Pregnancy is one of the best experiences every woman wishes for. This process is susceptible, and both parents should be careful about it. You ask why? Let me answer you.
Everything that is accessible to the carrier can have effects on both mother and child. So, the carrier should be cautious about what she is consuming.
And today, we will talk about one of those consumable things and its effects on the baby and the carrier: bacon.
Bacon is a slice of salt-cured pork made from various cuts, typically the belly or more minor fatty back parts. Let’s answer our main question; “Can you eat bacon while pregnant?”
The short answer is yes, you can eat bacon during pregnancy, but there are some facts that you should be aware of that.
So, let’s get started and see whether you can eat bacon while pregnant and its benefits.
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Can pregnant women eat bacon?
According to studies, pregnant women can enjoy bacon but should opt for thoroughly cooked bacon to minimize the risk of food poisoning. In other words, cooking bacon until steaming hot can make it a pregnancy-safe option.
Hipregnancy recommends you avoid eating bacon at a restaurant while pregnant. Since you are unsure how well the bacon is cooked at a restaurant, it is advisable to avoid it. The best way to enjoy bacon while pregnant is to prepare it at home. If you want to know how to cook bacon, follow the article.
Can you eat bacon bits while pregnant?
Bacon bits are safe to consume during pregnancy, but two points must be considered before including them in your diet. Homemade bacon bits are better options than commercially made ones. However, If you want to eat commercially made bacon bits, opt for canned/non-refrigerated kinds.
Since bacon bits are highly processed, consuming this kind of bacon while pregnant should be moderated to prevent any possible dangers.
Also Read: Can pregnant women eat prime rib
Can pregnant women eat uncured bacon?
Uncured bacon is a type of bacon that has been made with naturally occurring nitrates, and it does not contain sodium nitrates. You may wonder whether it is safe to eat uncured bacon during pregnancy.
The good news is that you can eat uncured bacon while pregnant if you cook it until steaming hot before serving. Otherwise, consuming undercooked or uncooked bacon can make you ill and negatively impact pregnancy.
Also Read: Best Sandwiches For Pregnancy
Benefits of eating bacon while pregnant (5+ Common Benefits)
The benefits of bacon are excellent while pregnant, and our team gathered them together as a list so they can introduce you.
1. Increase brain power
One of the bacon’s main benefits during pregnancy is its significant effect on the brain.
Bacon helps our brain so much. Consumption of bacon helps to develop the fetus’s brain and has a fantastic effect on memory.
2. Sumptuous Meal
Well, bacon is a primary source of fat, so if someone once takes it, they will be complete after that. Besides, being low in carbohydrates regulates the woman’s body weight during pregnancy.
3. High protein content
As you know, protein is one of the primary needs of a pregnant woman. It dramatically affects the fetus’s growth, muscle development, bone structure, supple skin, etc.
Bacon is a primary protein resource and is a great product to maintain the protein amount that goes to your body during pregnancy.
4. Antioxidant carrier
Another benefit of bacon while pregnant is the antioxidant carrier. Bacon has antioxidant properties that assist in combating diseases and even promoting thyroid development during pregnancy.
5. Source of Phosphorus and Vitamin B
Phosphorus and vitamin B is essential in everyone’s body, especially in pregnant womens. You ask why? Because of the effect it has on the growth of the fetus and the nervous system.
Well, we discussed the benefits of eating bacon during pregnancy. But as you know, everything which has advantages has its disadvantages too. Let’s start by discussing the disadvantages of eating bacon while pregnant.
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Disadvantages of eating bacon while pregnant (+ 3 Most Considerable One)
Well, you should be careful about eating bacon when pregnant. We don’t say bacon is menace to the fetus inside the carrier. It has many benefits, but it’s better to be aware of the disadvantages, too.
1. Contamination
Well, raw meat often has harmful pathogens like bacteria inside it. Improper cooking of the heart can lead to contamination and other sicknesses.
Contamination threatens you much more when pregnant because the carrier’s immune system is much less intense than before, and some germs can enter the womb, and this is one of the main disadvantages of consuming bacon while pregnant.
Here are some of the pathogens that threaten the carrier:
- Salmonella
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Listeria monocytogenes
- Yersinia enterocolitica
- Toxoplasmosis Gondi
2. Nitrates and nitrites
Red meats are processed or preserved with nitrates and nitrites. The chemicals make the bacon color turn red. (Without these chemicals, it would be around shades of brown.)
Researchers say consuming so many nitrates and nitrites during pregnancy increases the risk of early delivery. Early delivery can cause severe damage to the baby later.
3. Fat
Red meat is one of the primary sources of saturated and unsaturated fat. We are aware that we concluded this fat is one of the benefits of bacon while pregnant, but you should be careful about how often you consume bacon.
Fat is one of the essential substances our body needs. Our body needs all kinds of fat to consume different types of vitamins. Read more about this on the article healthy fats during pregnancy.
People with heart disease and high cholesterol should be more aware when consuming bacon when pregnant.
Also Read: Steak And Pregnancy
How to cook bacon during pregnancy? (Full Instruction)
One of the main discussions you should be aware of is how to cook bacon while pregnant. Bacon is made from pork meat, so you should be very careful while wanting to consume it because bacon usually comes raw, and there is a high chance that it contains more pathogens inside.
(Pathogens can cause serious sicknesses). So, this information explains why this part of our article is of essential elements.
Bacon can be cooked in a skillet/pan on the stove, in an oven, indoor grill, or microwave.
Make sure to cook bacon at 165°F (73.8°C) before serving. Crispier it becomes, healthier and more delicious it is.
As you know, heat kills bacteria inside the red meat; we recommend you bake it for as long as possible.
Microwave bacon when pregnant
We don’t recommend you guys cook bacon inside the microwave. As we said before, pork meat contains a lot of bacteria that can cause severe sicknesses, and the only way to kill these bacteria is through heat.
The microwave is not the best option if you want to heat something until it dies, so we recommend you use a stove rather than the microwave.
In the end
Well, as you can see, you can eat bacon while pregnant. But it would be best if you were careful about the consequences.
If you have an organized diet, you can maintain your body’s protein, fat, etc., by eating bacon during pregnancy.
We guess our team answered all the questions about “can you eat bacon while pregnant?” in this article, but if we missed anything or knew more about bacon and pregnancy, please share it with us.
FAQs
1. Can I eat bacon while pregnant?
You can eat bacon when pregnant; it should be thoroughly cooked and eaten in moderation to prevent heart disease and high cholesterol.
2. Can I eat turkey bacon while pregnant?
Turkey bacon contains less fat and calories than traditional bacon, and can be consumed during pregnancy if fully cooked until steaming hot.