Can you eat sardines when pregnant

Eating a healthful diet is essential during pregnancy, but there are some foods that pregnant women should avoid altogether. Many people understand the risks of eating high-mercury fish or raw meats, but there are also other foods that many people would not expect to cause potential issues during pregnancy. Pregnancy affects the immune system, which may make some women more susceptible to infection. Many foods carry bacteria or other infectious germs that may cause problems during pregnancy.

Even in cases where the pregnant woman does not feel sick, some of these germs may still affect the fetus. Though many people see fish as a good, clean source of protein and nutrients, such as fatty acids, the type of fish a pregnant person eats is very important. Some fish tend to be high in mercury, which is very toxic and cause problems for both the pregnant parent and the fetus. According to the U.

They also recommend avoiding all raw or undercooked fish, such as from sushi or sashimi. Uncooked fish may contain parasites or harmful bacteria. However, many fish are still safe to eat while pregnant. As the U.

These fish choices can help provide helpful nutrients, and the FDA recommend eating two to three servings of these fish each week. Though some people may think they can drink small amounts of alcohol during pregnancy, there is no safe level for alcohol consumption during pregnancy. This may cause a range of physical or mental developmental issues. While pregnant, it is best to avoid all raw seafood, especially raw shellfish. The USDHHS food safety website notes that raw shellfish, such as oysters, crab, and clams, may be a potential source of Vibrio bacteria, which can cause cholera and other infections.

These infections may cause loss of water and electrolytes in the body, which can be severe and potentially fatal. A study in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases reports that there is a link between abnormal changes in the immune system during pregnancy and other issues, such as poor fetal growth, preterm birth, and preeclampsia.

According to the CDC , Listeria infections may be particularly dangerous for pregnant women and newborns. Listeria can also lead to miscarriage. This includes all meats that a person would normally eat cold, such as sliced meats from a deli. This may be more difficult for cured meats, such as Serrano ham, pepperoni, or pancetta, so it may be best to avoid these meats.

Greens and sprouts are generally great foods to add to the diet as they contain large amounts of fiber and nutrients. However, some greens or sprouts may contain bacteria, such as Salmonella or E. A study in the Clinical Microbiology and Infection notes that bacterial infections of the blood, of which E.

Lancet , Total mercury exposure in early pregnancy has no adverse association with scholastic ability of the offspring particularly if the mother eats fish. Environment International , High maternal blood mercury level is associated with low verbal IQ in children. Journal of Korean Medical Science 32 7 , Geburtshilfe und Frauenheilkunde 78 12 , Nutrition recommendations in pregnancy and lactation.

Medical Clinics of North America 6 , Relation between cord blood mercury levels and early child development in a World Trade Center cohort. Environmental Health Perspectives 8 , Maternal diet and nutrient requirements in pregnancy and breastfeeding: An Italian consensus document. Nutrients 8 10 , Omega-3 fatty acid addition during pregnancy.

Maternal fatty fish intake prior to and during pregnancy and risks of adverse birth outcomes: Findings from a British cohort. Nutrients 11 3 , Associations of maternal fish intake during pregnancy and breastfeeding duration with attainment of developmental milestones in early childhood: A study from the Danish national birth cohort.

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 88 3 , Maternal fish intake during pregnancy, blood mercury levels, and child cognition at age 3 years in a US cohort.

American Journal of Epidemiology 10 , Maternal fish consumption, hair mercury, and infant cognition in a U. Environmental Health Perspectives 10 , DOI: Environmental Health 18 , 4. An abundance of seafood consumption studies presents new opportunities to evaluate effects on neurocognitive development.

Neurobehavioral effects of prenatal exposure to methylmercury and PCBs, and seafood intake: Neonatal behavioral assessment scale results of Tohoku study of child development. Environmental Research 7 , Methyl mercury, but not inorganic mercury, associated with higher blood pressure during pregnancy.

Environmental Research , Jesmarie Macapagal. Keep in mind that researchers haven't yet determined whether supplements can promote fetal brain development.

While pregnant women can get omega-3 fatty acids from many sources, most experts recommend eating seafood for this purpose. Though mercury can harm a developing baby's brain, eating average amounts of seafood containing low levels of mercury during pregnancy hasn't been shown to cause problems. And the omega-3 fatty acids in many types of fish can promote a baby's healthy cognitive development. As long as you avoid fish known to be high in mercury or contaminated with pollutants, seafood can be a regular part of your healthy-eating plan during pregnancy.

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