Seafood and Cheese During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is an overwhelming and joyful time in which mom’s to be will make new discoveries every day. It can also be a time for many questions, concerns, and worries. Luckily there is an abundance of information to be found and new studies continually being done. You may have heard many things revolving around what you should and shouldn’t eat while you’re pregnant. Here we will cover a couple of the most common diet concerns.

Seafood and Fish
Seafood and fish can be a healthy and delicious treat in your daily diet. It’s a common misconception that if you are pregnant then you shouldn’t eat any of these delicious foods. This is not entirely correct. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency as well as the Food and Drug Administration both urge mom’s to be to include some in their diet. There are seafood and fish products that are safe to eat, and some that aren’t. Including the safe ones in your diet will provide much needed Omega3 fatty acids and quality protein. They are also low in bad, saturated fats.

You can enjoy the seafood you love as long as you stay away from certain kinds. Avoid eating king mackerel, swordfish, marlin, shark, and tilefish at all costs. These fish are very high in Mercury which can be harmful to your baby. Other types of seafood can be eaten up to three times a week, just be sure to mix it up. Don’t eat the same kind more than once in any given seven day period. Some of the safe and popular seafood that pregnant women enjoy are shrimp, salmon, catfish and light tuna from a can; all of these are low in Mercury. Take particular notice that the tuna is canned light tuna! Other types can have higher amounts of Mercury.

If you or those around you enjoy to fish, you should see if there are any warnings out in your local area for the safety of fish caught there. If you can’t find anything about it, it is probably safe to eat one serving, up to six ounces, per week. Don’t take chances by eating anymore than that.

Cheese
You’ve probably heard or been told to avoid soft cheeses. This was due to the risk of a listeria infection. Any dairy product that was made from raw milk has the possibility of carrying organisms that can cause disease. However, the Centers of Disease Control now says that you should be able to eat these softer cheeses as long as the packaging has a clear label stating that it is made from pasteurized milk – not raw milk. Anna McGrail says that the following cheeses are always safe to eat…