Pregnant women are often told that they need to avoid eating certain foods, such as raw fish and deli meats. But the truth is that some “dangerous” foods like honey actually have a lot of nutritional value. Honey contains vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and amino acids that can be beneficial for you during pregnancy. In fact, there are several health benefits associated with consuming honey while pregnant including:
Can pregnant women eat honey?
According to Sandy Procter, PhD, a professor of nutrition at Kansas State University, “Honey can be consumed safely by children over the age of one and healthy adults, including pregnant women, because their immune systems protect against whatever pathogens the honey may contain. Dr. Procter adds that any potentially hazardous bacteria are naturally eliminated during the production and storage of honey. Botulism spores, which can be found in honey, are dangerous to children under the age of one, though.
For this reason, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends not giving any honey—including raw or pasteurized honey—to children under age 1. “Honey is a great source of energy and has many health benefits, so it’s perfectly safe for most people to consume,” says Procter. “Just be sure to follow the AAP’s recommendations and avoid giving honey to infants under age 1.”
Honey is a great source of energy and has many health benefits, so it’s perfectly safe for most people to consume,” says Procter. “Just be sure to follow the AAP’s recommendations and avoid giving honey to infants under age 1.”
While honey is safe for most people to eat, there are a few exceptions. People with diabetes should be cautious about eating honey because it can affect blood sugar levels. Honey is also high in calories, so it’s not the best choice for people trying to lose weight. And finally, people with allergies to bees or pollen may also be allergic to honey. If you’re not sure if you’re allergic to honey, it’s best to consult with a doctor before eating it.
Honey and Botulism
Honey can contain bacteria that causes infant botulism, so do not feed honey to children younger than 1 year old. The bacteria, called Clostridium botulinum, is found in soil and dust. When honey is contaminated with these spores, the bacteria can grow and produce toxins in a baby’s intestines, leading to infant botulism.
Symptoms of infant botulism include constipation, weakness, and poor feeding. If you think your child may have infant botulism, seek medical help immediately.
To prevent infant botulism, do not give honey to children younger than 1 year old. You can find more information about infant botulism and honey at the CDC website.
Benefits of Honey During Pregnancy
Honey contains many beneficial compounds including antioxidants (such as pinocembrin) and antimicrobial substances (such as phenols), which reduce the growth of microorganisms such as fungi or bacteria that cause food spoilage. It also contains small amounts of nitrogen, minerals (including iron), vitamins, amino acids and enzymes that make it nutritious to humans.
Honey is a sweet food made by bees from flower nectar. It has a characteristic flavor and is often used as a sweetener and flavoring. Honey is also produced from plants other than honey bees, such as the stingless bee, or from floral nectar of some types of ambrosia, which are then stored in the hive by humans.
Honey has been used in many cultures throughout history and prehistory as a sweetener for food; archaeologists have found evidence that honey was being consumed by human ancestors at least 8,000 years ago. In the present day, honey is used for various purposes including cooking, cosmetics and medicine.
Safety Precautions When Consuming Honey
When you’re pregnant, you should feel free to enjoy honey. However, you should take a few precautions.
If You Have Gastrointestinal Abnormalities, Consult Your Doctor
Honey may contain bacterial spores that may complicate digestion in people with bowel or gastric surgery or Crohn’s disease.6 If you are suffering from one of these conditions, check with your doctor before consuming honey.
You should limit your intake if you are taking antibiotics heavily
Check in with your doctor if you should temporarily limit honey in your diet if you are taking or coming off a course of antibiotics6. Antibiotics can wipe out the “good” bugs in your gut that normally fight off bacterial spores.
Honey should be avoided by women with gestational diabetes
During gestational diabetes pregnancies, Dr. Chisolm recommends avoiding added sweeteners, such as honey, since they can raise blood sugar levels. Dr. Chisolm recommends honey to her patients on occasion rather than table sugar. In addition to its low glycemic index7, honey also has vitamins and antioxidant properties making it a better option for sweetening.
Once your baby is born, make sure honey is kept away from them
It goes without saying that honey is a no-no for your newborn baby until he or she turns one. Botulism most commonly affects babies between 3 weeks and 6 months old, but raw honey should be kept out of your baby’s food (and out of reach) before their first birthday.
In the end, honey is safe for pregnant women. It’s a sweet treat that can help you get through those long days of morning sickness and cravings. Just be sure to read the labels of any processed foods you eat, and keep an eye out for things like honey powder.
Other Foods and Beverages You Should Avoid During Pregnancy
Some foods should only be eaten occasionally, while others should be altogether avoided. Here are some foods and drinks to avoid or consume in moderation when expecting.
