The last time I was pregnant was about 17 years ago and there was no hint from the obstetrician that I should stay away from any food.  Alcohol and Smoking obviously were avoided ( it astounds me that some mothers still do both while pregnant) but diet was not something spoken about.

I find it ironic that when you go to your obstetrician and find out that you are pregnant , they have a list of foods to avoid including; all processed meats, raw meat, cold chicken, cold turkey, hot takeaway chicken, pate’s and meat spreads, raw seafood, chilled peeled prawns, smoked fish and seafood, store bought sushi, soft cheeses (brie, camembert, ricotta, cream cheese and cottage), soft serve ice-cream, raw milk and dairy, raw eggs, custard, prepared salads, all sprouts (alfalfa etc) and many other foods have warnings on them including fruit, vegetables, yogurt, cream, parsley, leftovers, canned foods, stuffing, hummus, home cooked chicken, cooked fish and seafood, homemade sushi, cooked meats and ice-cream.

The reasoning behind avoiding these foods or being warned about them is all to do with food poisoning including; Listeria, Salmonella and Toxoplasmosis.  It is also recommended to reduce consumption of fish due to mercury poisoning. 

When you’re pregnant every system in the body changes including your immune system.  Most people these days (pregnant or not) have compromised immune systems because they are not eating a diet similar to Changing Habits principles. They are eating a diet low in nutrients and highly processed, and made in a chemical laboratory rather then in the soil.  The over use of antibiotics and other drugs have created immune systems that just don’t work the way they should, thus when pregnant, a compromised immune system can lead to food poisoning and possible injury to the unborn child or miscarriage.

My thoughts are that rather than avoiding some of these wonderful foods why not make sure before pregnancy that you prepare well, and then during pregnancy look after your self by eating foods that strengthen the immune system.  The Changing Habits principles will help you understand the foods that strengthens the immune system. 

While there are some foods on the list of foods to avoid eating when you’re pregnant I agree with, but then I agree with avoiding them at all times, whether you’re pregnant or not, including processed meats, soft serve ice-cream and so on, but I avoid these as they don’t nourish the body: in fact they are dangerous to the body as they have dangerous chemicals in them and non food items that have been shown to cause cancer and other maladies. 

When you buy foods in their whole state, produced by ethical means then the body and the immune system become strong and the body is able to withstand foods that may have some bacteria.  Let’s face it, all food has some bacteria, it all depends on the body and the strength of the immune system as to how sick or healthy a person can be after eating it.  Listeria and salmonella will make a person with a weak immune system very sick but a strong immune system will be able to fight it off without you even knowing about it.

If you are pregnant, then follow the Changing Habits Changing Lives habit changes for a strong healthy immune system.