By Shreya Goswami
Pregnancy is a joyous time for most women, but there are many food myths in circulation that put unnecessary fear. Here are some such myths that should be busted immediately.
No, you don’t need to double your calorie consumption the moment you get pregnant. Instead, increase consumption by a bit every trimester.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) say that pregnant women can safely consume 200mg of coffee per day.
The International Food Information Council (IFIC) says that as long as you avoid raw seafood and high-mercury fish, you should be fine.
The IFIC says unpasteurized and soft cheeses should ideally be avoided by all, but hard and pasteurized cheeses are safe for pregnant women.
There are some compounds in raw papaya, mango and pineapple that can cause discomfort, so avoid these in the first trimester but eating limited amounts is fine.
While many kids have food allergies, there is no evidence to support that pregnant women eating milk or nuts can pass them on.
The UK’s National Childbirth Trust (NCT) says that the only valid reason to avoid spicy food when you’re pregnant is if you have heartburn.
The NCT says that your cravings for salty, sugary or sour foods can in no way predict the gender of your child.