Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy and Why

Perhaps one of the biggest adjustments that you as a newly pregnant mother will make, is editing your current diet to ensure that you stay far away from certain foods to avoid during pregnancy.

You may be surprised to find that some foods you thought were perfectly fine for a healthy diet in pregnancy are in fact troublesome. For instance, while caffeine is not a food per se, it is found in certain things like coffee, soda, some teas and even dark and milk chocolate.

While it may seem a little unfair that a pregnant woman can’t unwrap her favorite chocolate treat while sipping on a Diet Coke, there are a few great reasons to avoid it.

Why You Should Avoid Foods and Drinks With Caffeine During Pregnancy

Caffeine has been shown to increase your heart rate, dehydration levels, and blood pressure. It can also decrease your body’s ability to absorb calcium properly. This can keep you from getting the adequate rest that you and your developing bundle of joy desperately need.

If you must have caffeine–especially if you were a coffee junkie prior to pregnancy and those pesky headaches won’t leave you alone–try hot black tea instead.

Fish, Mercury Poisoning, and Omega 3 Fats During Pregnancy

No matter how far along you are in your pregnancy I am sure that you are already aware that consuming fish with high levels of mercury in pregnancy diets is a big no-no. Some fish are excellent sources of Omega 3 healthy fats, but there are a select few that should be avoided at all costs: grouper, swordfish, shark, mackerel (king), marlin, orange roughy, and tilefish contain the highest levels of mercury.

Keep in mind that there are also types of fish that contain enough mercury to be considered dangerous. So, limit your intake of these fish to three 6-oz servings per month: halibut, croaker, bass saltwater, tuna (canned, white albacore) tuna (fresh bluefin, ahi), sea trout, bluefish, and lobster.

Mercury poisoning can lead to severe neurological consequences in the mother and child and has even been linked to birth defects. So if you want to have the best diet during pregnancy, stay far away from high levels of mercury at all costs.

Good Seafood You Can Eat While Pregnant

The good news is that you can feel free to eat two 6-oz. servings a week of any the following to ensure that your get those healthy Omega 3’s your baby needs: scallops, king crab, calamari, flounder, haddock, sole, salmon, shrimp, tilapia, and oysters.