Pregnancy is a joyous time for several women who are looking forward to starting a family. But as the first glow of pregnancy settles down, many women are faced with a barrage of advice from various quarters, mostly consisting of food recommendations. Eat this and your pregnancy will be safe; do not eat this if you do not want your baby harmed. These food recommendations are considered valid since they have been passed down the generations, but the reality is that most of them have no basis in science and are nothing but myths.
During pregnancy, there are several myths and misconceptions surrounding diet and nutrition. Here are some common pregnancy diet myths as shared by Delhi’s top dietician for pregnancy Avni Kaul:
“You need to eat for two”: This is a common misconception that leads to overeating. In reality, during the first trimester, you don’t need any additional calories. During the second and third trimesters, you only need about 300-500 extra calories per day, depending on your pre-pregnancy weight and activity level.
“You can’t consume seafood”: While it is true that certain fish high in mercury should be avoided, most seafood is safe to eat during pregnancy. Fish like salmon, sardines, and trout are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for the baby’s brain development.
“Avoid all caffeine”: While it’s advisable to limit caffeine intake during pregnancy, moderate consumption (up to 200 mg per day) is generally considered safe. However, it’s best to consult your healthcare provider for personalized advice.
“You should avoid all soft cheeses”: Soft cheeses like feta, brie, and blue cheese are often believed to be unsafe during pregnancy due to the potential risk of listeriosis. However, many soft cheeses are made with pasteurized milk and are safe to consume. Check the labels or consult your doctor to ensure you’re making safe choices.
“Eating spicy food can harm the baby”: Spicy food is generally safe to eat during pregnancy unless you have specific sensitivities or conditions. It doesn’t pose a threat to the baby’s health.
“Avoid all herbal teas“: While some herbal teas should be avoided during pregnancy, such as those containing herbs like licorice root or chamomile, many others can be consumed in moderation. However, it’s important to check with your healthcare provider about specific herbal teas.
“Eating pineapple can cause a miscarriage”: This myth likely stems from the belief that pineapple contains bromelain, an enzyme that may soften the cervix. However, the amount of bromelain in pineapple is generally too low to have any significant effect on pregnancy.
It is important to rely on accurate information and consult with your dietician regarding your diet and nutrition during pregnancy. As your dietician can provide you with personalized advice depending on your specific needs and circumstances.
Author Avni Kaul is a qualified nutritionist, experienced dietician, Diabetes Educator and founder of Delhi’s successful diet and nutritionist clinic NutriActivania. She is also one of India’s eminent weight-loss experts, diabetes dieticians, pregnancy dieticians and child nutritionists and helps kids to develop a strong immune system, fight allergies, gain height and weight as well as fight overweight / Obesity with an effective diet plan that is easy and fun to follow by children.
In Buenos Aires, 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games Nutritionist Avni Kaul was the Advisor (Nutrition) from India. She is a Gold-medallist master’s science graduate from the University of Delhi in the subject of Food and Nutrition. Avni Kaul is a diet and nutrition columnist in some of India's leading newspapers and magazines like - NDTV, TimesNow, Grazia and more.
Diet Programs by Avni Kaul
Your dietician consultation with dietician Avni Kaul will do the following things. Avni Kaul’s diet program will offer:Focus on your health benefits: Key benefits Avni offers, are long-term wellness, freedom from restrictive diets, and improved relationships with food and body, that include "intuitive eating," "weight loss without hard core dieting," and "healthy eating for pregnant woman and kids".
A high degree of qualifications, expertise, and achievements: Dietician Avni is one of the most sought-after dieticians in Delhi because of her qualifications that include gold medalist in Master's Degree of Science, B.Sc and M.Sc Food and Nutrition, Certified Diabetes Educator, Diploma in Applied Sports and Exercise Nutrition.
Fully personalized diet plans: With dietician Avni Kaul, you will get a tailor-made diet that suits your body and mind only that will help you to achieve your health goals in a holistic and sustainable manner be it is with your weight management, pregnancy diet, child nutrition, diabetes or thyroid management.
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