Foods to avoid during pregnancy High-mercury seafood Shark, swordfish tilefish, and canned albacore…

Foods to avoid during pregnancy

High-mercury seafood

Shark, swordfish tilefish, and canned albacore tuna are the biggies (literally) on the list of fish to skip. Mercury accumulates over time, and because these large fish live longer, they store more mercury in their flesh. Put high-mercury fish on your “do not eat” list.

Sushi

Speaking of cooking your fish, you’ve got to. That means sushi and sashimi are off limits. Some bacteria can only killed by heat and sushi is raw.

Deli meat

Drop that ham and cheese sandwich -- cold cuts (including ham, turkey, bologna and more) are actually dangerous for you and baby. And so are hot dogs. These meats can be contaminated with listeria. Listeriosis is especially scary because it can cause miscarriage.

Prepared deli foods

Basically, you’ll want to avoid the deli counter altogether (sorry!). The problem, You don’t know how long the foods have been in the refrigerated case, and what the temperature is in there.

Unpasteurized cheese

What to look for in cheese: pasteurization. Always check the label. Stick with fresh or homemade. And when in doubt, skip it!

Raw bean sprouts

They add a satisfying crunch to salad and pad Thai -- and they seem super healthy -- but sprouts can harbor bacteria such as salmonella, listeria and E. coli.

Raw dough and batter

We know, you’re craving it. But, for baby’s sake, resist licking the spoon when you’re baking. When it’s unbaked, dough and batter can contain salmonella, which can cause food-borne illness.

Unpasteurized juice

Out at the farmer’s market? If you’re not sure if the juice or cider is pasteurized, pass.

Venti-sized caffeinated drinks

While caffeine may be safe in small amounts (one to two cups of coffee per day), pregnant women with high blood pressure or anxiety should completely abstain, since the stimulant may aggravate those conditions.

Herbal tea

Surprisingly, you should avoid some tea, too even if it doesn’t have caffeine.Go ahead and stick to decaf black, white or green tea or with familiar herbs.

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