Mercury-rich seafood should be avoided
Seafood can be a fantastic source of protein, and many fish contain omega-3 fatty acids that can help your baby’s brain and eye development. The mercury levels in some fish and shellfish, however, may be harmful. The developing neural system of your child could suffer from too much mercury.
The likelihood of mercury content increases with fish size and age. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that you abstain from during pregnancy:
- Bigeye tuna
- King mackerel
- Marlin
- Orange roughy
- Swordfish
- Shark
- Tilefish
What then is safe? Some varieties of seafood don’t have much mercury in them. Two or three servings of seafood per week, or 8 to 12 ounces (224 to 336 grams), are advised by the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Consider:
- Anchovies
- Catfish
- Cod
- Herring
- Light canned tuna
- Pacific oysters
- Pollock
- Salmon
- Sardines
- Shad
- Shrimp
- Tilapia
- Trout
However, limit white (albacore) tuna to 6 ounces (168 grams) a week.
Undercooked, raw, or contaminated seafood should be avoided
To avoid harmful bacteria or viruses in seafood:
- Avoid raw fish and shellfish. The following foods should not be eaten raw or undercooked: sushi, sashimi, ceviche, oysters, scallops, and clams.
- Avoid refrigerated, uncooked seafood. Nova style seafood, lox, kippered, smoked, or jerky are a few examples. If smoked seafood is a component of a casserole or other cooked meal, it is acceptable to consume it. Versions that are canned and shelf-stable are also secure.
- Understand local fish advisories. Pay attention to regional fish warnings if you consume fish from nearby waters, especially if water pollution is an issue. Eat no more fish that week if you have any doubts about the security of the fish you have already consumed.
- Cook seafood properly. Fish should be cooked to a temperature of 145 F. (63 C). Fish is considered to be finished when it flakes and becomes opaque all throughout. Cook the lobster, scallops, and shrimp until they are milky white. Oysters, mussels, and clams should be cooked until their shells open. If any don’t open, throw them away.
Undercooked meat, poultry, and eggs should be avoided
When you are pregnant, you have a higher risk of getting bacterial food poisoning. It is possible that your reaction would have been more severe if you were not pregnant. The effects of food poisoning on infants are rare.
To prevent foodborne illness:
- Fully cook all meats and poultry before eating. Use a meat thermometer to make sure.
- Cook hot dogs and luncheon meats until they’re steaming hot — or avoid them completely. They can be sources of a rare but potentially serious foodborne illness known as a listeria infection.
- Avoid refrigerated pates and meat spreads. Canned and shelf-stable versions, however, are OK.
- Cook eggs until the egg yolks and whites are firm. Raw eggs can be contaminated with harmful bacteria. Avoid foods made with raw or partially cooked eggs, such as eggnog, raw batter, and freshly made or homemade hollandaise sauce, and Caesar salad dressing.
Don’t eat unpasteurized foods
Many low-fat dairy products, like skim milk, mozzarella cheese, and cottage cheese, might be beneficial to your diet. However, anything made with raw milk is forbidden. Foodborne sickness may result from these goods.
Unless they are clearly labeled as pasteurized or made with pasteurized milk, avoid soft cheeses like brie, feta and blue cheese. You should also avoid drinking juice that has not been pasteurized.
Don’t eat unwashed fruits and vegetables
All raw fruits and vegetables should be thoroughly washed to get rid of any dangerous bacteria. Steer clear of raw sprouts of any kind, including mung bean, alfalfa, clover, radish, and sprouts made from radish or radish. Ensure that sprouts are properly cooked.
Avoid excessive caffeine consumption
Although caffeine can pass the placenta, it is unclear how it will affect your unborn child. To be safe, your doctor may advise avoiding caffeine during pregnancy or limiting your intake to less than 200 milligrams (mg) per day.
For perspective, an 8-ounce (240-milliliters, or mL) cup of brewed coffee contains about 95 mg of caffeine, an 8-ounce (240-mL) cup of brewed tea contains about 47 mg and a 12-ounce (360-mL) caffeinated cola contains about 33 mg.
Steer clear of herbal tea’s
Little information exists regarding the impact of certain herbs on unborn children. Therefore, refrain from consuming herbal tea unless your doctor approves of it, especially the kinds of herbal tea targeted specifically towards pregnant women.
Stay away from alcohol
There is no proven safe level of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. The best option is to completely avoid alcohol.
Analyze the dangers. Alcohol use increases the chance of stillbirth and miscarriage during pregnancy. Fetal alcohol syndrome, which can lead to facial abnormalities and intellectual incapacity, may also be brought on by alcohol consumption.
Consult your healthcare professional if you have any concerns about the alcohol you consumed before finding out you were pregnant or if you believe you need support to stop drinking.
