Nutrition during pregnancy: foods to avoid

While pregnant, following a good diet and giving up some foods is important for the health of mother and child.

The nutrition of the expectant mother has a direct influence on the growth of the baby in her womb; There is therefore no better time than pregnancy to adopt a healthier and more balanced diet.

The rules for good “pregnant” nutrition are based not only on recommended foods, but also on those to be limited or avoided altogether. There are, in fact, some foods from which it is better to keep away, both to prevent possible food infections and toxoplasmosis, and to reduce the risk of developing hypertension or diabetes, conditions that can endanger mother and baby.

Foods to limit

Eggs, foods containing sugars or animal fats, salt and coffee should be consumed in moderation during pregnancy.

As for sugars, both white and cane sugar and sweets in general should be reduced because they can cause spikes in blood sugar (blood glucose).

Coffee, like all caffeinated beverages, should be taken in moderation because caffeine crosses the placenta and can therefore reach the unborn child. Not only that, while waiting, caffeine metabolism is slowed down by 15 times, which makes expectant mothers more sensitive to its effects.

A high consumption of salt is always to be banned, because it can favor the appearance of hypertension, a condition that, if developed during pregnancy, can pose serious risks for mother and baby.

With eggs it is always good not to overdo it: no more than two a week and well cooked, so as not to risk food infections, for example from Salmonella.

Food does not

Alcohol during pregnancy is prohibited because the alcohol ingested by the future mother arrives after a few minutes in the blood of the fetus, which, however, cannot metabolize it as it lacks the enzymes suitable for this task. No dose of alcohol during pregnancy can be considered safe as even a very limited amount of alcohol can cause damage to the baby’s nervous system.

Some dietary precautions must also be taken to avoid toxoplasmosis, a fairly common parasitic disease, which can however become a serious problem if it is contracted for the first time during pregnancy. The future mother can in fact transmit it to the child with potentially serious consequences.

Since you can become infected by ingesting raw food (especially raw pork and sheep) and raw vegetables, it is recommended to always cook meat for a long time, avoid sausages and cold cuts (except for cooked ham) and consume vegetables and fresh fruit only after washing them thoroughly.

It is also better to avoid raw fish and shellfish due to the risk of food infections.