What to Eat While Pregnant: The Top 4 Pregnancy No-No's
What to Eat While Pregnant: The Top 4 Pregnancy No-No's
When it comes to what to eat while pregnant, there are certain foods that you should eliminate from your eating plan as soon as possible. When you are pregnant, almost everything you consume travels, in one way or another, across the placenta. This means that everything you eat, your baby gets the benefitor the negative consequencesthereof.
So if you are used to consuming sugar, caffeine, and other substances that cause a negative reaction in your body, it's important to cut back for the next nine months, to give you and your baby the best possible health during pregnancy. Here are the things you need to know about pregnancy and diet:
Sugar and Artificial Sweeteners
One of the biggest pregnancies no-no's is also the most innocuous: sugar and its artificial counterparts saccharine, aspartame, and sucralose. Because weight gain is sometimes encouraged during pregnancy due to the old wives' tale about needing to eat for two, sugar consumption is not widely discouraged by society during those three trimesters.
Artificial sweeteners, because they are used in everything from soda to ice cream, are also not specifically forbidden by society and so many women who wish to curb weight gain continue to use these chemicals to help ease sugar cravings.
However, sugar and artificial sweeteners can cause very real damage during pregnancy. Sugar can lead to weight gain in both mother and fetus, making it difficult to have an easy labor. Artificial sweeteners are laden with dangerous chemicals that can cause a host of lasting health issues in both mom and baby. So they should be avoided altogether.
Fortunately, there are all-natural alternatives available that you can use during your pregnancy. Raw honey, agave syrup, xylitol, and stevia can all be used in moderation to curb your sweet tooth without any adverse effects.
Processed Foods
Processed foods are so prevalent in our society that most pregnant women don't think twice about eating them. But you should. Processed foods contain sodium, fillers, preservatives, and other additives that can contribute to weight gain, bloating, water retention, and gas during pregnancy.
Switching to whole, unprocessed foods takes some concentration but the foods you consume are actually cheaper and more filling than their processed counterparts. For example, rather than eating a fruit cereal bar, consider eating a whole apple. Apples are high in fiber, vitamins and minerals that your body needs to function at its prime. Cereal bars are full of unnecessary additives like preservatives and sugar, and they are low in fiber. Go for the whole foods if you are regulating your weight gain.
Caffeine
Contrary to popular belief, you can consume some caffeine during pregnancy. According to most experts, you can safely ingest up to 150mg of caffeine daily throughout your pregnancy. That's the equivalent of one cup of coffee or two cups of black tea.
However, the way that caffeine affects your body is the same way it affects your fetus. As your blood pressure increases, so does your baby's. As you become dehydrated, so does the baby. So it is wise to severely limit your consumption of caffeine to spare your baby this added stress. Slowly cutting back on your caffeine intake is much more preferable than cutting it down cold turkey.
Soy Products
Although soy is routinely consumed by vegetarians, vegans, and other health-conscious individuals, studies show that soy has troubling side effects. If you eat a lot of soy while pregnant, these studies show it can impede the proper development of your baby's sex organs.
If you are vegan or vegetarian, seek out alternative sources of healthy protein, such as organic whole eggs, raw nuts, and nut butters. These protein sources are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and contain none of the troubling side effects of soy. Do Prenatal Vitamins Help You Get Pregnant? Find Out If Prenatal Vitamins Help With Conception Best Chances Of Getting Pregnant - Bun In The Oven Best Days To Get Pregnant - Bun In The Oven Bun In The Oven - Getting Pregnant Tips Review how to get pregnant quickly - Whats the quickest way to get pregnant? how to get pregnant quickly - tips for getting pregnant fast Tips to Relieving Pain and Cramps While Pregnant Quit Smoking cigarettes During Pregnancy - You Can Quit Smoking While Pregnant, Here is How How To use an ovulation calendar to get pregnant In 3 Easy Steps Tips for Getting Pregnant Trying To Get Pregnant Fast Doing These Actions Where To Look For The Best Positions To Get Pregnant The Secret of How to Get Pregnant Fast