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Did you know? Pregnant women can eat sushi! With a few precautions, there’s no need to leave the expectant mother craving the most famous dish in Japanese cuisine. Learn all about it in this guide.
Yes! Pregnant ladies can eat sushi, however now not every type. It is best for pregnant women to eat sealed sushi, that is, lightly grilled, as opposed to raw portions. This is due to the fact raw fish provides a threat of infection and might purpose some diseases that have an effect on the baby.
These encompass listeriosis and salmonella, which can purpose critical infections and irritation within the fetus and even bring about miscarriage. But do not be alarmed: those instances are uncommon and arise once in every million pregnancies, consistent with professionals in the field of maternal-fetal medication.
However, this does not mean that you should not take due care when consuming sushi. And that is what you are going to read about now.
We’ve prepared a complete guide with everything you need to know about eating sushi safely during pregnancy. Check it out.
Why can’t pregnant women eat sushi?
Many humans assume that pregnant women can not devour sushi. This is a totally common clinical recommendation, in reality, and is due to the truth that raw food can be infected with parasites that motive illnesses which include toxoplasmosis, listeriosis and salmonellosis, that may cause damage to the fetus. Find out what each of these infections can motive and how to avoid them.
Toxoplasmosis
The disease is acquired through the ingestion of infected food, such as raw meat from infected animals, through contact with cat feces or even through contaminated water or soil.
It is a benign disease in adults, who generally do not manifest the condition, but, if acquired during pregnancy, it can cause serious problems for the fetus.
However, contrary to what many people think, raw fish is not part of the parasitic cycle that develops toxoplasmosis.
Even if the pregnant woman is not immune to the disease – verifiable through a toxoplasmosis serology test – it is possible to consume raw fish pieces in sushi if certain precautions are taken, for example:
- Choose a reliable restaurant with good credibility and hygiene standards in the handling and storage of ingredients.
- Ask where the fish comes from.
- Choose not to consume fish with toxins such as mercury (dogfish, shark and swordfish) or fish with a lot of vitamin A (tuna, salmon and marlin) which, if consumed in excess during pregnancy, can cause malformations in the fetus.
- Limit fish consumption during the week.
Listeriosis
It is a bacteria that can be present in raw fish and that causes many complications during pregnancy, which can even lead to spontaneous abortion, premature birth or fetal death, as well as serious infection in the newborn.
The ways to avoid this much-feared bacteria are very similar to the ways to avoid toxoplasmosis and salmonella: wash food well before eating it, store it correctly , give preference to eating cooked dishes and wash your hands before meals.
Salmonellosis
Better known as salmonella, the bacteria that causes this disease is present in some natural foods that are not properly cleaned before production. In addition to dehydration, it can cause inflammation in the joints or even death of the baby.
To keep away from contamination, wash your arms and the food you are going to devour thoroughly, choose well-cooked or roasted eggs and meats, and pay attention to the hygiene conditions of the locations in case you intend to consume out.
How many months pregnant are you able to consume sushi?
Sushi may be consumed from the start of pregnancy, as long as the pregnant female is sure that sure precautions are being taken to keep away from contamination by the diseases mentioned above. Breastfeeding mothers can also eat sushi, because the dangers are a great deal decrease for breastfeeding girls than for pregnant girls.
Precautions to take when eating sushi
Choose frozen fish
That’s right! The fish used for sushi is usually fresh, but freezing the food before consumption is an option to eliminate parasites that may be present in the fish.
Limit fish consumption to twice a week
Reducing fish consumption during pregnancy and eating in moderation also reduces the chances of ingesting foods with high levels of mercury or vitamin A, which can be harmful to the fetus if consumed in excess.
Be careful with soy sauce
Soy sauce, or shoyu sauce, has a very high level of sodium and can cause complications during pregnancy, such as high blood pressure. A good option is to season your sushi with olive oil and lemon.
And we know that sushi is great, right? That’s why we’ve also listed the benefits of eating sushi during pregnancy. Check it out!
Benefits of eating sushi during pregnancy
Now that you know that pregnant women can eat sushi, the next news is even better: the seaweed used to prepare the pieces, as well as the temakis, are rich in proteins, fibers, vitamins A and C, as well as the B complex.
We have also talked about some fish with high levels of mercury, such as tuna, swordfish, dogfish and shark, and how they should be avoided, but we can also highlight fish that are very rich in omega 3 and are very present in sushi, such as salmon.
All of these nutrients are essential for the proper development of the fetus and must be consumed during pregnancy.
You can also opt for vegetarian sushi , made with cucumber, zucchini and mango instead of fish. This is an option to reduce the frequency of consumption during pregnancy, since high levels of vitamin A can also be harmful.
