Food/Drink to avoid?

[Sascha Fitzpatrick]

What aren't you eating or drinking anymore? So far I've been advised to avoid soft cheese, some meat (particularly uncooked like Sashimi or the like), chickens and caffeine/alcohol, once we start ttc/fall pregant.

 

[jazzbird]

I've had to cut back on fish. I usually eat a lot of tuna and salmon, but because of mercury, I cut back and only allow myself about once a week.

I also advise trying to eat a diet that is rich in whole foods and avoid processed/convenience foods.

People have varying opinions, but I also think it is wise to avoid products with aspartame, or if you're addicted to diet coke, at least cut your consumption way back.

 

[HeKnowsMyName]

I only drink water and milk. I've had to cut back on my carb intake because I have Gest. Diabetes.

 

[Linnis]

I'm nt even tuna or other fish(taking fish oil capsels to get my Omega 3s), avoiding caffiene whenever I can, I haven't drank in 17 months since we've been TTC and been pregnant that combined amount of time. I'm avoiding aspartame as well as high fructose corn syrup which can be very difficult.
I never ate soft cheese before so I don't have to avoid it.

I'm drinking mostly water and gatorade.

 

[Athene]

If you've got a history of allergies in your family it's best to avoid peanuts.

 

[Leanna]

What aren't you eating or drinking anymore? So far I've been advised to avoid soft cheese, some meat (particularly uncooked like Sashimi or the like), chickens and caffeine/alcohol, once we start ttc/fall pregant.

I haven't heard anything about chicken (or soft cheese but I don't eat that anyway)

Like jazzbird said I am avoiding tuna and most fish because of mercury.

I cut back on caffeine... wish I could say its completely gone, but I just keep it to a minimum and drink water a lot more. (or white grape juice, yum!)

Oh and your dh should cut back/out caffeine because it affects the spermies He's gonna love that....

 

[katelyn]

Oh and your dh should cut back/out caffeine because it affects the spermies He's gonna love that....

Does it affect the sperm count or is it worse, like can it affect the baby?

Yes my husband is addicted to caffeine. :o

 

[Leanna]

I can't remember how it affects the spermies exactly... either lowering the number of them or their ability to swim far or sometihng of that sort... it affects getting pregnant in some way, not the baby.

 

[MamaCalidad]

Deli meats, hot dogs and unpasturized miso. I believe they're all lysteria risks.

Alcohol, other than the very small amout at communion.

Unpasturized dairy products.

Tuna limited to one serving/week.

 

[llghoney]

I have cut out my sweet tea in which I would have at least 3 glasses daily.

Also, cut out all diet Dr. Peppers which I would have occasionally.

Fish with mercury

Chicken is new to me to cut out & so is deli meat?

 

[Sascha Fitzpatrick]

Listeria is the main reasons to avoid chicken and deli meat, as it is much harder to guarantee those types of foods are cooked thoroughly.

Most people I know avoid pre-made meals as well for the same reason, particularly if chicken is involved (such as takeaway stores and whatnot).

I think chicken is all right if you cook it yourself and ensure it is fully cooked through before adding any sauce/curry.

Sasch

 

[Singin4Him]

Oh and your dh should cut back/out caffeine because it affects the spermies He's gonna love that....

Actually I've heard/read the opposite. From what I've heard/read men should have caffiene because it in fact helps their spermies swim faster or something like that.

As far as Chicken I don't believe that cooked chicken has Listeria in it. If chicken is fully cooked it should be fine, this would include pre-made dinners as well. I have not heard/read anything about chicken and my doctor and I did discuss the Listeria issue as well.

 

[tigercub]

I've had to cut back on fish. I usually eat a lot of tuna and salmon, but because of mercury, I cut back and only allow myself about once a week.

Maybe it's different in the US but here in Australia our Salmon has a very low, verging on non-existant mercury content (not that I eat fish :o)

I am already Vegetarian, so that cuts out a lot of what might have been dangerous (seafood etc) I also plan to cut back on my dairy intake (hopefully to zilch) once we fall pregnant.

Zero alcohol (which is not that difficult for a girl who drinks about 3 times a year as it is ) having had experience with a chronic sufferer of Feotal Alcohol Syndrome we are very strict on that.

Also avoiding those who smoke, as I suffer bad skin and poor circulation which could be directly attributed to either my mother smoking whilst pregnant with me and/or me passive smoking heavily for the first 15 years of my life.

