"Carrying a life inside of you is indeed an immeasurable gift." - Beyoncé

Pregnancy represents a unique, though challenging, phase in a woman's life. Every aspect, from posture to dietary habits, requires careful consideration. While some foods energize and nourish a pregnant woman, others can risk the health of the developing baby. Therefore, curating a well-balanced and thoughtful diet is crucial. This article outlines foods to sidestep during pregnancy to ensure the wellbeing of both mother and child. Without further ado, let's dive in:

1. Say Goodbye to Nitrate- Heavy Foods.

Foods such as bacon, meat sandwiches, salami, hot dogs, and deli meats often contain high levels of nitrate. While nitrate enhances the color and shelf-life of these foods, it can lead to fetal abnormalities and potentially induce cancer in expectant mothers.

2. Skip Raw Eggs- Healthy Generally, But Risky During Pregnancy.

Studies indicate that raw eggs can harbor harmful bacteria such as salmonella, leading to symptoms like stomach cramps, nausea, fever, vomiting, and diarrhea in pregnant women. In severe instances, these symptoms can provoke premature birth or stillbirth. Foods incorporating raw eggs like cake icings, scrambled eggs, homemade mayonnaise, poached eggs, homemade ice cream, hollandaise sauce, and salad dressing should also be avoided. Pregnant women are recommended to opt for pasteurized eggs instead

3. Shelve Processed Meats For a Safer Pregnancy.

Processed or undercooked meats can harbor bacteria like listeria, toxoplasma, E. coli, and salmonella. These pathogens can detrimentally affect the developing baby, causing conditions like intellectual disability, neurological illness, epilepsy, and blindness. Lunch meats, hot dogs, and deli meats should also be excluded from your diet.

4. Moderate Your Caffeine Intake.

Caffeine, a psychoactive substance found in cocoa, coffee, soft drinks, and tea, can affect fetal growth. As unborn babies lack the enzymes to metabolize caffeine, it can impede their growth and risk low birth weight, which is associated with neonatal death and the future development of chronic diseases, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.

5. Avoid Raw Fish.

While raw fish may have been a staple in your diet, they should be excluded during pregnancy due to high risks of bacterial, viral, or parasitic infections, including listeria, norovirus, Vibrio, and salmonella. Shellfish, in particular, have high contamination rates.

6. Limit Intake of Organ Meats.

Although organ meats are nutrient-rich, consuming them excessively can lead to liver toxicity and birth defects. Due to their high content of vitamin B12, copper, and vitamin A, it is suggested that expectant mothers limit their intake to once per week.

7. Seafood: A Risk for Miscarriage.

Refrigerated seafood like jerky, kippered, and lox are high in listeria monocytogenes bacteria. Consuming such seafood can trigger symptoms like diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and illness in the baby, or even lead to a miscarriage. Additionally, the high salt content in seafood can increase blood pressure and cause swelling.

8. Steer Clear of Unpasteurized Milk and Cheese.

Unpasteurized dairy products, also known as raw milk, juice, and cheese, can contain contaminants like E. coli, listeria, salmonella, and campylobacter. These bacteria pose a threat to the developing fetus. Opt instead for pasteurized alternatives.

9. Cook Raw Sprouts Before Eating.

Raw sprouts of radish, beans, clover, alfalfa are often teeming with salmonella bacteria. This bacterium is resilient and difficult to remove even after washing, increasing childbirth complications. It's advisable to cook sprouts thoroughly before consumption. Always consult a gynecologist or nutritionist before introducing new foods to your pregnancy diet.