Last Updated on by San San
One of the most important circumstances of being healthy is watching your diet. Are you eating the right food? Are you combining the most beneficial selections? Especially when you’re pregnant, you can eat what you need to not feel stressed because of the wild hormones, it’s normal. But, if you’re concerned about your health and your baby’s health, choosing the right food to eat will make you thank yourself in the future of your pregnancy journey. To start, let’s get to the question – “can I eat oysters while pregnant?”
Can I Eat Oysters While Pregnant?
Pregnancy will alter your body in many different ways – excessive sweating, bleeding gums, and pregnancy brain. But the most common thing you’ll notice about pregnant women is their bizarre food cravings – and the unfortunate disadvantage of craving food that puts you at risk during pregnancy.
You’re probably asking, ‘can I eat oysters while pregnant?’
If, as a pregnant mother, you are developing cravings for different kinds of food, most of them are safe for you – so no issues, go ahead and enjoy yourself!
But, do not forget that it is not every form of food craving you have while pregnant that is safe for you and your baby. Most of the time, your obstetrician gynaecologist will let you in on the food you should steer clear of, especially if you have gestational concerns that need to be controlled and regulated.
Hence, if you have an extremely high craving for oysters, the information in this article is what you need before devouring any other seafood.
So, can you eat oysters while pregnant? The answer is in the affirmative.
It may be medically healthy for you to consume oysters as an expectant mother. But it does not mean that it is medically recommended for you to consume any oyster concoctions. Some preparations may be unhealthy or even dangerous to your as a pregnant woman.
Can I Eat Oysters While Pregnant? Will I Fall Sick?
Craving for oysters, while you are pregnant, is one of the commonest cravings that many oyster lovers still experience during their gestation period.
While oyster lovers consume raw oysters without them developing any serious illness, just any type of raw oyster or raw seafood is dangerous to an expectant mother for many reasons. That is why they usually avoid most seafood during pregnancy. So, it is in the best interest of your baby that you do away with raw oyster cravings while pregnant.
The virility of the immune system declines when you become pregnant. That means that you’ll become more prone to illnesses like food poisoning if your immune system is not strong. Hence, after eating undercooked or raw food with harmful microorganisms, you can fall sick.
What preparations for Oysters are OK?
Because uncooked oysters carry the risk of food poisoning and contamination, only consume oysters that were cooked properly — either by broiling, frying, boiling, or baking.
Verify that they’re completely cooked before consuming while requesting oysters from a food vendor. Oysters that are thoroughly cooked would have a firm texture.
Is Oysters Part Of The List Of Foods To Avoid During Pregnancy?
Take measures to eliminate cross-contamination while preparing oysters. Raw seafood should not have to come near cooked oysters. Cross-contamination, too, may result in food poisoning.
Washing your hands meticulously after handling uncooked seafood is also necessary. Use soap and warm water, and do not touch your face until you have your palms thoroughly cleansed.
Only buy freshly delivered oysters. They should have their shells shut and have the odour of seawater. Do not cook oysters that have already-opened oyster shells.
Cook the oysters shortly after purchasing them. Refrigerating it and cooking it some days after purchasing it increases can allow the food to be contaminated.
Boil the seafood for about three to five minutes before baking, broiling, or frying it for added safety. Heating helps kill harmful germs on the oyster’s shell and provides you with the satisfaction that the fish has been adequately cooked before consumption.
You can broil or fry the oysters for about three minutes after boiling or roast them for 10 minutes. When safely prepared, you can un-tick oysters in your list of foods to avoid during pregnancy.
What’s the amount of mercury in oysters?
So you’ve got the not-smoked-cooked foods written, and you desire a huge bowl of fried oysters at your local seafood. Just then, you noticed that your mind drifted to the possible amounts of mercury concentration in the oysters.
Luckily, as per the Food and Drug Administration, oysters are on the checklist of ‘the best options’ regarding consuming seafood as an expectant mother.
The intake of large amounts of mercury is indeed dangerous to your baby and can even wreak havoc on their nervous system. To this end, the FDA created some guidelines to serve as a guide to expectant mothers to help them curb mercury poisoning.
But then, your doctor told you that fish is great for your growing baby, and you are now wondering what you should do. It is recommended that you consume at least eight to twelve ounces of different seafood of low mercury concentration every week.
Aside from oysters, the other low mercury-containing seafood that is great for you are crabs, scallops, shrimps, sardines, and salmon.
What Are The Advantages Of Consuming Oysters?
Oysters are very rich in many nutrients. They include omega-3- fatty acids, vitamin D, potassium, iron, zinc, and of course, protein. Zinc and protein are nutrients that will help your baby develop well, while potassium is implicated n balancing the body’s fluid levels.
Omega-3-fatty helps your child’s brain develop well, plus it also plays a role in the reduction of preterm birth and preeclampsia. Iron lowers the chance that your baby may develop anaemia, an ailment that has a high probability of occurring all through pregnancy.
Edible Oysters Alternatives For Pregnant Women
What then happens to your innocent appetite for oysters? Or rather than craving oysters, just thinking of it alone sickens your stomach?
Don’t panic – you can enjoy the same health benefits by going for other options.
Ask your health adviser about eating flaxseed oil or fish oil supplements, or raise your consumption level of other seafood with low mercury concentration. Freshwater trout, herring, sardines, and salmon are the alternatives with healthy amounts of omega-3- fatty acids.
Pumpkin seeds and peanuts are examples of foods that contain appreciable amounts of zinc. Do not forget to take your daily prenatal vitamin doses to get some vital nutrients such as vitamin D, zinc, and iron.
Can I Eat Oysters While Pregnant Conclusion
Oysters are rich in nutrients that are good for both you and the baby in your womb, but eating them the safe way is more important. It is best to make sure that the oysters are cleaned and cooked fully and properly.
To avert the incidence of food poisoning, ensure that you cook them very well, and restrict the servings to two to three every week to avoid mercury overconsumption.
Now, you have your answer to the question, ‘can I eat oysters while pregnant? When you consume them safely, oysters are super-delicious seafood and can add diversity to your dishes while also meeting your dietary demands and satisfying your cravings.
Various types of food poisoning comprise infections from Vibrio Vulnifficus and Listeria Monocytes.
During pregnancy, these food-borne diseases can – in unusual scenarios – cause complications like premature delivery, stillbirth, and miscarriage.
You should not just quit eating oysters when you are pregnant. But, you will have to choose the preparation of oysters while you are pregnant, like smoked oysters and almost-raw dishes of oysters. Even though oysters are “technically” cooked during smoking, the smoking process was not done at the recommended temperature.