What Not to Eat While Pregnant? 10 Foods to Avoid
Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy Pregnancy is a miraculous journey. Your body is performing the incredible feat of growing a new life, cell by cell. During this time, the phrase eating for two is often tossed around. While you don't literally need to double your calories, you do need to double your vigilance regarding food safety. During pregnancy, your immune system undergoes significant changes. To prevent your body from rejecting the fetus (which is genetically distinct from you), your immune response is naturally suppressed. While this protects the baby, it leaves you more vulnerable to foodborne illnesses. Bacteria and parasites that might only cause a mild stomach ache when you aren't pregnant can pose serious risks including miscarriage, stillbirth, or neurological damage to a developing fetus. Navigating the grocery store can feel like walking through a minefield. Can you eat sushi? Is that cheese pasteurized? How much coffee is too much? This com...