14 Foods And Drinks To Steer Clear Of During Pregnancy

Not surprisingly, pregnancy places an incredible strain on a woman’s body, and while much of the future baby’s appearance and behaviours and health are determined by the genes he or she inherits from parents, environmental factors also play a part.

For example, whatever the mother consumes can also affect the developing foetus inside her.

This article lists a few foods and drinks that pregnant women should avoid.

Alcohol

According to the US National Institutes of Health, “Alcohol can disrupt fetal development at any stage during a pregnancy – including at the earliest stages before a woman even knows she is pregnant.”

The risk is greatest in women who drink heavily on a regular basis, and in women who binge drink (which is defined as drinking four or more drinks per occasion).

Statistics show that roughly one in eight adult women binge drink three times a month, with an average of five drinks per binge.

The problem is that alcohol easily passes from a mother’s bloodstream into her developing baby’s blood, and alcohol that is present in the bloodstream of the foetus can interfere with the development of several critical organs, including the brain.

Alcohol is reckoned by some to be the most common known cause of damage to developing babies in the United States and the leading cause of preventable mental retardation.

While you may think that the occasional alcoholic drink won’t harm your foetus, it’s important to bear in mind that there is no known safe limit for alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

According to the US Centers For Disease Control (CDC), about one in ten pregnant women drink alcohol, which increases the risk of their baby having a Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).

Problems associated with consuming alcohol during pregnancy include Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), which can cause birth defects and mental retardation, as well as an increased risk of miscarriage, premature delivery, and stillbirth.

On a less severe note, alcohol can make some of the other side-effects of being pregnant (e.g. heartburn and nausea) worse.

The official CDC recommendation, then, is that it is not safe to drink at any time during pregnancy.

It may seem like nine months is a long time to go without your favourite tipple, but what you do during this period can affect your baby for their entire life.

Caffeine

I realize that many people rely on their coffee to get them going in the morning and sustain them throughout the day, but it’s a really bad idea to consume this during pregnancy. (Actually, it’s not a great idea for anybody to drink coffee, but that’s for another article.)

Why?

Because it:

1. Aggravates heartburn.
2. Depletes your supplies of calcium.
3. Impedes iron absorption, which can contribute to anaemia.
4. Increases blood pressure.
5. Transfers to breast milk, which means it can stimulate your baby too (i.e. think trouble sleeping and late nights).

And remember, coffee is not the only source of caffeine. Others include:

• Chocolate (including candy bars and hot chocolate, and the darker the chocolate, the greater the amount of caffeine)
• Decaf coffee (yes, it may have less caffeine than regular coffee, but it can still contain some)
• Energy drinks (e.g. Fruit2O Energy as well as some alcohol-based ones)
• Energy / protein bars (especially if they are chocolate- or coffee-flavoured)
• Green teas
• Guarana berries
• Ice Cream (e.g. chocolate- and coffee-flavoured)
• Pain relievers (e.g. Excedrin Migraine)
• Sodas (e.g. cola, Mountain Dew, root beer)
• Tea (especially dry tea leaves)
• Weight loss pills (e.g. Zantrex-3)

Not all of the above have caffeine, and there are other unlikely products (e.g. certain brands of beef jerky and breath fresheners) that do contain it, so make sure you check the label before purchasing, and if you’re not sure, stay away.

It’s also worth noting that the further through your pregnancy you are, the longer it takes to expel any caffeine.

Certain Cheeses

Which ones?

Specifically, unpasteurized cheeses, as well as soft or fresh cheeses. Ones to avoid, then, include brie, camembert, and chèvre. (Actually, any unpasteurized foods should not be consumed during pregnancy.)

Soft blue cheeses (e.g. Danish blue, gorgonzola, and roquefort) are also better left alone, unless they are cooked.

This is because they can carry pathogens (e.g. listeria, which is a leading cause of meningitis in children less than one year old).

If you want to know what cheeses are deemed safe for pregnant women, then here are a few to choose from:

• cottage cheese
• cream cheese
• feta
• hard cheeses (e.g. Cheddar, parmesan, Stilton)
• halloumi
• mozzarella
• paneer
• ricotta

Eggs (Raw Or Partially Cooked)

Again, the risk of pathogens (e.g. salmonella) is the reason for avoiding these.

Note that this applies to all eggs (e.g. duck, goose, quail) and not only those from hens.

Fish

While fish has always been recommended as a good source of protein that is also low in fat, a lot of fish (including shellfish) is now contaminated with mercury.

Mercury is, of course, one of the ten most toxic substances known on earth, and there is no known safe limit.

It is classified as a neurotoxin, which means it is poisonous to nerve tissues, For example, it can cross the blood brain barrier and can cause damage to the central nervous system.

All of this means that you really don’t want to be ingesting mercury when pregnant – because it can and does transfer into your developing baby.

Some fish are worse than others, with the following being the ones that are most contaminated:

• Ahi Tuna
• Bigeye Tuna
• Bluefish
• Canned Tuna
• Grouper
• King Mackerel
• Marlin
• Orange Roughy
• Shark
• Striped Bass
• Swordfish
• Tilefish

One of the safest fish to eat is wild Alaskan salmon, but stay away from farmed fish in general.

