Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy

During pregnancy it is necessary to take special care with food, as different foods can harm the baby's development and the health of the pregnancy.

In addition to toxic substances such as alcohol and excess sugar, foods such as raw fish and poorly washed fruits and vegetables should be avoided, as they may be contaminated with microorganisms that affect the baby.

Below is a list of foods that should be avoided during this stage of life.

1. Raw fish and rare meat

Raw fish, such as sushi, and rare meats should be avoided because they may be contaminated with the listeria bacteria, which can cause miscarriage and premature birth, or with diseases such as cysticercosis, which can affect the nervous system and impair the functioning of the brain.

2. Raw eggs

Raw and undercooked eggs should be avoided because they can contain salmonella bacteria, which can cause severe diarrhea, vomiting, fever and death.

Therefore, it is also important to avoid the consumption of desserts, sauces and homemade spices that use raw eggs in the recipe, such as homemade mayonnaise and Caesar sauce.

3. Unpasteurized milk

Unpasteurized milk, such as milk directly from farms or farms, should be avoided because it contains a high number of bacteria that cause intestinal infections, diarrhea and malaise.

Thus, one should always consume pasteurized milk or UHT milk, which undergoes treatments at elevated temperatures to eliminate microorganisms that may be present in the food.

4. Pasty and unpasteurized cheeses

Pasty cheeses such as brie, camembert, gorgonzola and danish blue, contain a lot of water and can have the listeria bacteria, which can cause headaches, tremors, convulsions and meningitis, also affecting the baby's nervous system and, in the most severe cases, leading to the death.

5. Poorly washed fruits and vegetables

Poorly washed fruits and vegetables are sources of contamination from toxoplasmosis disease, which can cause miscarriage, premature birth, malformations and death of the baby.

Thus, all vegetables should be washed well before consumption, and one should avoid eating raw vegetables outside the home. See the symptoms and how to prevent toxoplasmosis.

6. Canned tuna

Fish such as tuna, mackerel, swordfish, dogfish and grouper should be avoided during pregnancy because they contain high levels of mercury, a metal that can impair the proper development of the fetus' nervous system.

Therefore, fish such as sardines, trout, herring, hake, mackerel and farmed tuna should be preferred, as they are safer for the health of the pregnant and baby.

7. Coffee

Some studies show that excess caffeine can cause miscarriages, which is why it is recommended that pregnant women consume a maximum of 300 mg of caffeine per day, which is equivalent to 2 or 3 cups of coffee.

8. Caffeinated foods

To avoid excess caffeine, foods containing this substance should also be avoided by pregnant women, such as cola, green tea, black tea and mate tea. See a complete list of teas that should be avoided during pregnancy.

9. Sweeteners

Although most sweeteners are safe for health, pregnant women should avoid artificial sweeteners such as cyclamate and aspartame, preferring natural sweeteners based on sucralose or stevia, which are safe for the baby even in high amounts.

10. Alcoholic beverages

Alcoholic beverages should be avoided because alcohol accumulates in the fetus' body, which does not have the capacity to eliminate this substance from the body, which can cause premature birth, growth retardation and cardiac malformations.