Pregnancy and Food
Being pregnant is an unforgettable experience. It’s an exciting time in a woman’s life. Changes occur each day. Hormone levels increase. Your body and attitude change. It’s a time filled with new things. In fact, given all these changes, the topic of what’s permissible to eat and what’s not becomes a significant question that most pregnant women find themselves grappling with.
Food and dietary matters is all important for pregnant women, as they are eating for two (or perhaps more). Yet, it can often become a somewhat murky area. There’s so much misinformation floating around out there that the facts become confused with the myths. Yet, despite all the mystery surrounding food and pregnancy, experts suggest that drastic changes aren’t necessary.
It is recommended that pregnant women reduce their intake or avoid certain foods altogether. While it’s common knowledge, the nitty gritty details can be difficult to sort out. It’s hard to figure what, exactly, is bad and why.
The matter gets more convoluted when family and friends are so keen on offering their own tips and advice. Even strangers like to get in on the game and tell you what you should and shouldn’t eat, often without your solicitation. This extra information can become quite disconcerting. The facts are confounded with urban myths and folklore.
It worsen matters that each and every day scientific and not so scientific journals are spouting out new opinion pieces and studies that certain foods are actually bad for pregnant women, a claim which is then duly refuted by the next day’s news. The onslaught of new information ends up confusing women rather than helping them out.
When all is said and done, all this information flying around is hard to wrap your head around. Rather than giving you answers, you just have a headache.
The question of what one can eat and what one shouldn’t eat when pregnant can be boiled down to a few basic guidelines. The thing to remember is that you should be smart. Eat in moderation and put your common sense to work. Don’t over indulge.
According to the experts, when pregnant, you don’t actually have to alter your diet drastically. In fact they offer guidelines which are in line with what you should eat when you’re not pregnant, with a few alterations, of course.
When it comes to fruits and vegetables, remember to wash before you eat. This goes for items with rinds and skins too; avocado and melons, for instance are known to contain bacteria that can be transferred from the skin when cutting into them.
Cook food so that it is well done; this is especially true for poultry and other meats. Don’t risk getting food poisoning.
Remember to wash your hands before and after touching meat.
Don’t go crazy with sweets and other high fat food. Everything in moderation.
The FDA warns that pregnant and nursing women should avoid eating shark, swordfish, king mackerel and Tilefish in large amounts due to the amount of methyl mercury they contain. Methyl mercury is a toxic form of mercury that accumulates in fish.
Instead opt for canned fish or smaller ocean fish.
Alcohol should be avoided.