A lot of pregnant women get overwhelmed by moving dietary recommendations. Is sushi safe for me? What types of seafood are safe? The truth is that there are more kinds of safe seafood than unsafe for you as a pregnant woman, and that safe seafood can be a great source of protein and essential fatty acids for the development of your fetus. Crab, for instance, is safe up to about 6 ounces per week. The main concerns for seafood while pregnant are mercury high content and the increased danger of food borne illness. Following a few simple advices will help keep you and your fetus in great health and enjoying as many foods as you want.
Avoid Mercury
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Mercury is one of the most concerns for seafood consumption during pregnancy. Mercury is found in so many fish and can lead to damage the nervous systems of unborn babies and affects their growing process .Large fishes, older ones, or those who eat other fish tend to have the highest amount of mercury. This clearly means that swordfish, marlin and also shark are out the menu, but that shrimp, salmon, cod, clams and scallops are all good to eat. The FDA says that it is safe for a pregnant woman to eat up till 12 ounces per week of low-mercury seafood. Lobster and crab seem to have a low mercury amount than other shellfish, so it is good to limit these to about 6 ounces per week. Watch local fish advisories to define the safety of fish caught locally before you take it, and be careful ! locally caught fish may have more contaminants than commercial kinds.
So as mentioned above you should not eat the organs and guts of shellfish and fish as they may have high levels of mercury. The most considerable risk with eating seafood while you are pregnant is that they contain natural pollutants like PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), mercury and also dioxins. Moreover, the FDA states that frozen crab products risk listeria contamination. Check with your healthcare doctor before eating crab, especially when your cholesterol levels are not under control.
Cook it Well
Any kinds of fish that you eat during pregnancy should be well cooked to at least 145 F or until it flakes apart. Cook shrimp, scallops and also lobster until they are milky white. It is better to avoid any fish served raw, refrigerated or smoked unless it is packaged, shelf-stable or cooked while preparation. Yes, you will have to steer clear of the sushi restaurants until after baby is born. It is because your immune system is suppressed while pregnant, and you are more receptive to food borne illness. Any illness that you do get can be more serious, and in some cases can affect the development of your fetus. Even the best sashimi just is not worth the risk. Instead eat your fill of clam chowder and baked salmon, and don’t be afraid to retune it back if you’re in a restaurant and it comes out less cooked.
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Keep it Clean
Again to remind you of the risks of food borne illness, you will want to be very careful about food preparation during pregnancy. It is better to avoid raw sprouts such as alfalfa or mung bean sprouts and any foods that are unpasteurized because these can contain harmful bacteria. Wash your work space and your hands thoroughly before and after preparing food. Wash all of your produce cautiously. Wash knives and cutting boards with hot and soapy water , after preparing your seafood dishes and use separate knives and cutting boards for raw seafood and meats. In case you have any questions about your diet or specific foods, make sure to ask your doctor.
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Factors To Consider When Eating Crab While Pregnant:
You have to pay attention when choosing crabs as you already know that your overloaded immune system will have to struggle to fight with the harmful substances.
1. Choose king crabs:
The most safe choice of seafood during pregnancy is king crab. Other popular kinds include blue crab, snow crab, and also Dungeness crab, however these are not considered as safe as king crabs because they contain high mercury amounts.
Mercury can affect the development of your unborn baby brain and nervous system, and cause certain health complication in your health as a mother. Though crab is one of the low mercury seafood , you need to take it in mildness.
2. Take advice from fish advisories:
Water pollution levels vary from one water body to another. You should be aware of any fish or crabs caught in local waters. Furthermore you have to check with the guidelines and local fish advisories whether the crab is fresh, clean and safe to eat or not.
3. Avoid raw crab or precooked crab dishes:
Raw crab or pre-cooked crabs could be affected with microorganisms and parasites that can cause food poisoning. They affect not only the mother’s health but also the fetus’ growing process.
4. Do not eat undercooked crab meat:
Undercooked meat is the same as hazardous also as raw meat. So, never take crab if it is not well cooked. In properly cooked crab, heat destroys the harmful bacteria and parasites.
5. Do not eat frozen crab meat:
Frozen meat should not be consumed as it is open to bacteria. According to a study of Colorado State University, you can choose crabs stored in a sealed can or a pouch.
6. Handle in a hygienic way:
Wash all the tableware, tools and food prep area before and after handling the raw crabs. You should use separate knives and cutting boards as mentioned earlier. Make sure to store the leftover food in an airtight container in the freezer. Throw any stale food that has been left out for more than two hours at room temperature.
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