As pregnancy tremendously affects your immune system, it’s quite normal for you and your unborn baby to be more vulnerable to bacteria, viruses and food-borne germs.
Even when you seem alright and show no symptoms of illness, there will still be bacteria hanging around your baby, awaiting the chance to attack him and cause him serious health problems at anytime.
That said, we advise you to pay special attention to the quality of food in your pregnancy diet and be careful not to consume the following list of unsafe food:
Raw meat and fish: Skip uncooked or undercooked fish or meat because of the risk of contracting salmonella, toxoplasmosis or E. Coli.
Deli Meats: Beware of deli meats which may contain Listeria bacteria that cause a miscarriage!
High-mercury fish: You need to avoid high-mercury fish, as they may harm your baby and cause him some sort of developmental delay and brain damage.
Smoked Seafood: Smoked seafood which may be contaminated with Listeria bacteria should be avoided, except when used in cooked meals.
Raw Eggs: Don’t eat raw eggs or any sauce, dressing or recipe made of unpasteurized raw eggs, to avoid potential exposure to salmonella.
Soft Cheeses: Pass up soft cheeses like brie, Camembert, Roquefort and feta which may harbor Listeria bacteria, unless the label says they are made of pasteurized milk.
Non-pasteurized Milk: Make sure every glass of milk you consume during pregnancy is pasteurized and Listeria-free.
Caffeine: Avoid caffeine during the first trimester of pregnancy, and then limit its intake to no more than 200 mg per day during the second and third trimesters.
Unwashed fruits and vegetables: Fruits and veggies are an important part of a healthy diet during pregnancy; just make sure to wash them thoroughly under running water.
This was our detailed enlist of food to avoid during pregnancy. Keep it handy and be sure to follow it through for your sake and the sake of your baby!
Read More: Top 9 Pregnancy Superfoods
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