If you're pregnant, you know that between your regular doctor, your obstetrician, like Patricia A. Giuffre, MD, your family and your friends, you'll have a lot of information thrown at you at once. It's easy to let things get lost in the shuffle. While a pregnant woman is probably aware of the "major" things to avoid during her pregnancy, there are a lot of foods that many women aren't even aware could be harmful. Here's a look at some everyday foods you shouldn't be eating while pregnant.
Deli meat or hot dogs
These foods have listeria monocytogenes, which can cause a blood infection in you or your baby. This is rare, and it's usually only a problem if you have a preexisting condition that affects your immune system. But it's often best just to steer clean in case there's a condition in your body that you weren't aware of. Other meats like poultry and fish can also carry this bacteria, but it's not too much of an issue as long as they're cooked well.
Queso fresco or queso blanco
It's actually any unpasteurized dairy product that should be avoided, but these two cheeses are the most common. These Mexican style soft cheeses are safe to consume generally, but they have bacteria that could be harmful to an unborn baby.
Raw sprouts This one is surprising to many people because it seems like a pretty healthy food. But raw sprouts should be avoided because of bacterial concerns. Alfalfa can carry e-coli, and clover can carry salmonella—just to name a few. Even though they're packed with nutrients, avoid sprouts if you're pregnant.
Herbal teas Since caffeine is discouraged during pregnancy, many women may want to turn to herbal teas. If your body is low on nutrients like iron, calcium, and magnesium, these teas can be a great source of those nutrients. The thing is, there's not a lot of information available about the effects of certain herbs on a pregnancy. The FDA actually urges "caution" when consuming herbal teas when pregnant, but most women choose to say on the safe side and avoid them completely.
Pregnancy is an exciting time for a woman, but it's a time when there's a lot of information coming at you. You'll hear dozens of things to do and dozens of things to avoid, and will often receive conflicting information. Of course, these are not the only foods you should avoid, but a few that you might overlook. It's important to be informed about what you put in your body, especially when there's another life inside of you!
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