Eating chocolate when you're pregnant is perfectly safe but, of course, you should enjoy it in moderation, paying close attention to caffeine, sugar and calorie levels. You should choose high-quality chocolate that is, ideally, low in sugar.
Chocolate is perfectly safe for most pregnant women – in moderation. In fact, there's some evidence that eating chocolate during pregnancy could lower your risk of preeclampsia and gestational hypertension.
Eating chocolate during pregnancy is safe in moderation, and can offer benefits like reduced stress and antioxidants. Dark chocolate is linked to lower risks of preeclampsia and gestational hypertension. Be cautious of chocolate's caffeine and sugar content, as excessive amounts can be harmful to the fetus.
The sweet stuff is a source of magnesium, so a strong craving for chocolate could be a sign that you're low in magnesium, an important mineral which helps to build strong teeth and bones in your baby.
Good news! Ferrero Rocher is generally considered safe to eat in pregnancy. The main ingredients of Ferrero Rocher are chocolate and hazelnuts – which are fine to eat in pregnancy – and all the other ingredients are pregnancy-safe, too.
The study found that women who had more than five servings a week had a lower risk of pre-eclampsia; those who had high levels of theobromine, a byproduct of chocolate consumption, were nearly 70 percent less likely to develop pre-eclampsia than women who had low levels.
For this reason, we recommend eating around 30g of dark chocolate from the first trimester onwards to improve circulation and reduce blood pressure. In addition, chocolate improves mood and reduces stress by increasing levels of endorphins and serotonin in the brain.
Avoid undercooked meat, poultry and eggs
During pregnancy, you're at increased risk of bacterial food poisoning. Your reaction might be more severe than if you weren't pregnant. Rarely, food poisoning affects the baby, too.
High blood sugar can cause problems all over the body. It can damage blood vessels and nerves. It can harm the eyes, kidneys, and heart. In early pregnancy, high blood sugar can lead to birth defects in a growing baby.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that pregnant women limit their caffeine consumption to less than 200 mg (about two, six-ounce cups) per day.
Overall, it can potentially harm the growth and development spurt of the baby, which is definitely something you would not want to risk. Experts also agree that chips should be on the 'avoid' list, just like papaya, raw meat, unpasteurized milk, food, and other processed food.
No. It's best to avoid soft-serve ice cream when you're pregnant because listeria bacteria have been found in it.
Soft ice cream and processed products should be fine as they are made with pasteurised milk and eggs. This means that any risk of salmonella food poisoning has been eliminated.
Pregnant women can eat ice cream at any stage of pregnancy, so long as it's made with pasteurized ingredients, and doesn't contain raw egg.
Cacao has been shown to have a positive impact on both the placenta and fetal growth and development, hence why regular consumption can reduce the risk of preeclampsia by up to 70%.
Nutella is billed as a hazelnut spread, but let's be real: we're all in it for the chocolate. But the inclusion of cocoa powder means Nutella has a bit of caffeine in it, with a 2-tbsp serving totaling about 3 mg.
Fun fact: The chocolate layer that surrounds the hazelnut in the middle of each Ferrero Rocher is Nutella.
What happens if you ignore pregnancy cravings? There is no evidence to suggest that ignoring pregnancy cravings could harm you or your baby, as long as you're eating a healthy and balanced diet. However, if you're concerned, it's best to speak with your health care provider.
Avoid junk food whenever possible and should not be a part of regular meals. 2. Check the labels before buying processed food online or from the supermarkets. For example, avoid buying canned food with syrup, salted water and brine.