We've all heard the myths about food and pregnancy, and for the most part we have no idea what to believe.
We decided to clear things up for you, and give you a list of food you should avoid during pregnancy.
Better safe than sorry, right?
1. Raw fish
Fish that contains high levels of mercury should be avoided.
Mercury consumed during pregnancy has been linked to developmental delays and brain damage.
2. Soft cheeses
Imported soft cheeses may contain listeria. You should avoid soft cheeses such as brie, Camembert, Roquefort, and feta.
3. Alcohol
There is no amount of alcohol that is known to be safe during pregnancy, and therefore alcohol should be avoided during pregnancy.
4. Unpasteurised milk
Unpasteurised milk may contain listeria. Make sure that any milk you drink is pasteurised.
5. Pate
Refrigerated pate or meat spreads should be avoided during pregnancy because they may contain the bacteria listeria.
Canned pate or shelf-safe meat spreads can be eaten.
6. Raw meat
Uncooked and rare or beef or poultry should be avoided because of the risk of contamination with coliform bacteria, toxoplasmosis, and salmonella.
7. Caffeine
Although most studies show that caffeine intake in moderation is permissible, there are others that show that caffeine intake may be related to miscarriages.
8. Raw eggs
Raw eggs or any foods that contain raw eggs should be avoided because of the potential exposure to salmonella.
