Foods To Avoid During Pregnancy

by Million Marker

30 Foods to Avoid While Pregnant 

Your body is beautifully dynamic. Keep up with your body’s needs by nurturing it with healthy foods.  Cravings happen. They’re sometimes even the highlight of a pregnancy! However, we also know you want to take on the healthiest lifestyle in this beautiful moment. Limit or avoid these foods altogether during your pregnancy:

Environmental Pollutants

The foods listed below are exposed to environmental pollutants such as dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). It is important for women to avoid these foods during pregnancy to avoid any intoxication and exposure to methylmercury [1].

  1. Salmon 

  2. Caviar 

  3. Marlin 

  4. Shark 

  5. Swordfish 

  6. Tuna 

  7. Peanuts 

Retinol-rich Foods

Retinol is a form of Vitamin A. Too much retinol can be harmful to the embryo [2]. 

Therefore, it is best to avoid foods with elevated levels of this vitamin:

  1. Beef liver

  2. Lamb liver

  3. Fish liver oil 

  4. Liver sausage 

  5. Cod liver oil 

  6. Salmon 

  7. Goat cheese 

  8. Feta cheese 

  9. Brie cheese

  10. Camembert cheese 

Fruits and Vegetables

Getting your greens on is always a good thing. However, foods high in provitamin A can also be harmful to the baby’s development [2].

Eat the following in moderation or avoid: 

  1. Sweet Potato 

  2. Kale

  3. Winter Squash 

  4. Collards

  5. Mango

  6. Cantaloupe

  7. Pink or red grapefruit

Raw Products 

Cooking food thoroughly is very important, especially while pregnant [3]. Raw food may contain harmful bacteria. 

Whip up dinner by thoroughly cooking these foods:

  1. Premade meat

  2. Raw milk 

  3. Raw batter

  4. Raw sprouts

  5. Foods with raw egg  

  6. Undercooked meat

Dinner Done Better

Eating for two is twice the fun. It’s also double the responsibility. 

Protect you and your loved one’s health by:

  • Paying attention to food hygiene. Wash your hands, fruits, and vegetables before eating. This mindful practice protects your body from food-borne pathogens such as listeriosis, salmonella, toxoplasmosis, and campylobacter.

  • Saying bye to soft cheese. Soft cheeses increase your risk of listeriosis exposure. 

  • Cooking eggs and protein thoroughly. Limit the risk of foodborne illnesses. 

Dinner Is Served

Washing and cooking foods thoroughly is the first step in making a fertility-friendly meal. Get your phone and get ready to snap some pics for the Gram. Here are some pregnancy-friendly foods that are #foodporn worthy:

Stock up on iron and folate-rich foods that help cell growth like:

  1. Dark, leafy greens

  2. Lentils

  3. Beans

  4. Figs

  5. Whole grains

  6. Beets

  7. Walnuts

  8. Wheat germ

Increase your vitamin C intake to aid with iron absorption!

Get your antioxidants on with foods rich in vitamins A, C, and D, like [4]:

  1. Oranges

  2. Bananas

  3. Papayas

  4. Avocados

  5. Fortified Plant Milks 

Switch to you lean protein by leaning on these food staples:

  1. Pasture-raised poultry

  2. Wild-caught fish

  3. Quinoa

  4. Cottage cheese

  5. Nuts and seeds

Cleaner Eating, Cleaner Living 

Diet is more than just food. It’s a whole lifestyle. 

You can do so much to keep your pregnancy on the healthy path! Mail-in a urine test to Million Marker, and learn which of your daily products are exposing you to toxic chemicals. 

Get personalized product recommendations based on your toxic exposures. Create a healthier life for your entire family. Bond with your entire family over healthy meals for generations to come! 

 

Sources

[1] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1467-3010.2006.00541.x
[2] https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods-high-in-vitamin-a#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2
[3] https://www.foodsafety.gov/people-at-risk/pregnant-women  
[4] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1467-3010.2006.00541.x

 

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