Eating for two does not mean you need to eat twice as much, but it does mean you need be twice as careful. Research indicates certain foods can be harmful when pregnant... Some of which are very common and popular. See the full article and references at http://www.dietvsdisease.org/what-cant-you-eat-when-pregnant-6-foods-to-avoid/

2. A developing foetus depends entirely
on the availability and supply of
nutrients it receives from its mother.
The quality ofthese nutrients is
determined by the mother’s eating
patterns andnutrient stores.

4. So then, it is particularly worrisome the
average women does not receive
adequate nutrition education during
pregnancy…

5. 1. Avoid unsolicited
dietary supplements
during pregnancy
Some supplements contain
super-loaded quantities of
abortifacients…
Compounds that induce
abortion.

6. Foods naturally high in
abortifacient compounds
were used as
contraception during the
pre-pharmaceutical era.
The ‘MorningAfter Pill’ is
a modern day
abortifacient.

7. Fenugreek is a great example.
It is commonly used as a supplement to
improve blood sugars and even to help
stimulate lactation after pregnancy.
However…

9. When given to pregnant rats in moderate doses,
Fenugreek is suspected of causing birth defects,
particularly related to spinal development.

10. Effects of abortifacient-like food
supplements are limited to animal
studies and anecdotes (casual
observation).
Ask you doctor or
dietitian about
supplements first.
But it would be wise to avoid fenugreek
supplementation during pregnancy, just to
be safe.

11. 2. Avoid fish that are
high in mercury, such
as Shark and Tuna
Excessive mercury in the blood
is linked with both pregnancy
complications and developmental
problems in infants…
Particularly brain development.

12. Shark, tuna, marlin and other predatory
fish contain the largest sources of
mercury in the human diet by far.

14. There certainly appears to be a linear
relationship with mercury levels and IQ
deficit in children.
Put another way, IQ scores drop with
increased mercury levels.

15. Some argue there are no safety concerns
if the amount of selenium in a fish is
higher than its mercury content.
But there is no evidence for those
protective effects on long-term mercury
exposure.
Also keep in mindregional differences.
Species low in mercury (or high in
selenium) in one part of the worldmay
not be in another.
Is it worth it?

16. The safest recommendation for pregnant women is to
minimise all mercury exposure.
So if you must eat fish, go for non-predatory varieties
like salmon, sardines, trout, mackerel, and herring.
They contain the least mercury andconsidered
safe to eat if servings areno morethan 350
grams (12 oz)per week…
Once per week
basically.

17. What about my Omega-3s?
Fish oil supplements are
pretty much safe. Check the
label or ask your Dietitian or
Doctor.

18. 3. Steer clear of alcohol
and large amounts of
caffeine
Teratogenic is the term used
for any compounds and
substances that can disrupt
the development of an
embryo or foetus.

19. Some well-known teratogens include:
Alcohol
Caffeine (especially during the first trimester)
Cocaine and methamphetamine
To be safe, complete avoidance of
teratogenic substances during pregnancy is
strongly recommended.

21. It is well-established that the offspring of
mothers consuming alcohol during
pregnancy suffer from developmental delays
and behavioural changes.

22. Caffeine is another teratogenic substance
that is not entirely safe.
It is a psychoactive substance; one that
crosses the placenta to the baby.

23. While you may be tolerant to the caffeine in
your morning coffee, your child is not.
Many leading health organisations recommend
caffeine intake be limited to less than 200 mg
per day if pregnant.
That’s equal tojustone 350 ml (12 oz)
cup ofcoffee.
Soz.

24. 4. Limit your intake
of dairy foods,
particularly milk
Cow’s milk is more than just a
nutrient for mammals; whether
cows or humans…
Because unlike meat and fish,
which are structural proteins,
cow’s milk is a signalling protein.

25. The signalling properties of cow’s milk protein
activates the nutrient-sensitive protein
complex mTORC1.
mTORC1 is a key regulator of cell growth,
formation and metabolic programming.

27. By activating mTORC1, cow’s milk functions as
an endocrine signalling system. One that
promotes anabolism and postnatal growth.

28. The over-stimulation of mTORC1
explains why a high cow’s milk intake
during pregnancy is strongly associated
with increased foetus growth and birth
weight.
This is known medically as Macrosomia.
Over-stimulation ofmTORC1 is also
linked toother health problems
throughout ahuman’s lifecycle,
including obesity and prostate cancer.

