Pregnancy is the most important and delicate time in a woman’s life, and it is important to know what you can and cannot eat during pregnancy. We help you today to inventory 11 kinds of food that you can not eat, from the aspect of eating to reduce the risk of pregnancy. 1, fish with high mercury content Mercury is a highly toxic element that is commonly found in contaminated water sources. Mercury levels, if too high, can cause damage to the nervous system, immune system and kidneys. Mercury is often found in polluted seas and is easily enriched in fish after being accidentally ingested by them, so women during pregnancy are advised to strictly control their intake of fish high in mercury, not more than twice a month. However, not all fish are high in mercury, only certain fish have this characteristic. High mercury fish include: shark, swordfish, big-eared mackerel, and tuna (especially albacore tuna). However, it is still very healthy to consume low-mercury fish during pregnancy. Those fish can be eaten twice a week, and the fatty fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are very important for the growth of the fetus. 2. Uncooked or raw fish Uncooked fish, especially shellfish, can easily lead to serious infections, including norovirus, Vibrio cholerae, Salmonella, Listeria spp. and parasites. Some infections affect only the mother, making her thirsty and weak, while others may also affect the unborn fetus, with serious, possibly fatal, consequences. Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to Listeria infection, and data show that pregnant women are up to 20 times more likely to contract Listeria than the general population. A scary fact is that even if the mother does not show any symptoms, Listeria may have been passed from the placenta to the unborn baby, eventually leading to premature birth, miscarriage, stillbirth or other serious health problems. Therefore, it is best for women during pregnancy to stay away from raw fish and shells, including many sushi. 3, undercooked or raw meat Eating raw meat also increases the risk of a range of bacterial infections, including toxoplasma, E. coli, listeria and salmonella. These bacteria can threaten the health of the unborn baby, perhaps leading to stillbirth or serious neurological disorders such as mental deficiency, blindness or epilepsy. Some completely cut off parts – such as loin tenders and tenderloins of beef and lamb – may be safe without being fully cooked. However, this is only if the meat is whole, uncut, and the exterior must be fully cooked. Cut meat, whether it’s made into meatballs, burgers or meat patties, must be cooked before eating. Care should also be taken with hot dogs, lunches, and skillet meals; these meats also have the potential to harbor large amounts of bacteria during handling and storage, which can lead to infection. In short, pregnant mothers should not eat unprocessed or undercooked meat products. 4. Raw eggs Raw eggs are susceptible to salmonella infection, and usually only the mother is infected with salmonella, but not the unborn baby. Symptoms of salmonella infection include fever, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhea, although in a few cases, salmonella infection may lead to uterine cramps, causing premature birth or stillbirth. Foods that contain raw eggs include: slightly scrambled eggs, poached or scrambled eggs, hollandaise sauce (a thick sauce rich in egg yolk, butter, vinegar, etc.), homemade mayonnaise, salad dressing, homemade ice cream, and cake puff pastry. Most products on the market that contain eggs are pasteurized and safe to eat, but it never hurts to read the ingredient labels before consumption. 5, animal offal Animal offal, indeed, is a high-quality source of many nutrients, including iron, vitamin B12, vitamin A, copper, etc., for the mother and the baby in the belly are very beneficial. However, during pregnancy, consuming too much vitamin A through animal offal is not recommended, as it can lead to vitamin A toxicity, and too much copper intake can also lead to abnormalities that may eventually cause birth defects and liver toxicity. Therefore, it is best for pregnant women to ingest animal offal no more than once a week. 6, caffeine Caffeine is the most commonly used psychotropic drug in the world, mainly found in coffee, tea, soft drinks and cocoa. Pregnant women are generally advised to limit their daily caffeine intake to less than 200mg, or a maximum of 2-3 cups of coffee per day. Caffeine is absorbed very quickly and can be passed to the placenta and fetus. Since unborn fetuses and their placentas do not yet have enough of the enzymes needed to metabolize caffeine, caffeine accumulates in their bodies. Excessive caffeine intake during pregnancy will limit fetal growth and increase the risk of low birth weight children, and low birth weight will also increase the risk of chronic diseases in adulthood, such as type 2 diabetes or the risk of heart disease. 7, raw sprouts Raw sprouts, including alfalfa, clover, radish sprouts and mung bean sprouts, are likely to be contaminated with Salmonella. Unlike most other vegetables, this bacterium tends to get into the seeds of the aforementioned vegetables and is therefore very difficult to wash off. For this reason, pregnant women are advised to stay away from sprouts that are not cooked, but of course, if they are fully cooked, they are still very safe to eat. 8. unwashed fruits unwashed or unpeeled fruits and vegetables can contain bacteria and parasites, including toxoplasma, E. coli, salmonella and listeria, and contamination can occur at any point in the handling process. Bacteria can affect both mother and baby, and one of the very dangerous parasites that lurk on vegetables and fruits is Toxoplasma gondii. Most infants who are infected with Toxoplasma gondii are born asymptomatic, but symptoms such as blindness and mental retardation may gradually appear as they grow. A small percentage of babies are born with serious eye problems or brain damage. Therefore, when you are pregnant, it is very important to rinse and peel fruits and vegetables thoroughly, which can greatly reduce the risk of infection for you and your child. 9. Unpasteurized milk, cheese and juice Raw milk and unpasteurized cheese and juice can contain a range of harmful germs, such as listeria, salmonella, E. coli and campylobacter. These bacteria can grow naturally or can be contaminated during collection and storage. Pasteurization is the most effective way to kill bacteria without destroying the nutritional value of the product itself. Therefore, in order to reduce the risk of infection, pregnant women should only consume pasteurized milk, cheese and juice. 10. Alcohol Pregnant women should stay away from alcohol completely because it increases the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth, and even a little bit of alcohol intake can affect the baby’s brain development. Alcohol can also cause fetal ethanol syndrome, the symptoms of this syndrome include facial deformities, heart defects and mental retardation. Since it is not determined how many doses of alcohol are safe during pregnancy, it is best for pregnant women to eliminate alcohol altogether. 11. Processed junk food Pregnancy is a period of rapid fetal growth, but while it’s true that you need to supply two people with energy when you’re pregnant, that doesn’t mean you need to consume double the calories. In fact, you only need to consume an extra 350-500 calories a day in the middle and second trimesters to meet your body’s caloric needs. The ideal pregnancy diet should consist primarily of natural foods, including nutrients that will satisfy both mom and baby, while processed junk foods are very low in nutrients but very high in calories, sugar and fat, and excess sugar is often thought to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. And, while it is necessary to gain some weight during pregnancy, being overweight is undesirable and it is a source of many diseases such as gestational diabetes, and other complications of pregnancy and childbirth. Also pregnant women who are overweight are more likely to have overweight babies, which will lead to long-term health problems because overweight children are more likely to grow up to be overweight adults.