Foods to avoid while pregnant

Not all food is good food when you’re pregnant. Here are some foods to avoid while pregnant to ensure the health of mom and baby.

1. PUFAS (polyunsaturated Fatty Acids) and foods fried in these. These are highly unstable, oxidized fats that generate free radicals in the body and produce inflammation.

2. Deli or Processed meats- not only are these considered to contain carcinogenic compounds, but they can contribute to bacterial infection such as listeria or salmonella.

3. Alcohol-this is the #1 fetal teratogen (any agent that causes structural/neurological birth defects)-other teratogens include chemicals, heavy metals, and certain drugs.

4. Heavily processed and refined foods especially carbs (crackers, cookies, pastas, breads, soda, etc.). These dysregulate blood sugar contributing not only to gestational diabetes and insulin resistance of mom, but also increases metabolic-related risk for the baby.

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