Fish is one of the best sources of nutrients for pregnant women. Although, this kind of seafood is beneficial for both mom and baby, some unsafe ones fall into the category of fish to avoid during pregnancy.
As a result, you should be very serious and cautious when you want to choose the fish for your meals. Knowing the types of pregnancy-safe fish can help seafood lovers enjoy these delicious and nutritious foods while pregnant to have a better pregnancy and give birth to a smarter baby. So, what fish to avoid when pregnant?
This article on Hipregnancy will discuss and cover all you need to know about consuming fish during pregnancy, including safe and unsafe ones. If you want to understand what fish to avoid while pregnant, read on.
Pros and cons of eating seafood during pregnancy
When you are pregnant, you should add nutrient-rich foods like, fish to your diet. Fish is a good source of zinc, iron, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids.
(Note that, Omega-3 fatty acids must be obtained from diet or supplementation. To learn more read the article omega 3 while pregnant). These nutrients improve your baby’s growth and mental development. They positively affect on the baby’s brain, nervous, and nervous system.
Although fish is a great option for pregnancy, some fish are high in mercury. These certain fish are unsafe and put the baby at risk. High mercury levels in your bloodstream negatively affect baby’s nervous system and brain development.
If ready, let’s continue to learn about fish to avoid during pregnancy.
Also read: Best Foods For First Trimester
Types of fish to avoid during pregnancy
Suppose you want to add fish to your diet while pregnant, you should pay attention to its mercury levels. Some types of fish, like large predatory fish, contain mercury levels and fall into the category of fish to avoid when pregnant.
Mercury is an element that exists in lakes, streams, and oceans. If you eat fish in high mercury, you put your unborn baby at risk of damaging the nervous system. So, what fish can you not eat while pregnant?
There are some types of fish to avoid during pregnancy;
- Shark
- Tilefish
- King mackerel
- Swordfish
- Bigeye tuna
- Marlin
- Orange roughy
Due to their high mercury levels, it is recommended to avoid these 6 types of fish and to eat safe ones instead of them.
If you want to know more about the things not to eat when pregnant, check our article, which completely discusses what you should avoid during pregnancy.
List of safe fish during pregnancy
It is safest to consume low-mercury fish during pregnancy. These are full of omega-3 fatty acids and essential nutrients. Safe fish to consume for pregnant women are;
- Salmon
- Oyster
- Squid
- Tilapia
- Sardines
- Catfish
- Crawfish (to learn more, read the article can you eat crawfish while pregnant?)
- Atlantic mackerel
- Pacific mackerel
- Atlantic croaker
- Haddock
- Freshwater trout
- Pollack
- Shrimp (to learn more, read the article can you eat shrimp while pregnant)
- Flatfish
- Mullet
Now, you are familiar with fish to avoid while pregnant. Thus, try to add safe and low-mercury fish to your diet for having a healthier baby.
How much seafood is safe to consume during pregnancy?
Moderation is the key point during pregnancy which should be followed in every step of these 9 months. Although fish is a good source of nutrients, it may change to harmful options if you consume it in excess. Therefore, you need to know the safe amount of fish consumed during pregnancy.
According to studies and research, pregnant ladies can eat up to 12 ounces of seafood weekly. Do not forget to cook your fish at a temperature of 145 degrees to make it safe to consume by killing bacteria that may exist in raw fish.
If you consume properly cooked fish with low mercury levels, you will reduce the risk of food poisoning while pregnant. Omit the types of fish to avoid while pregnant from your diet and eat the safe options mentioned earlier in this article instead of them to improve the fetal brain and nervous system development.
Conclusion
One of the best food options for pregnant women is fish, a superfood of key nutrients needed during pregnancy. Fish has different types, from low-mercury to high-mercury options. Pregnant women should only eat safe and low-mercury fish to avoid health issues while pregnant.
This article covered fish to avoid during pregnancy and did our best to provide you with a list of safe fish that can be consumed during pregnancy.
“Do you know other types of fish to avoid for pregnant ladies?” If yes, share your information with us and other pregnant ladies worldwide who are waiting for the birth of their cute baby.