Why you shouldn't eat sushi during pregnancy. Can pregnant women eat sushi?
Pregnancy is a time of change in a woman’s body. Some of them are cause for concern. Tastes, attitudes toward smells, and food preferences may change.
And even if you didn’t like something before, during pregnancy there is an irresistible desire to try it.
The culprit of such changes is hormonal balance, or rather its change. The amount of the female hormone, estrogen, decreases and its place is taken by the pregnancy hormone, progesterone.
If you have never eaten sushi and rolls, and during pregnancy you really want to try something different and unusual, do not rush to try everything indiscriminately.
Another situation: if you were fond of Japanese dishes before pregnancy, do not think that such delicacies as sushi and rolls are allowed to be enjoyed while pregnant.
Significant changes have occurred in the body, and you cannot know how your body will react to this or that component contained in rolls and sushi.
Important! The choice of food products must be approached with prudence and caution. Your condition and the health of your unborn baby depends on the diet you choose.
Therefore, before enjoying something unusual and delicious, evaluate how safe it is.
So is it possible to eat sushi during pregnancy?
Are Japanese delicacies good for pregnancy?
The components included in sushi and rolls are quite healthy.
They are a source of valuable microelements, while remaining a low-calorie dietary product, which is important for those who are afraid of gaining extra pounds during this period.
The main component is a dietary product. Its benefit lies not only in the fact that it is the richest source of all necessary nutrients. Rice goes well with other foods and is perfectly digestible.
- Fish;
Seafood enriched with protein and microelements. The main supplier of iodine.
In addition, fish contains Omega-3 fatty acids, which have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the fetal brain. It is worth considering that not all types of fish can be beneficial.
- Nori;
A special sheet in which the components of the dish are wrapped. It is made from brown algae.
It is algae that is the most important source of iodine for humans, which has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the thyroid gland. She, in turn, is responsible for metabolism, which is important during pregnancy.
Why is it worth introducing a “taboo” on eating sushi?
There are good reasons why you should avoid sushi during pregnancy.
Fish
The presence of raw fish in sushi is the main and most compelling reason.
Sushi and rolls are perishable foods. The exact manufacturing time of a product cannot be determined by eye.
It is difficult to answer how fresh all the components of sushi and rolls, especially fish, are.
Know! Even if the portion eaten does not cause harm to anyone else, a not very fresh dish can cause significant harm to a pregnant woman.
At the very least, indigestion. In addition, compliance with sanitary standards in catering establishments often leaves much to be desired.
Soy sauce
Purchased from a trusted manufacturer, such a sauce will be useful, but prepared in sushi bars and served with sushi and rolls, it will not only not be beneficial, but can also be dangerous.
Ginger
Wasabi
- One of the hot seasonings that can negatively affect the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
- Cause heartburn and nausea, which are already constant companions of a woman during pregnancy (see article
For a woman, pregnancy is a very exciting period. At this time, a new little person is born in her body, which will be born in nine months. In order for the baby to be born healthy, you need to start taking care of him even when he is still in the stomach.
Pregnancy is different for everyone. Some suffer from toxicosis, while others want to try non-standard combinations of products. There are women who want to eat everything.
Let's figure it out!
Some people are drawn to Japanese cuisine. For example, one fine day a woman wanted to order rolls. A pregnant woman should think carefully before deciding to eat such a dish. To make it easier for you, we will tell you a little about this Japanese dish. We will also touch on the question of whether pregnant women can eat rolls.
What kind of food is this?
So, rolls are a type of sushi known to everyone. Of course, such dishes are exotic for us.
Rolls have become part of our daily diet. Most likely, this Japanese dish does not cause any concern, since it consists of rice, a sheet of dried seaweed) and filling. Some people cannot imagine life without these Japanese rolls.
Let's figure out whether pregnant women can eat rolls? Will this food affect the well-being of the mother and her fetus? Let's discuss it now.
What are rolls made from?
Let's break down these Japanese rolls by the elements that make them up. The basis of the rolls is rice. They contain the most of this ingredient. If we consider such a product separately, it is very useful. Rice saturates our body with essential microelements and vitamins.
The second ingredient of the rolls is nori (pressed seaweed sheet). It is used as a wrapper for these rice rolls. Nori contains an essential element - iodine. It turns out that the answer to the question of whether pregnant women can eat rolls is positive? But it's not that simple. If these rolls consisted only of these ingredients, then yes, but you should pay attention to the filling. This is where the danger lurks, as well as the reason why some doctors categorically do not advise girls in an interesting position to eat such a dish as rolls.
Of course, now they can use frozen fillets rather than raw fish, but even in this case one should not hope for 100% safety of this ingredient.
