What Can I Eat While I Am Pregnant?
Can pregnant women eat Ceviche? It’s a question that comes up fairly frequently in my household. My husband hates it (go figure). I’m torn between letting him eat it or not. Here’s my advice on the subject.
Yes,ceviche has a very high risk of bacterial and parasitic infection,and even though most pregnant women enjoy it on a regular basis,it’s not necessarily safe for pregnant women. Although many consider ceviche “the food of the Gods”,it can be full of hidden dangers just waiting to sneak up on you! Although many pregnant women eat ceviche regularly,there are any number of serious sicknesses which can affect your unborn child if you consume it during your pregnancy.
One serious threat is eating meat and dairy together during your pregnancy. If you do,your baby could be born with birth defects such as the placental cord condition,cleft palate or brain defect known as amelogenesis imperfecta. As if that weren’t bad enough,there’s the fact that eating too much red meat can cause miscarriages or stillbirths. Eating meat and dairy together during your pregnancy are extremely dangerous.
Another danger is eating cooked or steamed hotdogs during your pregnancy. Steaming hot dogs in water increases their chances of contracting salmonella easily. You might think this is an exaggeration,but there have actually been cases of women contracting salmonella from cooked or steamed hot dogs. Yes,eating cooked or steamed hot dogs is a very real possibility if you’re pregnant. So,just remember to take the time to wash your hands after you’ve eaten so you don’t become the next victim.
Eating prawns is another no-no because prawns are packed full of bacteria. Specifically,the one responsible for causing food poisoning is called “Clostridium botulinum” and while you can eat prawns,you absolutely must not eat the raw shell. It can only aggravate your problem.
When you eat cooked or steamed spam,be aware that you may also be eating other bacteria along with it. Spam is filled with all kinds of germs and harmful parasites that can harm your baby in many ways if you get hooked on it during your pregnancy. So,stay away from cooked spam,at least while you’re pregnant. You can eat cooked shrimp,fish,chicken,or other seafood,but just make sure you don’t get caught in the crossfire. And don’t let your family members or friends offer cooked or steamed fish or shrimp to you when you’re pregnant.
Lean meats such as chicken,turkey,fish,and other lean meats are perfectly safe to eat during pregnancy,provided you’re careful. Don’t overcook them,either. Instead of frying,cook them until they are just barely done. Steamed meats are a bit trickier,but you can still eat them. Just be sure you don’t go overboard and eat too much of one type of meat,because it’s easy to get addicted to spicy or oily foods once you become pregnant.
Ceviche can be a wonderful meal choice for a pregnant woman. The problem is,some women become hooked on it and find it hard to break the habit once their babies arrive. So if you must eat it,be sure to do it properly and limit yourself to only certain kinds. Don’t eat cooked or steamed prawns or shrimp during your pregnancy. And always check with your physician first,since there is always the chance of infection with any kind of food you eat while you’re pregnant.
Some people say that pregnant women should limit their consumption of red meat because it can increase the risk of developing uterine infections or listeria,a bacterium that occurs in the digestive tract and can potentially cause serious side effects. But although there’s not enough evidence to link beef and listeria infections specifically with being pregnant,avoiding it is probably a good idea for pregnant women. Sulfur-rich vegetables such as broccoli are known to reduce the risk of developing listeria,so it’s a good idea to eat lots of these vegetables as part of your diet as well.
Some people wonder whether they can eat mushrooms during pregnancy. Mushrooms are okay to eat during pregnancy,as long as you don’t overdo it eat them in moderation,for example,four ounces (about the size of a deck of cards) at a meal. Although most mushrooms are safe to eat,the vitamin E found in most varieties can be toxic to developing babies,so it’s best to avoid foods with this vitamin-emitting additive.
Can I eat spam while I am pregnant? Spam is definitely safe to eat as long as you don’t overdo it. Adult dogs can eat small amounts of the protein found in spam,but they do so cautiously,as it’s still an ingredient commonly associated with pet food. So it’s safe to give your dog a bit of extra spam once or twice a week. However,it’s not a good idea to give your pet a lot of can become highly toxic to canines if eaten in large quantities. Spam can also make your pet feel bloated and sleepy,so make sure you limit the amount it gets by choosing low calorie,high fiber foods.