Food and Beverages You Should Avoid if You’re Pregnant
What you eat and drink during pregnancy can affect both your health and the development of your baby. “Being mindful of what you consume during pregnancy is extremely important for the health of a mother and developing baby” shares PIH Health Physician John Sanchez. If you’re pregnant, keep in mind your eating habits and practice avoiding and limiting certain foods to minimize any potential harm. Here are some examples:
- Alcohol: It's well-known that alcohol should be avoided during pregnancy as it can increase the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and fetal alcohol syndrome. There is no safe amount of alcohol consumption during pregnancy, so its recommended to cut this out entirely.
- Raw or undercooked eggs, poultry, and meat: Food poisoning can have more severe consequences during pregnancy, so it's important to ensure that eggs and meats are fully cooked before consumption. Use a meat thermometer to help ensure that poultry and meat are cooked to recommended temperatures.
- Unwashed produce: Unwashed fruits and vegetables may contain harmful bacteria on the surface. Thoroughly washing produce can reduce the risk of foodborne illness. Additionally, rawsprouts should be avoided as they are more likely to contain harmful bacteria and should only be consumed if cooked.
- Some types of fish: “Fish and shellfish can be beneficial due to their protein and omega-3 fatty acid content, but stay away from certain fish that contain high levels of mercury which can be harmful to a baby's nervous system,” shares Dr. Sanchez. Stay away from tuna, swordfish, mackerel, shark, marlin, tilefish, and orange roughy. Raw fish should also be avoided due to the risk of bacterial or viral contamination.
- Unpasteurized foods: While milk and cheese can be part of a healthy diet during pregnancy it's best to avoid consuming unpasteurized milk. This includes foods made with unpasteurized milk such as certain cheeses to reduce the risk of food poisoning.
- Caffeinated foods and drinks: It's recommended to limit caffeine intake to less than 200 milligrams per day or avoid it completely during pregnancy. That’s about the amount of caffeine in two 8-ounce cups of coffee. With coffee, caffeine can be found in various sources including tea, energy drinks, soda, kombucha and even chocolate.
If you have any questions or concerns about your diet during pregnancy, consult with your doctor. Visit PIHHealth.org/Find-a-Doctor to find a physician.
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