It is from you, the future mother , that a child receives everything necessary for their growth and development. Your well-being during and after pregnancy, and most importantly – the health of your baby in the future, depends on how you eat now.

Your diet during pregnancy should:

• Be regular;
• Be balanced;
• Include all the substances and microelements necessary for the development of a child (especially important elements are: folic acid, iron and vitamin C, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, calcium and magnesium, iodine).

There are a number of products that you should avoid during pregnancy. Here’s the list of them:

Alcohol

The use of alcoholic beverages before conception and during pregnancy contributes to higher chance of having a miscarriage, the birth of low-weight babies, the formation of congenital malformations. Alcohol crosses the placenta within half an hour after consumption, and there is no minimum dose that can be safe for an unborn baby.

Products containing preservatives, artificial colorings and flavors

Many preservatives that are added to products to enhance taste and shelf life are toxic and dangerous to a fetus. They increase the risk of fetal malformations.

Products that have not undergone heat treatment (sushi with raw fish, carpaccio, rare steaks, raw eggs, etc.)

Products that have not undergone heat treatment carry serious risks for you and your unborn child, since they increase the chances of getting sick with acute intestinal or parasitic infections, salmonella, and other pathogenic bacteria.

Soft cheeses and cheeses with mold (camembert, brie, feta, goat cheese, blue cheese)

These cheeses are produced on the basis of unpasteurized milk, in which bacteria are preserved, these bacteria usually die during pasteurization. The key word is “usually”. Infection with these bacteria can lead to premature birth or miscarriage. If pasteurized milk was used as an ingredient, then this cheese is safe. Melted cheeses that have been heat treated are also safe.

Miscellaneous exotic foods

Do not try exotic foods for the first time during pregnancy, as they can cause an allergic reaction, gastrointestinal upset and heartburn.

Hot spices

Spicy foods irritate the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract, can cause overeating, and most often – they cause heartburn. Such food will not bring any benefit to an unborn child, since a baby may suffer digestive disorders and allergic reactions.

The use of deli meats, sausages, smoked meats

The main danger of such products is a high risk of pathogenic microflora (bacteria). It is necessary to be very cautious with all sorts of ready-to-eat products. Most often, they are sold in vacuum packaging and in thermofilm, which, even with minor damage to it, can be a threat to a future mother and her child. In addition, these products usually contain a variety of dyes, stabilizers, flavor enhancers, etc. Therefore, no one can guarantee the safety of such “delicacies”.

Use of artificial sweeteners (saccharin, aspartame)

Artificial sweeteners are able to penetrate the placenta and enter the body of an unborn baby. Therefore, in order to avoid additional risks, try not to eat products that contain artificial sweeteners: sugary soft drinks, breakfast cereals, products for diabetics.