 |
| |
|
| |
Frequently Asked Questions:
Diet and Nutrition
|
| Q. |
Thank you so much
for your advice previously. I hope you don't mind me asking you questions,
but I don't want to book in to the doctor every time I have a question,
and it is difficult to contact her otherwise.
I have just read that you shouldn't have licorice when you are pregnant.
Is this true? Because I eat a bit of licorice and still have been
during my pregnancy, is this bad?
Also I know soft cheeses like camembert, brie etc should be avoided
during pregnancy because of listeriosis. Is Philadelphia cheese included
in this as a soft cheese?
|
| A. |
The precaution against licorice refers
to the use of licorice extract or the powdered root. In this form,
it is not recommended during pregnancy due to the risk of premature
birth, fluid retention and increased blood pressure. The amount of
pure licorice in the type that is sold as a sweet is not that high.
If a woman were to eat it to excess so that the amount she was consuming
exceeded 20 grams of pure licorice a day then she would be putting
herself and her baby at risk. As you can imagine, that would be a
huge amount of licorice to get through. You can continue to enjoy
the occasional licorice without concern.
Philadelphia cheese is made from a completely different process to
camembert and brie and does not have the same risk. It is quite safe
to eat during your pregnancy.
|
| |
|
| Q. |
Thanks for your advice
on spas during pregnancy. I now have another question. What types
of fish are safe/not safe to eat when pregnant and how much? |
| A. |
Fish is generally considered a highly
nutritious and beneficial food source. It is a good source of protein,
high in Omega 3 fatty acids and low in fat. It is also considered
a "brain food". Unfortunately, it has been discovered that
some fish contain a level of mercury that makes them unacceptable
for childbearing women and children. According to various sources,
the fish that should be avoided due to their high levels of mercury
are Swordfish, shark, king mackerel, tilefish and marlin. Other references
also include tuna, sea bass, (remember the great Patagonian tooth
fish chase?), halibut, pike mahi mahi, cod, pollack and white croaker
as fish to be avoided. Fish and seafood that are considered safe include
farmed trout, prawns, flounder, salmon, blue crab and haddock. The
recommendation as to how much varies from two to four serves a week.
Raw seafood such as oysters and sushi should be avoided while pregnant
due to the low risk of bacterial infection. By avoiding fish that
may contain a high level of mercury, you should be able to eat and
enjoy it without undue concern for your baby's wellbeing. I have included
a link that has additional information. http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/admehg3.html |
|
 |
Home