Oh and diet soft drinks (which is the only type of soft drink I can stomach) due tot he aspartame and phenylalanine.

 

[Athene]

I am already Vegetarian, so that cuts out a lot of what might have been dangerous (seafood etc) I also plan to cut back on my dairy intake (hopefully to zilch) once we fall pregnant.

I wouldn't recommend cutting out dairy completely, your body needs calcium especially during pregnancy otherwise there is a risk of osteoperosis, switching to low-fat alternatives is good though.

 

[lin1235]

I've also stopped taking aspartame, someone told me it interferes with the good stuff coming from the Omega 3 fatty acids. Don't know if that's true.

I've cut back on caffeine but not total withdrawal. Apparently up to 200mg of caffeine per day is fine, so that's about 2 cups of instant (filter is higher in caffeine).

Soft cheeses and deli meats are listeria risks but if you're cooking them it should be fine. So if you have a recipe that calls for ham but it goes in the oven for a good while (for example) it should be fine. The risk of listeria is very low anyway.

Also start taking a good prenatal vitamin (with folic acid) when you start TTC.

 

[lin1235]

I also plan to cut back on my dairy intake (hopefully to zilch) once we fall pregnant.

If you do this, please take a calcium supplement! Calcium is one of the few minerals (also iron, I think) where your body will let you go short to make sure the baby gets all he/she needs. Your body will literally leech the calcium from your bones to supply the baby's needs. So that's an osteoporosis risk!

 

[progressivegal]

I would definitely avoid inorganic dairy products, I don't think Bovine Growth Hormone is anything that a pregnant woman should be ingesting. Aspartame is a biggy too. In Mexico they actually have warning labels on diet coke theat warn pregnant women and children to avoid it
http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/preg.html has good information about that. I would definitely recomend avaoiding all artifical sweeteners during pregnancy though.

Oh, and if you take a calcium supplement, it should be calcium citrate, it's the best absorbed form of calcium. Calcium carbonate which is often used is not absorbed as well.

 

[tigercub]

I wouldn't recommend cutting out dairy completely, your body needs calcium especially during pregnancy otherwise there is a risk of osteoperosis, switching to low-fat alternatives is good though.

I refer you this this topic http://www.christianforums.com/t2492374-type-of-vegetarian.html in particular posts made a member known as 'Beastt'
He and that topic say pretty much everything I could right here.

I do still plan to cut out dairy completely.

I ask this of every person who drinks milk; How would you feel if a cow walked up to you (whilst you were lactating) and drinking your milk? Or someone attatched a machine to you to suck it all out, then fed it to an entirely different species. Seems a bit weird to me.

 

[llghoney]

I ask this of every person who drinks milk; How would you feel if a cow walked up to you (whilst you were lactating) and drinking your milk? Or someone attatched a machine to you to suck it all out, then fed it to an entirely different species. Seems a bit weird to me.

I see cows as God put them here on this earth for those reasons. I absolutley LOVE milk & I truly believe it is good for bone growth.

 

[jgonz]

Cow's milk is a very poor source of calcium actually. The Dairy Industry here in the US is Very powerful and Very wealthy. They've really done a number on the average citizen making them believe that milk is such a fabulous thing.

Raw milk (straight out of the cow) Does have a Lot of nutrients. Most cultures though, only give cow's milk to invalids.

Rice milk, almond milk, and the like, are much more nutritious than cow's milk. Organic cow's milk is ok (if you are going to drink it anyway), as is yogurt, cheese, and butter.

Soy should ONLY be eaten if it's organic, fermented, and Sparingly. The soybean industry here in the US is also very powerful and once again, we've been brainwashed into believing that soy is wonderful 24/7... but it's not. Soy can cause thyroid problems, and since it has natural estrogens in it, can cause cancer in some people. Also, there have been no studies done on the long term effects of soy on the unborn baby.

Tuna should be eaten sparingly, and make sure it's Light tuna (not white).

Do not get vaccinations or any immunization shots during pregnancy. Not even RhoGam (it can be done After the baby is born and tested to see if it's necessary for the mother.) All shots have mercury, aluminum, formaldehyde, and various other preservatives and junk in them, exposing the baby to possible brain/nuerological damage.

Aspertame, splenda, and saccarine should be completely avoided all the time (not just during pregnancy & nursing) because no studies have been done on the developing fetus, nursing baby, or even long term on humans.

There are a few things to avoid...