Pregnant woman are allowed to have selective sea-food to ensure that there is no mercury toxicity in the body due to the same. The following article provides information on whether shrimp is permissible in pregnancy.
Women are usually anxious and skeptical about what they can or cannot eat and what they can or cannot do. Many guidelines are laid down regarding pregnancy diet, however, there are still some items/foods that raise doubts. One of them is shrimp.
Concerns Over Shrimp Consumption During Pregnancy
Most of the women are given a permissible and not permissible diet list, once they are pregnant. Since, certain items which are otherwise considered healthy, may be harmful if consumed during pregnancy. Seafood is a great source of protein and iron, however, some sea-foods contain a high level of mercury, which could be toxic and may even hinder/damage the baby’s brain development.
FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) have published that consumption of older and bigger fish or sea food products result in higher levels of mercury, which is strongly discouraged. However, these associations also publish that there are certain types of seafood that a woman may consume during pregnancy. Eating fish is encouraged during pregnancy, provided it is tuna and salmon. Similarly, even shrimp is allowed in a pregnant woman’s diet, provided the woman does not consume more than twelve ounces of it in a week or two.
Shrimp needs to be cooked properly, as any kind of undercooked seafood is strictly not recommended during pregnancy. A pregnant woman also needs to measure the risks that she is taking, while eating shrimp. She should make sure that it is clean. It should be cooked and stored properly. Therefore, the key is consumption in moderation, and consumption of strictly well-cooked seafood, as undercooked seafood could be very detrimental to the health of the developing baby. In case of any doubts whether shrimp consumption is causing any problems to the developing baby, then a blood test can be done to check the toxicity. A gynecologist needs to be consulted as soon as possible, if the results are positive.
Disclaimer: This HerHaleness article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.
