables. Vegetables and fruits are very good and safe to consume whether you are pregnant or not. In fact, there have not been reported health complications arising from over consumption of fruits and vegetables. Their importance in the body of both the mother and her pregnancy cannot be underestimated. They should thus be consumed continuously. The doctors advise consumption of fruits and vegetables after every meal. However, it is important to ensure fruits and vegetables consumed are clean and well washed to avoid exposure of the pregnant mother to dirt related illnesses such as diarrhea. Dirty, especially fruits and vegetables with soil are exposed t bacteria such as toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by presence of parasite found in the soil, untreated water and cat fecal matter. During pregnancy, toxoplasmosis can damage the pregnancy. To avoid this condition, surfaces, utensils, fruits and vegetables should be thoroughly washed before consuming especially bearing in mind most fruits and vegetables are consumed raw. 5. Unpasteurized milk and other dairy foods. Raw milk and other dairy products are prone to Listeria. Listeria as a bacterium is dangerous since it has the potential of crossing through the placenta to the baby and lead to blood poisoning. This condition is a threat to life of both the mother and the unborn child. It is advisable to make sure milk consumed is always pasteurized. If only raw milk is available, it should be boiled before consumption. It is advisable to avoid both unpasteurized goat and sheep milk. Yoghurt consumption is advisable during pregnancy; however, in case you are intending to take homemade yoghurt, the milk used for preparation should be pasteurized before. Ice cream another milk produce can be consumed since its preparation involves use of pasteurized milk. However, homemade creams just like the other milk products should be made using pasteurized milk. One can use a pasteurized egg substitute if a pasteurized egg is not available or opt to follow and egg free recipe when making the cream. 6. Caffeine. Caffeine intake in low volumes is not known to cause any pregnancy complications. However, research shows have been conducted which associated caffeine intake with cases of miscarriages. As a pregnant mother, one is advised to avoid consumption of caffeine containing products during the first trimester. Medics argue it can easily result to a miscarriage. Consumption of caffeine should be maintained at minimum levels of 200mg in a day. Caffeine is diuretic in nature. A diuretic substance makes the body increase waste production such as water resulting in the need to urinate more. As a result, high consumption of caffeine can lead to losses of both water and calcium. Water is essential for body metabolic processes while calcium is important for strong bone development. A pregnant woman is thus advised to consume high volumes of juices, water and milk and avoid caffeinated drinks. Consumption of large volumes of caffeine leads to miscarriages, low birth weights and premature births. 7. Cheese. Not all cheeses are bad to consume during pregnancy. However, the following cheeses should be avoided during pregnancy. Soft cheeses with white rinds; when pregnant, it is advisable to avoid mould ripened cheeses such as chevre. If you have to eat cheese, ensure it is well cooked. Soft blue-veined cheeses such as Gorgonzola and Danish blue are other type of cheeses to avoid. Pregnant mothers are advised to avoid soft cheeses since they contain less acid compared to hard cheeses. They are also moist in nature which makes it easier for bacteria to grow and thrive in compared to hard cheeses. Listeria is a good example of these bacteria. Listeria infections rarely occur, however, it is always advisable to take all precautions necessary during pregnancy since any form of illness that affects the mother affects the unborn child directly or indirectly. Complications during pregnancy can easily result to end of the pregnancy or death of both the mother and the unborn child. 8. Alcohol Whether when pregnant you want to enjoy life and feel high or not, alcohol consumption irrespective of volume taken is not good for pregnancy. Pregnant mothers are advised to avoid consumption of alcohol completely during pregnancy. Health development of a baby is affected negatively if exposed to alcohol during the prenatal stage. Depending on different factors such as volume consumed and drinking patterns, alcohol consumption during pregnancy can lead to developmental disorders such as the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Alcohol consumption should be avoided even after birth during the breastfeeding period since alcohol consumed by a nursing mother is transferred to the baby through breast milk. In case one consumes alcohol before discovering that she is pregnant, further consumption should be stopped until the child is born and breastfed. This is important for the development process since children born from alcoholic mothers are known to be less alert compared to children conceived by non alcoholic mothers. 9. Raw and undercooked meat: Any type of food tracing its origins from an animal such as beef, mutton and pork bears the risk of containing viruses, bacteria and parasites. To reduce risk of food poisoning and other food related diseases, it is advisable to make sure the piece of meat you intend to consume is well cooked. The meat should whether beef or chicken should be cooked until there are no traces of pink meat or blood traces. Extra care should be taken when cooking chicken, pork, minced meat and sausages. Consumption of rare meat is not advisable due to the high risk of exposure to diseases such as toxoplasmosis. Cold meat such as chorizo, salami and pepperoni are not usually cooked, they undergo curing and fermentation processes before packaging. They should therefore be cooked before consumption. It is advisable to check the packet whether it should be cooked or its ‘ready to eat’. Ready to eat should be freeze for four days after buying before eating to kill parasites, however, if you are required to cook, freezing is not necessary. 10. Liver pate and fish liver oil supplements During pregnancy, one is advised to avoid liver and its products such as liver plate and sausages. Liver contains high volumes of retinol form of Vitamin A. when liver is consumed in large volumes, build up of retinol form of Vitamin A occurs. This is not advisable since it can harm the life of the unborn baby. That doesn’t negate importance of Vitamin A in the body; it is essential for maintenance of healthy eyes, immune system and skin. The pregnant mother can consume foods with Vitamin A such as butter, cheese and oily fish. In case one is taking Vitamin supplements, ensure they don’t contain retinol form of Vitamin A. A pregnant woman should take vitamin A supplements with beta-carotene form of vitamin A. Our bodies can successfully convert beta-carotene to Vitamin A. There is no limit in beta-carotene volume one can take. Foods containing beta-carotene include broccoli and carrots. It is essential for successful development of body organs and nervous, circulatory and respiratory systems.