Definitely, can pregnant women eat ham or not?
The fact that pregnant women can not eat ham is a half truth, what secrets does the diet of pregnant women hide?
It is well known by all women, both pregnant and not, that during this period there are some prohibited foods , and others that must be consumed with some type of restriction to avoid risks. But most of the time we don’t get to know why. These foods that are eliminated from our diet carry some risk, but are normally not dangerous for us, if not for the correct development of the fetus. Normally they are foods that can make us sick at any time, but are only dangerous during the time of pregnancy , since the non-pregnant woman can only have some problems such as vomiting, diarrhea, or flu-like symptoms, but in the future baby could cause significant damage.
The main food-borne diseases that we must protect ourselves from during pregnancy are listeriosis and toxoplasmosis , the latter much more known and frequent.
Listeriosis is produced by a bacterium called Listeria monocytogenes that can cause spontaneous abortions, a baby born without life (stillbirth), and in the event that it is born alive it can do so with many problems, such as blood, respiratory, meningitis and many others that can affect different organs.
In the case of toxoplasmosis, it is transmitted by a parasite, called Toxoplasma gondii and can affect the fetus in a mild or severe way. In the worst case, it can cause abortions or death after birth or diseases such as mental or motor disorders. This is the disease we protect ourselves from by not eating ham during pregnancy, but is this necessary?
Index
RISKS OF CONSUMING HAM DURING PREGNANCY.
Everyone has heard on some occasion that pregnant women cannot eat ham, it is not known why they only talk about ham, when in reality pregnant women should take into account any uncooked sausage : ham, loin, chorizo, salami … .etc, leaving out those that have already been cooked such as ham, turkey breast, mortadella … (the latter little recommended due to the amount of fat) that can be safely consumed, since during the cooking process they are destroy the parasite.
We must differentiate two types of pregnant women, which will already be distinguished with the analysis of the first trimester. In this analysis we will see if the person has had toxoplasmosis previously , in this case they are already considered an immune person, and they will not have to follow the food restriction guidelines for this disease. In the case of being negative, it is considered that you are not immune, and you will have to take care not to contract the disease in this period.
NO HAM OR WITH ANY RESTRICTIONS?
We always hear that there is a midwife who does not restrict ham or other uncooked sausages to pregnant women who are pregnant, clashing with what they advise most of us. This is so, because nowadays the products that we buy in the supermarket pass so many quality criteria that it is very difficult for them to contain a parasite, however, it cannot be guaranteed 100% that they lack it, therefore it is better not to consume it. , or do it with certain precautions . What is contraindicated by all midwives and specialists is the consumption of sausages that come directly from slaughter, since they have not passed the quality criteria that those we buy pass.
WE CAN FREEZE THE SAUSAGE FOR 72 HOURS TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NO INFECTION.
By following either of these two precautions, we will not need to restrict these sausages from our diet, and we will be able to consume them safely.
OTHER FOODS WITH WHICH WE MUST BE CAREFUL.
To avoid both listeriosis and toxoplasmosis, in addition to ham and other sausages, we must restrict other foods or also consume them with some precaution. The main ones are the following:
All fruits and vegetables must be very well washed for consumption. Of course we should not restrict them in the diet of the pregnant woman, since they provide us with proteins and vitamins necessary for both the development of the fetus and for ourselves. It is also not advisable to peel the fruits, since it is in the skin where most of the fiber is found, and this is very important, especially in a period in which constipation is very frequent, such as pregnancy. What you have to do is give them a good wash, we can let them soak for a while and rub them well with water, and then dry them with a clean cloth. Currently there is a bleach for sale with which you can wash food, but giving it a good washing and drying it is not necessary to use it.
Dairy products can also carry listeria, therefore we will only consume those that have gone through the pasteurization process . Both in milk, cheeses, butters … they will put us on the label if they have been made with pasteurized milk, avoiding those that do not put it or put that have been made with raw milk. As in the case of fruits and vegetables, we should not restrict the consumption of dairy products for fear of listeria , since its consumption is very important for the formation of the bones of the fetus, we simply have to make sure that they have gone through the process of pasteurization.
With these simple tips and precautions we can eliminate the risk of suffering from both listeriosis and toxoplasmosis, without eliminating the long-awaited sausages from our diet or having to restrict the consumption of routes, vegetables and dairy products.
Dr. Tabriella Perivolaris, Sara's mother and fan of fashion, beauty, motherhood, among others, about the female universe. Since 2018 she has been working as a copywriter, always bringing to her articles a little of her experience and experience as a mother and woman.