List of Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy

Indian vegetables to avoid during pregnancy: eggplant (baigan), chillies, garlic, onion, yam, ginger and celery must be cut down to ensure you do not lose your baby. On the other hand, consumption of seasonal vegetables like turai, lauki, cabbage, cauliflower, spinach and parwal is hugely beneficial as they are high on nutrients. Use a number of vegetables in your diet rather than sticking to only one or two.

Herbs and spices: if one is wondering what not to eat during pregnancy in Indian food, take note of certain spices that must be avoided. Fennel seeds (saunf) and fenugreek contain compounds that act like estrogen and induce contractions of the uterus. Ajinomoto is also excluded from food chart during pregnancy as it can cause damage to the baby’s developing brain.

Raw eggs and unpasteurized milk: raw eggs may be contaminated by the salmonella virus, which can infect the woman and can cause damage to the baby. Same is the case with unpasteurized milk that can contain listeria. Listeria can cross the placenta and can infect the baby. Hence these are foods to avoid during pregnancy in India.

Seafood: oily fishes are beneficial for the mother. However, not all types of fish can be eaten during pregnancy. High mercury content fishes like mackerel and swordfish figure in the list of foods to avoid during pregnancy in India as they can cause serious brain damage to the developing fetus, causing retardation or mental disorders.  Oysters, smoked salmon and sashimi must be also be skipped.

Adapt to a healthy lifestyle: What not to eat in pregnancy in India will also include high caffeine content drinks like colas, coffee and tea. It goes without saying that alcohol, drugs and tobacco must be avoided before, during and after pregnancy. Read More...