Top Foods to Eat & Avoid During Pregnancy

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For mums-to-be, it’s important to take precautions when choosing what to eat. Here’s a recommended list of what to eat and avoid during pregnancy.

Safe To Eat

Green Vegetables: This contains high level of folic acid and iron. Folic acid prevents birth defects like Spina Bifida (a problem with the spine) and Encephalocele (this occurs early in a woman’s pregnancy when part of the developing baby’s skull does not close completely).

Black-Eye Beans: Also known as white beans. Its high content of iron is good for you. Iron produces hemoglobin which is the main protein in red blood cells. It also contains folic acid.

Brown Rice: This is another good source of folic acid.

Red Meat: This contains iron and protein.

Fruits/Orange Juice: Fruits, especially orange juice is rich in vitamin C. This is good for a pregnant woman for its role in the maintenance of collagen in the membrane. It also fights infection for the mother and baby and helps in the easy absorption of iron. Fruits also contains iron.

Dairy products: This has high contents of iron. A glass of warm milk before sleeping helps to avoid insomnia. Insomnia is a sleep disorder whereby one experiences poor sleep or has trouble sleeping.

May Not Be So Safe To Eat

Pineapple, Grapes and Paw-Paw: Though controversial, these fruits are said to contain high levels of enzymes believed to be dangerous enough to induce a miscarriage. If you choose to eat any of these fruits, make sure it is done in moderation. Preferably, seek your doctor’s advice.

Liver: Apart from its high level of iron, which is good for a pregnant woman, liver is said to contain a high level of Vitamin A which may cause damage to the embryo, and should be consumed in moderation.

Peanut: It is recommended by the Department of Health that pregnant and breastfeeding women avoid eating peanuts especially if there is a family history of allergies such as asthma, eczema or hay fever.

Non-Pasteurized Milk, Cheese or Yoghurt: These increase the risk of transmission of infectious disease such as Listeria.

Sword Fish, Marlin and Shark: Contain unsafe levels of mercury and this could harm the baby’s developing nervous system.

Undercooked or Raw Meat/Eggs: This often causes Listerioris or Toxoplasmosis. These parasites can cross the placenta and harm your unborn child.