Food To Avoid During Pregnancy

Prenatal

oi-Suparna Chakaraborthy

By Suparna Chakaraborthy

Friday, January 7, 2011, 15:24

Pregnancy is the the memorable and delicate state of being for a woman. It demands care and precautions to result into a healthy baby and mother. The health and well being of the baby depends a lot on the diet of the mother. One one hand there are food items which should be included in the mother's diet and on the other hand there are food to be avoided during pregnancy. These food items can not only harm the health of the mother but also lead to abnormal delivery.

Food to avoid in pregnancy -

1.Fish – Fish which are rich in mercury, like shark, mackerel and tilefish should be avoided. High consumption of mercury may lead to development delays in the baby and also may result in brain damage.

2.Alcohol – Alcohol should be strictly avoided in pregnancy. No matter what is the percent of alcohol present in the beverage it can lead to low weight, weak eye sight, deformities etc in the baby.

3.Caffeine – Caffeine helps in eliminating fluid from the body, which may lead to loss of water and calcium. Thus, over consumption of caffeine may lead to miscarriage, premature birth, low weight etc. Thus, it is best to avoid caffeine during pregnancy.

4.Vitamin A – Vitamin A rich food should be avoided during pregnancy. Research has proven that in most cases consumption of Vitamin A during pregnancy has led to birth defects like deformity, slow mental growth, abnormality etc. One of the Vitamin rich food to be avoided during pregnancy is liver.

5. Raw Meat - Make sure you eat meat which has been cooked at a temperature of 160 degree Fahrenheit. Meat cooked below this temperature are exposed to bacteria like Coliform, Toxoplasmosis and Salmonella. These are dangerous bacteria which can lead to infections and also cause miscarriage.

These are the top five food to be avoided during pregnancy. Other aspects to be kept in mind for a healthy pregnancy is regular exercise, de-stressing and visit to the doctor.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.