FOOD AND BEVERAGES TO AVOID DURING PREGNANCY
1. High-mercury fish (shark, tuna, butterfish, salmon)
2. Shellfish (crab, mussels, squid, etc.)
3. Unpasteurized milk
4.Caffeine
5. Alcohol
6. Processed food
7. Energy drinks
8. Fruits like pineapple and papaya
9. High sugar
10. Aloe vera
HIGH–MERCURY FISH
Mercury is a highly toxic substance that may also cause serious developmental issues in children. Pregnant women should not eat high–mercury fish more than 1-2 times each mint. Regular, unrestricted eating of high-mercury fish causes accumulation of mercury in your bloodstream over time. Excess mercury in the bloodstream could damage the development of your baby’s brain and nervous system.
SHELLFISH
Shellfish can cause several infections. These could be viral, bacterial, or parasitic. Row fish and shellfish can be contaminated by bacteria and parasites. This could have adverse effects on health and would be harmful to both the mother and the unborn baby.
CAFFEINE
High caffeine intake during pregnancy could restrict fetal growth and would result in low birth weight. A pregnant woman should limit her caffeine intake to 200 mg per day.
UNPASTEURIZED MILK
Pregnant women should not consume unpasteurized milk, cheese, or fruit juices, as these foods increase the risk of bacterial infection. Unpasteurized milk contains an array of harmful bacteria including salmonella, e-coil, and campylobacter.
ALCOHOL
Pregnant women should not drink alcohol. Drinking alcohol could increase the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, and fetal alcohol syndrome. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy could cause miscarriage and FASDS (fetal alcoholic spectrum disability)
PROCESSED FOOD
Eating processed food during pregnancy could increase the risk of excessive weight gain, gestational diabetes, and other complications.
ENERGY DRINK
Energy drinks are inadvisable during pregnancy as they may contain high levels of caffeine. High levels of caffeine intake during pregnancy could result in babies having a low birth weight.
AVOID THESE FRUITS FROM STAGE-1 OF PREGNANCY
- PINEAPPLE
- PAPAYA
PINEAPPLE
Pineapple contains bromelain which softens the cervix and initiates untimely labour contraction resulting in miscarriage. Avoid pineapple right from the early stages of pregnancy.
PAPAYA
Papaya seeds are also rich in enzymes that cause contraction of the uterus resulting in miscarriage. Ripe papaya can be a beneficial part of nutrition for pregnant women, whereas unripe papaya can be very dangerous.
HIGH SUGAR FOOD
Eating too many sugary foods leads to gestational diabetes (gestational diabetes means high blood sugar levels during pregnancy). Gestational diabetes leads to high birth weight, respiratory distress syndrome, high or low blood sugar level, and high chances for c-section.
ALOE VERA
This plant has amazing healing properties. Aloe vera is best known for curing health problems such as constipation, heartburn, and also highly promotes the maintenance of a healthy immune system.
Pregnant women are often advised to stay away from consuming aloe vera juice as this could cause an increase in uterine wall contraction.
According to Ayurveda, Garbhini Paricharya can be studied as three parts
1. Masanumasika pathya (monthly dietary regimen)
2. Garbhopaghatakara bhava (activity and substances that are harmful to the fetus)
3. Garbhasthapaka dravyas (substances beneficial during pregnancy)
Garbhini should avoid the use of teekshna, rooksha, and ushna dravyas.
She should abstain from foul-smelling articles and avoid eating dried-up, stale, impure, wet, or hard-to-digest foods as they are harmful to the fetus. She should also avoid heavy exercise.