Do You Know The Best Pregnancy Food?

If you’re trying to get pregnant, one of the most important things you can do is eat a healthy diet that’s rich in vitamins and nutrients to ensure your baby grows into a healthy baby and develops properly during the nine months you’re pregnant. While this may sound like common sense, there are some surprising foods you should avoid if you want to conceive (or if you want to prevent a surprise pregnancy). As part of your pregnancy-safe diet, it’s important to avoid these 9 food choices when you’re trying to get pregnant.

What are the right foods to eat during your pregnancy?

When you’re pregnant, it’s important to think about your health as well as that of your child. And one of those key components to a healthy pregnancy is ensuring you’re getting plenty of nutrition and staying hydrated. Research shows that drinking enough water daily can even lower your risk for gestational diabetes. So what are some good foods to eat during pregnancy? It all depends on your nutritional needs and dietary restrictions, but you may want to consider sticking with whole grains, eating more fruits and vegetables (even if they have weird names) and keeping sugar intake low. Keep in mind: Folic acid plays an important role in preventing neural tube defects; be sure you’re getting at least 400 micrograms per day if possible. Also, know that certain vitamins and minerals—like iron—are especially important for women who are expecting. If you need help identifying which nutrients you should focus on, talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian before making any changes to your diet.

How much weight should you gain during your first trimester?

As your body enters pregnancy, it needs to provide fuel and energy for not only you but also your growing baby. Eating a well-balanced diet is important throughout your pregnancy, but especially during your first trimester. If you’re wondering how much weight to gain in your first trimester, experts suggest that pregnant women should only gain about 12-20 pounds total (the average is somewhere around 15 pounds) – some health care providers even recommend not gaining more than eight or nine pounds during that time period. This gives you plenty of wiggle room to enjoy some of those yummy cravings while still getting everything else you need from food! However, be sure to check with your health care provider before increasing or decreasing your caloric intake. Not all health care providers agree on how much weight you should gain at different stages of pregnancy. It's always best to ask them what they recommend based on your specific situation and how far along you are in your pregnancy. In general, expectant mothers who are obese may be advised to gain less weight than their normal-weight counterparts – but everyone is different so don't take that as an absolute rule!

What foods should you stay away from when pregnant?

When you’re pregnant, you can’t just eat whatever you want. Some foods and beverages may cause your baby harm. For example, you shouldn’t have unpasteurized milk or cheese because it can harbor harmful bacteria that could make you sick. Fried foods may contain dangerous levels of mercury and other toxins if they are not prepared properly. And some fish—especially large predatory fish like swordfish, king mackerel, shark, tile fish (also called golden bass or golden snapper), and albacore tuna—are contaminated with a chemical called methyl mercury which can harm a developing baby's nervous system. These types of fish also tend to be high in cholesterol and low in nutrients that are important for your baby's growth. It is best to avoid them during pregnancy. If you do choose to eat these fish, limit how often you do so and don't eat them more than once a week. Other seafood choices such as salmon, shrimp, clams, oysters, mussels and scallops are safe to consume while pregnant as long as they are eaten in moderation.

Foods you shouldn’t consume during your first trimester.

To maintain your health during pregnancy, it’s important to know which foods you should avoid. One big no-no is fish with high levels of mercury, such as mackerel, tilefish and swordfish. Seafood (as well as a few types of deli meat) can also contain listeria, which can lead to miscarriage. It’s important to steer clear of hot dogs and luncheon meats, as well—they may contain Listeria monocytogenes. Some experts recommend steering clear of all processed meats during pregnancy, while others say they’re fine in moderation. As for sushi, there have been conflicting reports about whether or not it's safe to eat raw fish when pregnant. If you're craving sushi but are concerned about eating raw fish while pregnant, talk to your doctor before ordering a roll at your favorite restaurant. Some experts say that if you eat sushi that has been properly prepared by someone who knows what they're doing (and if you don't have any other food safety concerns), then it's probably okay to eat while pregnant; others suggest avoiding sushi altogether because bacteria from uncooked seafood could make its way into your body through an open cut or sore on your mouth and cause infection in both mother and baby.

Are raw eggs safe during pregnancy?

Raw eggs are not safe during pregnancy. Even eggs that have been cooked may be risky to eat during pregnancy because of possible salmonella poisoning. If you have a craving for raw or undercooked eggs, try to find pasteurized versions, which are readily available in grocery stores. Another option is to substitute cooked egg whites for whole eggs in recipes. It’s also safe to drink pasteurized eggnog or hot chocolate that contains raw eggs; it won’t harm your baby as long as you don’t also eat uncooked foods while drinking them. Consult with your doctor before eating any raw food, including dairy products like milk and cheese. These products can contain bacteria called listeria, which can cause miscarriage and stillbirth. Although rare, listeria infections can lead to meningitis and death in adults who have weakened immune systems. Fortunately, pregnant women rarely get sick from listeria exposure because their bodies create antibodies that fight off harmful bacteria before they reach their babies. Eating pasteurized dairy products will help ensure your body builds up these protective antibodies early on in your pregnancy so they’re ready when you need them later on down the road.

Important nutrients you must include in your diet.

Your body will put itself through a lot during pregnancy, especially when it comes to nutrients. No matter how you feel about eating for two, your health and your baby’s depend on nourishing foods. Here are six important nutrients that can help both of you stay healthy during pregnancy: Iron: This mineral is critical for helping blood transport oxygen to all parts of your body—including those baby-growing cells. Aim for around 18 mg of iron a day from food sources such as lean meats, legumes, nuts and dark leafy greens (like spinach). Calcium: Your growing baby needs calcium to build bones and teeth while you need it to make sure your own bones don’t weaken. If you take in too little calcium, your baby may end up with weak bones too. Aim for 1,000 mg of calcium a day by including dairy products like milk and yogurt in your diet or choosing low-fat versions of other dairy products like cheese and ice cream. Vitamin D: This vitamin helps keep your immune system strong so you won’t get sick easily during pregnancy. It also plays an important role in fetal development because it helps support proper bone growth in babies . Foods rich in vitamin D include fatty fish like salmon, fortified milk and cereal , egg yolks , mushrooms , orange juice , sweet potatoes , tuna and some cereals . Omega 3 Fatty Acids : These acids help support brain development throughout pregnancy.

10 foods you should never eat during pregnancy.

Consuming any food or drink that contains alcohol during pregnancy can cause birth defects, or developmental problems in your baby. One 12-ounce glass of beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, and 1 ounce of 80-proof hard liquor all contain about 10 grams of alcohol. For safety's sake, you should avoid all alcoholic beverages throughout your entire pregnancy. Eating raw eggs, under cooked meats and poultry, soft cheeses such as Brie and Camembert, hot dogs (unless well cooked), tuna fish containing mercury are other foods to avoid during pregnancy since they may carry bacteria that can harm your baby. Another good reason not to eat these is because they could trigger an allergic reaction. Listeria is one such bacterium found in these foods and it poses great risk for pregnant women since it can be transferred from mother to child, resulting in miscarriage or stillbirth. Listeria infection has also been linked with preterm labor, premature delivery, or serious illness among newborns if contracted by their mothers.