30. This image illustrates the
difference in birthweight of
offspring from mothers with a
protein intake ranging from
very low (Q1) to very high
(Q5).

31. This image illustrates the
difference in birthweight of
offspring from mothers with a
protein intake ranging from
very low (Q1) to very high
(Q5).
It suggests that higher dairy
protein intake – and no other
protein – leads to higher
birthweight.
It also reached statistical
significance, which means it
is highly unlikely this finding
was due to chance.

32. It’s well accepted that dairy is problematic
and inappropriate for children less than
twelve months old…
And that cow’s milk-based infant formulas
provide excessive nutrients and growth
hormones compared to breast-milk.
Soit only makes sense that large amounts of
dairyduring pregnancy areprobablynot
beneficial forthe baby.

33. You can get adequate nutrition (including
calcium and vitamin D) from leafy
vegetables, mushrooms, eggs, and other
food sources proven to be
beneficial and safe.
Why take the risk with excessive cow’s
milk?
Enjoy milk in small amounts, but
don’t increase intake justbecause
you’re pregnant.

34. 5. Pregnant mothers
should avoid raw
and undercooked
animal products
They have the potential to
foster harmful bacteria
like Salmonella and Listeria.
These bacteria can cross the
placenta and harm the baby.

35. Uncooked food such as raw sushi, raw eggs,
and unpasteurised milk should be completely
avoided.
Ready-to-eat animal products like deli (cold
pressed) meats, soft and semi-soft cheeses are
also potential sources of harmful bacteria.

36. The risk of exposure from these
products is actually extremely low,
but the risk exists nevertheless.
If you docontinue eating these foods,
choose the freshest foods (close to
manufacture date);
Eat them by the next day at thelatest;
And ensure the foodis
consistently stored
below 4°C(39°F).

37. 6. Minimise or avoid
food products high
in added sugar
During and immediately after
pregnancy, it is clear added
sugar is hazardous to health.

38. Excessive sugar in the diet leads to insulin
resistance and pre-diabetes, otherwise known as
Glucose Intolerance.
The risk of glucose intolerance is much greater
while pregnant because insulin function naturally
weakens during this time.

39. A glucose intolerance identified
during pregnancy is known
as Gestational Diabetes.
The risks ofgestational diabetes are
prominent for both mother and child…

41. 1. Children born to mothers with any form of maternal diabetes have a
greater risk of becoming obese or developing type 2 diabetes
diabetes compared to children born to diabetic fathers.
This is because sugar ingested by the mother can cross the placenta to
the foetus, while insulin (which removes sugar) cannot cross. As a
result, the foetus must increase its own insulin secretion to metabolise
the sugar.

43. 2. Increased insulin secretion is an important growth
factor for a developing foetus. It can lead to excessive
excessive growth and large birth weight, which is not
which is not ideal.

44. It’s not afactor forchildren born to mothers
without gestational diabetes.
3. The extent of your child’s weight gain in
the first year becomes a factor for insulin
insulin resistance.

46. 4. Women with gestational diabetes in their first
pregnancy have a 41%percent increased risk for
for recurrence in their second, as well as an increased
increased risk of type 2 diabetes later in life.

47. The recommended amount of weight gain
while pregnant has recently been reduced by
the Institute of Medicine:
Womenwitha pre-pregnancyBMI of 18.5-24.9
kg/m2:
Totalweightgainshould bebetween11-16kg/25-
35lbs.
Womenwitha pre-pregnancyBMI of 25.0-29.9
kg/m2:
Totalweightgainshould bebetween7-11kg/15-25lbs.

48. That works out to be only 250-300 additional
calories per day…
1 handful of
almonds
1 boiled egg

49. By understanding what foods to avoid, and
what portions are safe, you are gifting your
child the best start possible.
But it does mean you should
be twice as careful.
Eating fortwo certainly doesn’t mean
you should eat twice as much…

50. For additional information and the full list of
scientific references, see the original article:
DietvsDisease.org/what-cant-you-eat-when-
pregnant-6-foods-to-avoid
Image Credits:
flickr.com/photos/rosemania
flickr.com/photos/thebestgardening
flickr.com/photos/usfwshq