During pregnancy, we must maintain a balanced diet rich in nutrients from the beginning to ensure your baby everything he needs to grow healthy and strong. But it must be taken into account that certain foods cannot be eaten as it could bring serious complications to the fetus.
Consumption raw or undercooked foods (such as fish, meat, fruits or vegetables) can be harmful to the health of the fetus since they can be related to the spread of toxoplasmosis and listeriosis.
La toxoplasmosis It is a disease caused by a parasite found in raw food and cat feces. This parasite can cross the placenta and affect the fetus, causing serious brain problems.
La listeriosis it is a rare disease in humans, but extremely serious. It is spread by contamination of raw food with the bacteria. The woman can transmit the bacillus to the fetus during pregnancy or at the time of delivery.
The most common foods that should be stopped eating -or restrict their consumption while minimizing risks- are:
- Raw seafood
- Soft cheeses (such as brie)
- Raw meats
- Raw fish, sushi or ceviche
- Sausages
- Unpasteurized dairy
- Raw ham
- Raw vegetables and fruits (if you want to consume them, you have to wash them very well with a few drops of vinegar or bleach)
- Smoked, salted, pickled or marinated foods.
The way to eliminate the parasite or bacteria from these raw foods is by freezing it at a temperature lower than -20 ºC, for 48/72 hours prior to consumption. Another way is to subject the food to heat, cooking it at a temperature between 55 and 70 ºC for 10 minutes.
If you are pregnant, take care of your health and that of your baby. Therefore, we recommend that you restrict the consumption of raw foods.