Foods to avoid during pregnancy – 5 top tips

It is difficult to know which foods to avoid during pregnancy. Your baby’s health is very important, just like your own. But there are some that stand out unexpectedly to eat when you’re pregnant. Here are my top 5 tips on foods to avoid during pregnancy to help ensure a bright and healthy baby and mom:

1. Fish is a very healthy diet. But certain fish can accumulate mercury to dangerous levels. Mercury, in large amounts, can cause brain damage in unborn babies, which can retard their natural development. It is not necessary to avoid all fish and seafood, just those that may contain dangerous levels of mercury. These include king mackerel, tilefish, swordfish, and shark.

2. It may seem obvious that raw meat is not recommended to eat, but many pregnant women still eat things like sushi, seafood, rare or barely cooked beef, and undercooked poultry. Eating food like this runs the risk of being contaminated with salmonella, coliform bacteria, and toxoplasmosis.

3. Soft cheeses are not recommended for consumption by women during pregnancy. These cheeses may contain bacteria that could be harmful. These include Brie, feta, queso fresco, white cheese, blue cheese, and Caambert.

4. Raw eggs should definitely be avoided. This, of course, includes all foods that contain raw eggs. This is because raw eggs can contain salmonella. These items include mayonnaise, hollandaise sauce, and Caesar dressing.

5. While liver is good for you, be careful how you eat it. The liver of all animals contains high levels of vitamin A. Vitamin A itself is not a problem, but too much can lead to a higher incidence of birth defects. You don’t have to eliminate liver or vitamin A, just don’t get too much.

Your pregnancy is a special moment. It is a time when you should be happy and stress free. Take the time to discover the foods to avoid during pregnancy and the foods to eat safely, and you will enjoy your special moment. Your baby deserves that at least.