Food poisoning can be dangerous for you and your baby
Food poisoning is a serious illness that can be very dangerous for pregnant women. In fact, food poisoning during pregnancy has been linked to several birth defects, stillbirths and infant mortality. If you have food poisoning during your pregnancy it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible so that your doctor can monitor the health of both you and your baby.
If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, it’s especially important to avoid getting sick with food poisoning because you could pass the infection on to your baby if you become very ill during your pregnancy (or breastfeeding).
Types Of Food Poisoning
Pregnant women are more susceptible to foodborne illnesses for a few reasons. First, their immune systems are weaker than usual, making it harder for their bodies to fight off germs. Second, they tend to eat more often and have more contact with food, increasing the chances that they’ll come into contact with bacteria or other contaminants. Finally, pregnancy can change the way the body responds to food, making it more likely to develop an infection.
You can get food poisoning when you eat foods contaminated with:
- Bacteria
- Parasites
- Viruses
- Certain chemicals
There are many types of food poisoning. Some are more common, and more dangerous when you’re pregnant.
- Listeriosis. This is caused by listeria bacteria. Listeria infection is 13 times more likely to affect pregnant women than other persons. It can be found in prepared foods like cold cuts and hot dogs. Additionally, dairy products, seafood, and poultry can also carry it, particularly if they haven’t been pasteurized. Even items that are chilled in the refrigerator can support its growth.
- Toxoplasma. Toxoplasmosis is a common infection that is usually harmless. The chances of getting toxoplasmosis for the first time during pregnancy are thought to be very small. But if you get toxoplasmosis for the first time while you’re pregnant, or a few months before you conceive, there’s a small risk the infection could cause miscarriage, stillbirth, birth defects, or problems after the baby is born – this is very rare You won’t usually develop any obvious symptoms yourself.
- Escherichia coli (E. coli). Your digestive system normally contains this bacteria. However, certain kinds of E. coli in unpasteurized milk and fruit juices can get you sick if you consume them, along with infected fruits and vegetables, raw or undercooked meats, and several other foods.
- Norovirus. This type of virus can cause an infection called gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis is a serious infection that can be deadly, especially for young children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems. The symptoms of gastroenteritis include vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. Norovirus is most often found in contaminated food. You can also get it if you eat food that has come into contact with vomit or feces. To reduce the risk of infection, you should wash your hands thoroughly after handling any food that may be contaminated with Norovirus. If you think you may have been exposed to Norovirus, contact your healthcare provider immediately.
- Salmonella. Salmonellosis is brought on by this bacteria. You typically contract it via eating unpasteurized food, raw or undercooked meats, eggs, or poultry. You can also contract it if you consume food that has come into contact with salmonella-infected soil or animal waste.
- Campylobacter. The main way you get it is by eating contaminated chicken or unpasteurized foods. It can also be spread through contact with animals, such as cows, pigs, and sheep.
Symptoms of Food Poisoning During Pregnancy
It can be tricky to know when food poisoning is to blame for your sickness. Sometimes, germs from food can make you sick right away. Other times, they hang around in your body for days or even weeks before you have symptoms.
Usually, it causes:
It can be tricky to know when food poisoning is to blame for your sickness. Sometimes, germs from food can make you sick right away. Other times, they hang around in your body for days or even weeks before you have symptoms.
Usually, it causes:
- Stomach pain
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Stomach cramps
- Dehydration
Often, food poisoning can feel like the flu, because you might have fever, headache, and body aches along with your other things.
- Stomach pain
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Stomach cramps
Often, food poisoning can feel like the flu, because you might have fever, headache, and body aches along with your other things.
If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention immediately as food poisoning can be serious, especially for pregnant women. If you are pregnant and develop food poisoning, you may be at risk for dehydration, which can be dangerous for both you and your baby. Therefore, it is important to drink plenty of fluids and seek medical attention as soon as possible.
More on pregnancy foods:
Is It Safe For Pregnant Women To Eat Shrimp?
Is It Safe For Pregnant Women To Eat Hot Dogs?
Is It Safe For Pregnant Women To Eat Sushi?
Is It Safe For Pregnant Women To Eat Tuna?
Is It Safe For Pregnant Women To Eat Crab?
Is It Safe For Pregnant Women To Eat Deli Meat?
Is It Safe For Pregnant Women To Eat Crawfish?
Is It Safe For Pregnant Women To Eat Pineapple?
Is It Safe For Pregnant Women To Eat Fish or Seafood?
Is It Safe For Pregnant Women To Eat Honey?
Is Condensed or Evaporated Milk Safe During Pregnancy?
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