Meat, eggs, cheese, fish ..

Contaminated products can cause food poisoning. First of all, microorganisms (bacteria, fungi) can be present in animal products. Salmonella is the most common cause of poisoning. The first symptoms of poisoning caused by microorganisms appear only after a few days and are very often not associated with the consumption of contaminated food. These foods should be consumed by pregnant women with particular care. Some microorganisms, such as listeria, can cause miscarriage. Undercooked and raw meat, raw or soft-boiled eggs, soft cheeses, pâtés and unpasteurised milk may contain the most micro-organisms. To reduce microbial contamination, basic principles of safe food preparation should be followed. Food should be stored in a refrigerator and hygiene should be maintained during food preparation. Raw or undercooked meat also poses a risk of toxoplasmosis infection.

Fish can be contaminated with parasites and therefore the consumption of raw fish meat as well as raw seafood is not recommended. It is also not advisable to eat fish, especially freshwater fish, from an unknown catch source, bought from amateur fishermen or in markets. There is then no certainty that the fish do not come from contaminated reservoirs.

Sugar and sweets

Ideally, sugar should be completely excluded from a pregnant woman's diet. Sugar is devoid of any nutritional value and contains a large number of empty calories. Normal sugar should be replaced by sugars contained in fresh fruit. Confectionery products should not be consumed as, in addition to sugar, they also contain a lot of fat. This combination results in a high-calorie product that provides a minimum of nutrients and a large number of calories. Sugar also has an adverse effect on teeth. Pregnant women are more prone to all oral infections and also to tooth decay, which develops much faster during pregnancy. Chocolate bars, cream cakes, shortcrust pastries, doughnuts etc. should therefore be avoided during pregnancy. Products containing aspartame should be avoided.

Salt

Excessive salt consumption during pregnancy increases the risk of pregnancy complications. Salt retains water in the body and can therefore lead to oedema and high blood pressure. You should limit the intake of foods with a high salt content such as salty fish, cold cuts and salty sticks. You should also avoid adding salt to foods directly on the plate.

Fruit and vegetables

Chemicals containing pesticides are used to protect plants from weeds, fungi and pests. The amount of harmful compounds in fruit and vegetables is small and does not endanger human health. However, as research is still being carried out on the effects of these compounds on the human body when vegetables and fruit protected by chemicals are consumed over a long period of time, pregnant women should take special care to ensure that all fruit and vegetables come from a reliable source. They should be thoroughly washed and scrubbed under running water before consumption.