Pregnancy Diet

Honey in Pregnancy: Is It Safe?

Eat Honey While Pregnant

Most of us know that feeding honey to a baby (under age one) poses a potentially dangerous health risk that you’ll want to avoid – infant botulism. But how safe is honey in pregnancy? And can pregnant women eat honey?

This is a common question that many OB/GYNs and midwives hear from their patients. Fortunately, honey is not on the “foods to avoid when pregnant” list. Pregnant women can safely eat honey, as long as its pasteurized.

Yes, Eating Honey While Pregnant is Safe

If you love honey, you can definitely enjoy this sweetener in pregnancy – in moderation, of course. When you buy honey, make sure that it is pasteurized honey. Most of the jars of honey you buy at the grocery store has been pasteurized and therefore safe to eat.

Pregnant women need to avoid any honey that is unpasteurized. So be leery of any honey that you buy at the farmer’s market.

Although some pregnant women do eat unpasteurized honey when pregnant, you don’t want to run the risk of getting sick from the bacteria that may hiding in it. Women have a lower immune system response during pregnancy, to prevent their bodies from attacking the baby growing inside the uterus, so pregnant women can be susceptible to illnesses more easily than a non-pregnant woman.

When it doubt, always check the product label. Play it safe and stick with pasteurized honey during pregnancy.

The Choice of Raw vs. Pasteurized Honey is Yours

There is definitely a bit of controversy surrounding the pasteurized and unpasteurized honey debate, since honey does go through a different pasteurization process than milk, cheese, and dairy products. Some proponents of raw honey says that the pasteurization of honey does not kill bacteria in the same way it does with milk products.

Whether you decide to eat raw or pasteurized honey is up to you.

But honey is safe for pregnant women, just not for babies.

by DP Nguyen

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Folic Acid and Pregnancy: Why Do You Need It?

folic acid foods You’ve probably heard that you need to take folic acid before and during your pregnancy, but did you ever ask yourself, Why? What is folic acid for in pregnancy? Why do I need to take this supplement?

Folic acid (called folate in its natural form) is a water soluble B-vitamin, and it plays a key role in the production of healthy new cells. All people – men and women – need folic acid in their diet, but this nutrient is very crucial for a woman before and after her pregnancy. Folic acid has been proven to reduce the risk of birth defects that affect the brain and spinal column.

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by DP Nguyen

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Pregnancy Tea: Should You Drink Tea When Pregnant?

tea and pregnancy Caffeine is one of those no-no foods to avoid when expecting, so many women have taken to drinking tea in pregnancy. Many varieties of tea have less caffeine than a traditional cup of coffee, so brewing yourself up a nice, steaming cup of tea sounds like a wonderful alternative. But just how safe is drinking tea in pregnancy? And can it harm your unborn baby?

Many holistic practitioners recommend pregnant women drink certain herbal teas to support their pregnancy. It’s believed that some herbal teas can provide a pregnant woman with important pregnancy nutrients – such as iron, calcium and magnesium. They can also be full of antioxidants, which protect the body from free radicals and reduce a woman’s cancer risk. For example, rooibos (red bush) tea is an herbal tea that is caffeine-free and high in antioxidants and minerals.

The benefits of drinking herbal tea in pregnancy haven’t been well studied; so the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) encourages that you use caution if you decide to drink these pregnancy teas. [continue reading…]

by DP Nguyen

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Sushi in Pregnancy: Is It Safe?

pregnancy and sushi Sushi is quite delicious, and it can be hard to give up when you’re pregnant. But do you have to give up eating sushi in pregnancy?

Most experts will tell you to give up eating sushi completely in pregnancy. The risk of bacterial infection is too high. However, there are also a handful of healthcare providers that don’t see anything wrong with eating sushi when you’re pregnant. And the type of sushi that you’re eating (i.e. cooked sushi or sushi made with raw fish) also plays a role in answering the big question – is eating sushi in pregnancy safe or not?

You must make up your own mind, but here are the reasons for and against sushi consumption when you’re pregnant. [continue reading…]

by DP Nguyen

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