9 Foods to avoid during pregnancy.

There are certain foods you should never eat or drink during pregnancy. Some of these foods might even be bad for the baby as well. Are you aware of them?

Pregnancy isn’t always easy, especially when you are worried about how the food you eat affects the health of both mother and child. While some women choose to stick to their normal diet, others decide to go for a vegan or vegetarian diet.

Here are 9 foods you should stop eating during pregnancy (and why).

1. Gluten

Gluten is a protein complex that exists naturally in wheat, rye, barley, and spelling. It contains two types of glutenin and gliadin that create elasticity in the dough. There have been some cases of celiac disease where consuming gluten results in damage to the small intestine. 

Since the celiac disease affects less than 1% of the population, the risk of adverse effects from eating foods containing gluten is minimal. However, for those who do suffer from celiac disease, it is best to avoid gluten entirely to prevent further inflammation of the intestines. A good rule of thumb is to eliminate all traces of gluten from the diet completely.

 

2. Dairy products

 Dairy products consist of both milk and dairy. Milk comes from mammals and is considered to be one of the worst things for pregnant women. Dairy causes breast cancer in women and is also linked to high cholesterol in adults. 

In addition, children exposed to milk at an early age may develop gastrointestinal disorders later on in adulthood. Because of these risks, mothers should abstain from drinking any kind of cow's milk. When purchasing dairy products, look for organic, non-homogenized, and frozen. These three terms indicate that the product was not processed using chemical additives. When buying frozen vegetables and fruits, look for unprocessed, raw, and fresh. 

Raw food refers to uncooked vegetables and meats that were never frozen or cooked. Non-homogenized means that the fat content did not undergo homogenization. Homogenization increases the shelf life of the product and makes it easier to store. Frozen means that no water activity took place for the product to freeze. 

Water activity is a measure of how much water is removed during freezing. Foods that are frozen tend to lose moisture and become harder and dry out faster. If you want to consume dairy products, make sure they are organic and non-homogenized. Avoid dairy products that have ingredients listed as "milk solids nonfat," "dried whole milk," or "creamer." All of these words mean that the product was processed using chemicals to remove fat.

 

3. Sugar

 Sugar is a substance created from glucose and fructose molecules. Fructose is a sugar that occurs naturally in many fruits and vegetables. Fructose is metabolized differently than glucose, meaning that excess fructose will pass directly to the liver without being converted to glycogen or stored for future use. 

As a result, a high intake of fructose over time will lead to obesity and diabetes. An excessive amount of sugar consumption will affect the fetus even before birth. Excessive amounts of sugar can cause hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder (ADD). 

While sugar has little effect on the mother, it does increase the chances of miscarriage and low birth weight babies. Children who consume sugary beverages have higher levels of insulin, which causes increased appetite and could lead to childhood obesity. Sugary drinks are the leading cause of obesity in America among children.

 

4. Alcohol

 Alcohol is a highly toxic substance that is present in wine, beer, and hard liquor. Women who drink alcohol while pregnant are twice as likely to miscarry. Pregnant mothers should limit their intake of alcohol to two glasses per day.

 

5. Salt

 Salt is a mineral that is added to table salt. Many brands of table salt contain iodine. Iodine is essential to thyroid function in the body. Thyroid function is responsible for maintaining the metabolic rate. The metabolic rate is the total amount of calories that a person burns each day. Over time, too much iodine can block the conversion of thyroxin to triiodothyronine. 

It is recommended that pregnant women limit their daily sodium intake to 2 grams. Too much salt will reduce the production of progesterone, which helps maintain pregnancy. Prenatal vitamins often contain salt. However, if you find that you are suffering from morning sickness frequently, you might try cutting back on your prenatal vitamin intake. Your doctor may recommend changing your brand of prenatal vitamin. You can also try adding probiotics to your diet to help lessen nausea due to poor nutrition. Probiotics are live microorganisms that improve digestion and stimulate immune system activity.

 

6. Coffee

 Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world today. Unfortunately, coffee contains caffeine, which stimulates the central nervous system. Caffeine is a diuretic that promotes frequent urination and decreases fluid retention. Fluid retention is not necessarily harmful unless it causes swelling to occur in the joints or legs. 

Drinking coffee regularly throughout pregnancy can sometimes cause leg cramps. Leg cramps are caused by dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. The symptoms include pain in the leg and calf muscles, numbness in the toes, and a burning sensation in the feet. If you experience leg cramping, you should drink plenty of fluids to balance your internal chemistry.

 

7. Smoking

 Smoking tobacco or marijuana cigarettes during pregnancy is very dangerous. Smoking can decrease fertility and cause stillbirths. Marijuana can slow down the baby's development. Heavy smoking during pregnancy can cause premature labor and other problems. 

Most women stop smoking after becoming pregnant. Those who continue to smoke throughout pregnancy should cut back to half of what they normally consume. Pregnant women who wish to quit smoking must consult with their doctors first.

8. Cigarettes

Cigarette smoke contains nicotine which can cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headaches, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and even death. Smoking cigarettes before or while pregnant may increase the risk of miscarriage. 

If you are already pregnant, smoking is not good for you or your baby. Smoking exposes your developing fetus to chemical toxins and carcinogens, some of which have been linked to birth defects, low birth weight, stillbirth, pre-term labor, congenital anomalies, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), sudden unexplained death in infancy (SUID) and childhood cancer.

9. High-fat foods and junk food

High-fat foods such as meats, cheeses, dairy products, butter, and fatty sauces can lower blood pressure and help control diabetes. Unfortunately, they also pack lots of calories. 

Most people don't realize how many calories are hidden in foods like french fries, ice cream, chocolate cake, cookies, pizza, burgers, and fried chicken. If you are planning to eat out or order takeout, choose leaner options instead.