Pregnant woman should be extra careful of the diet and should take only the food products, which enables a healthy growth of the baby. A pregnant woman should avoid food products which contains chemicals or toxic substances that can harm the baby. One should eat only freshly prepared food and avoid contaminated food products.
Raw milk: The unpasteurized milk products, which are made from raw milk, should not be taken as the raw milk may have listeria, which can be harmful. There are many products available in market such as feta goat cheese and unpasteurized juices, which can cause illness, preterm babies and even fetal death.
Raw eggs: Pregnant woman should avoid raw eggs as it can contain salmonella, which can cause fever and cramps. If you are taking eggs during pregnancy, you should keep it refrigerated and not include cracked eggs in the food. Keep the utensils clean and if you are buying food that contains eggs, keep it in refrigerator to avoid salmonella infection.
Raw meat: One should not eat raw meat during pregnancy as it can contain bacteria such as salmonella or toxoplasmosis, which can be harmful to the baby.
Fish: Some types of fishes such as tuna and shark contain high level of methyl mercury that can adversely affect the nervous system of the unborn baby. Farm raised fishes should be avoided as it contains as high amount of polychlorinated biphenyls, that is a toxin and it can cause many health related problems in the baby. Farm raised fishes are also low in nutrition. If you are eating fish, you should include a regulated amount of fish as directed by the medical practitioner.
Fish is a good source of omega - 3s and a diet low in omega -3s can cause behavioral problems and vision problem in the baby.
Cholesterol: Reduce intake of cholesterol.
Caffeine and alcohol: Caffeine and alcohol should be avoided during pregnancy as it can cause miscarriage and it also effects the development of the baby.
Sweetener made from aspartame: Certain sweeteners are linked to cancer and one should avoid it as it can cause immunity disorders and nervous related problems in the baby.
Food causing allergy: Do not eat food products that can cause allergies such as peanuts.
Restricted intake of Vitamin A: During pregnancy one should not take excess amount of food products that is rich in vitamin A. There are certain forms of vitamin A, which can cause birth defects in babies and one should restrict the intake of vitamin A.
Vitamin E: One should not take a high amount of vitamin E as it can cause heart related problem and aging.
Precautions: Do not take food that has been defrosted and always freeze the raw food products before using it. Wash raw vegetables and fruits properly before taking it in food, as it can have toxic chemicals. Do not mix many types of food and avoid buying food, which has not been properly refrigerated. Wash your hands properly before preparing your food.
