{"id":1704,"date":"2021-06-22T14:41:57","date_gmt":"2021-06-22T14:41:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.mutusystem.com\/en-us\/?p=1704"},"modified":"2023-12-15T12:19:56","modified_gmt":"2023-12-15T12:19:56","slug":"pregnancy-diet-what-to-eat-in-pregnancy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mutusystem.com\/en-us\/mutu-pregnancy\/pregnancy-diet-what-to-eat-in-pregnancy\/","title":{"rendered":"Here’s what to eat (and avoid) on a pregnancy diet"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Your pregnancy diet needs to follow just a few rules to keep you and your baby healthy and safe. Read on for what to eat in pregnancy and what you should avoid!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pate and soft or blue cheeses such as brie, camembert, stilton, boursin and soft goats or sheep\u2019s cheeses can be infected with listeria, as can soft whip ice creams and unpasteurised milk (parmesan and gruyere are also unpasteurised but the risk is so minor they\u2019re ok).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead go for<\/strong> hard pasteurised cheeses such as cheddar or, goat cheddar or cottage cheese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Raw eggs and poultry<\/em><\/strong> can harbour salmonella \u2013 make sure both are cooked thoroughly (solid yolk in eggs) and don\u2019t buy pre-cooked chicken or foods with raw eggs such as fresh mayonnaise or chocolate mousse. Homemade cakes may contain raw eggs in the icing. Avoid dips that may have been made using raw eggs (mayonnaise-based).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Poultry should be thoroughly cooked and ideally organic<\/em><\/strong> to avoid the hormones and steroids (and it\u2019ll taste better!). Limit or cut out sausages and bacon<\/strong><\/em> due to high salt content and additives \/ nitrites (but no particular pregnancy-related dangers), and stuffing is fine \u2013 try to avoid over-processed shop bought varieties though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Liver<\/em><\/strong> is often warned against in pregnancy due to its high vitamin A content. However you do need vitamin A<\/em><\/strong>, just not too much \u2013 so limit to once a week and make sure its organic, as non organic will be contaminated with growth hormones, antibiotics and steroids (as the liver is where all these nasties are stored). If you eat liver when pregnant, make sure your supplements (which you should be taking!) don\u2019t have any retinol (animal source vitamin A), but only beta-carotene (the vegetable source). Avoid cod liver oil as this has very high levels of retinol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Avoid raw meats<\/em><\/strong>. Some countries advise also avoiding cured meats, such as Parma ham or salami. The main concerns with these are listeriosis and toxoplasmosis \u2013 both of which are rare in the UK. Listeriosis is very rare as it only affects one pregnancy in every 25,000 and toxoplasmosis is estimated to affect one in 500 pregnancies per year, so the risks to you and your baby are very low. Toxoplasmosis is an illness caused by a parasite sometimes found in raw meat or cured meats\u2026 it\u2019s only a problem if contracted for the first time (many of us unknowingly have immunity) during the first trimester.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Are Peanuts safe to eat in pregnancy?<\/em><\/strong> You only need to avoid peanuts in your pregnancy diet if you have a family history of allergy, eczema or asthma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Go For:<\/strong> Other nuts \u2013 almonds, walnuts, brazils, etc are all great sources of essential fats and minerals. Avoid packets of salted or dry roasted though!<\/p>\n\n\n\n What About Seafood<\/em><\/strong> such as prawns and smoked salmon?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Smoked salmon \u2013 again a fear of listeria, but the risk is negligible. Most fish and shellfish are safe foods to eat in pregnancy, provided that they are fresh and properly cooked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some types of sushi<\/em><\/strong> (IE <\/strong>the cooked kind!) are fine to eat when pregnant. Raw shellfish or sushi can cause serious food poisoning due to parasites such as tapeworms, which, if they grow large enough, could rob your body of nutrients needed for your growing baby. Freezing and cooking kills the parasites (many Japanese restaurants use pre-frozen fish for this reason \u2013 check if you\u2019re eating out).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n