For up-to-date information about fish and shellfish, I suggest you consult the EPA website.

Herbal Teas

While generally recognized as safe, some herbal teas, including those made using the following, should be avoided during pregnancy:

• Aloe
• Angelica
• Black Cohosh
• Black Walnut
• Blue Cohosh
• Borage Oil
• Cascara Sagrada
• Comfrey
• Dong Quai
• Echinacea
• Ephedra
• Evening Primrose
• Fenugreek
• Ginseng
• Goldenseal
• Horsetail
• Kava Kava
• Licorice Root
• Motherwort
• Mugwort
• Pennyroyal
• Saw Palmetto
• Senna
• Shepherd’s Purse
• St. John’s Wort
• Tansy
• Uva Ursi
• Wormwood
• Yohimbe

Some of these, for example, are stimulants, and some can lead to miscarriages.

There are a few that are deemed generally safe, including the following, but always in moderation, of course:

• Ginger
• Lemon balm
• Peppermint
• Raspberry leaf
• Rooibos (aka red tea)

Licorice

Licorice root (otherwise known as mulethi) contains a substance called glycyrrhizin, which is associated with several foetal developmental issues. For example, it can:

• Cause early puberty in girls.
• Impair the placenta allowing stress hormones (e.g. cortisol) to enter the baby, which can affect the baby’s IQ.
• Increase blood pressure.
• Lead to ADHD issues.
• Result in preterm labour.

Meat (Raw Or Undercooked)

This applies to any type of meat (e.g. joints, steaks), because of the risk of toxoplasmosis. While very rare (although the risk increases during the pregnancy), this infection, which is caused by parasites, can cause harm to your baby.

Note that this warning also applies to any deli-style meats that are cured rather than cooked, such as chorizo, lunch meat, pepperoni, prosciutto, and salami, as well as hot dogs. This is because many of them contain nitrates, which can be transformed into nitrosamines, increasing the chances of cancer in mothers and abnormalities in the foetus.

Pâté

Any pâté (i.e. vegetable or meat) can contain pathogens such as listeria.

Preformed Vitamin A

This is the type of vitamin A found in eggs, meats (e.g. liver), and milk, and is called retinol. Studies have shown that too much of this can cause birth defects.

The US Department Of Agriculture (USDA) recommends getting no more than 10,000 IU of preformed vitamin A from animal sources, fortified foods, and supplements – combined – per day.

For comparison, a single serving of cow’s liver can contain up to 30,000 IU of retinol. So, while this clearly exceeds the above recommended daily dose, to receive a toxic dose of preformed vitamin A, you would need to consume that much every day over a period of a few months.

Having said that, it’s still better not to take unnecessary risks.

(The other type of vitamin A, which are known as provitamin A carotenoids, is found in fruits and vegetables, and is completely safe for you and your baby.)

Shellfish (Raw)

If you are going to eat shellfish (e.g. clams, mussels, oysters) then make sure it is thoroughly cooked, in order to avoid any harmful bacteria, toxins, and viruses.

Street Foods

As much as you may love foods like pretzels and tacos from street vendors, you need to be careful when pregnant because, as a general rule, such vendors may have lower hygiene standards than regular restaurants.

Like I said, this is not always the case – people eat street foods all the time and do not get sick, but when you’re pregnant, you need to be extra careful.

And if you do get a craving for this type of food, why not have a try at making it at home yourself? You may even find you prefer it – and you get to choose exactly which ingredients you use.

Sugar-Rich Foods

Foods that are high in sugar (e.g. biscuits, cakes, candies, chocolates, desserts, ice creams, and sweetened beverages) can make some of the effects of being pregnant (e.g. constipation, heartburn, nausea, and vomiting) worse, and they can also contribute to gestational diabetes, increase the risk of preterm labour and metabolic syndrome in babies, lead to weight gain, and preeclampsia.

Unwashed Fruit And Vegetables

Since fresh produce can be covered in Toxoplasma parasites (not to mention herbicides and pesticides), it is best to wash this type of food under running water first (or you can use a specialist fruit and vegetable wash, like we do).

Also, cut out any bruised areas, because they may carry bacteria.

Conclusion

The above is a list of the most common problem foods, but that doesn’t mean that if something is not on this list, it’s safe.

Health and dietary recommendations are constantly changing, as scientists do more research, so if you’re not sure about whether any particular food or drink is safe for you to consume during pregnancy, please remember to consult your OB/GYN for the latest and best advice.

Remember that toxins that you, as an adult, might be able to fend off may be more dangerous for your foetus who does not yet have a fully functioning immune system.

So, during this crucially important stage of your life (and your child’s), it is always better to err on the side of caution.

Finally, don’t forget to check out these 25 recipes that support a healthy pregnancy.

Additional Resources

These are suggestions for those who wish to delve deeper into any of the above:

1. Nutrition In Pregnancy
2. Organic Fruit & Vegetable Wash