These are all the reasons why pregnant women should give up rolls? No, there is one more unwanted ingredient - ginger. Doctors call it a strong allergen that can cause an attack of hives. Moreover, even those who are not prone to allergies are susceptible to this. During the period of bearing a baby, the body is rebuilt, so an allergic attack can occur, even if the mother did not have any reaction to ginger before.
Vegetarian option
Today there are a large number of different rolls. It even comes with vegetables. There are rolls that are heat treated in the oven. The filling of such rolls can also be very different. There are also signature rolls, the filling of which is thought out by the chefs themselves. So, to summarize... Can pregnant women eat rolls? Yes, you can eat it, but not all of it, and even then without seasoning.
How to be?
How to make rolls the safest for pregnant women? You can prepare them yourself at home. If you make them yourself, you can be absolutely sure that the food is natural and pure, as well as that all components are hypoallergenic. Making these rolls at home doesn't take much effort. To keep you from getting bored, involve your husband in creating videos together. This way you will spend a wonderful evening, which will end with an unusual dinner.
So, if even during pregnancy you cannot refuse to eat Japanese delicacies, then, in general, there is nothing wrong with that. But you need to be very scrupulous when choosing rolls, avoid those that contain raw seafood. After all, during this period you are responsible not only for yourself, but also for your unborn child, and in such a case, reinsurance is far from an unnecessary measure.
But not all, but how are things going with these delights of Japanese cuisine? Sushi consists of the same rice, nori and filling, they just look a little different. From here we conclude that you can eat them, but, again, you need to look at the ingredients. Now you know the answer to the question of whether pregnant women can eat rolls.
For the first time, many of us learned about sushi from American films.
Then “sushi shops” and restaurants with a Japanese menu filled every city and became deeply loved by their customers, forcing us to learn roll recipes and even buy machines for “rolling” them.
But now the same films (say, the popular TV series “Kitchen”) have begun to criticize this overseas dish...
We will not talk about the benefits or harms of this food for the average person - we are more interested in whether women who are expecting a baby should enjoy sushi?
On the one hand, expectant mothers are very afraid of harming the baby, so they easily refuse raw fish and seafood (which are very allergenic); on the other hand, sometimes it is so difficult to say goodbye to “pre-pregnancy” habits; and on the third - there is also the famous “I want!” women in a situation where every day a lovely lady wants something sometimes incompatible...
Sending your husband at night, in winter and in a blizzard for fresh strawberries - this is just from this opera. So, if you really want sushi, should you deny yourself or call for home delivery?
Is Japanese cuisine healthy?
Although rolls and sushi are Japanese dishes (or American-Japanese, to be more precise), the products from which they are “composed” are not alien to our diet. Rice, shrimp, salted salmon or salmon - all this is not only possible, but also recommended for a pregnant lady to see on her table.
Fish, especially red fish, rich in fatty acids, is vital for both mother and her baby. True, not every processing of it is useful... But we’ll talk about this further.
Rice is useful both in the form of porridge and as the base of rolls (after all, it is boiled in its “pure form”, without dubious additives, and is held in place only due to the special stickiness of the varieties). Any doctor will tell you that cereals in the diet are needed for the proper development of all systems of your body.
Nori leaf, that is, seaweed, is a product rich in iodine (we have already talked about the importance of iodine for pregnancy in).
Another advantage of sushi delicacies is the dietary nature of any “set”: none of the rolls have fatty fillings (unless, of course, we are talking about the classic recipe, and not thinking about domestic “sushi” made from pancakes and lard). And for pregnant women, especially in the last months, this is very important - before giving birth you don’t want to gain weight, and it’s dangerous to feed your baby. A standard serving of 8 rolls will cost an average of 500 calories, and you will be fully satisfied and will not ask for more.
Do gynecologists allow pregnant women to eat sushi and rolls?
Not always. There is too much raw fish in this dish. Why shouldn't you eat it?
- Meat or fish that has not been processed at high temperatures (cooking, frying, baking) can become infected with hepatitis A, listeriosis, toxoplasmosis and other dangerous infections.
- The heroine of the film “Kitchen” learned to her horror that she had become infected with helminths - yes, this is possible when eating raw fish. And by the way, worms are not as dangerous for a pregnant woman as treatment for them.
- Since the shelf life of such dishes is very short, there is a risk that unscrupulous chefs will serve you yesterday’s sushi, and you will get poisoned.
Yes, both on delivery service websites and in restaurant menus, you will not see an inscription about the exact date of preparation of a particular dish. The “Inspector Freimut” or “Revizorro” programs have already proven how few catering workers adhere to sanitary rules. Therefore, in your situation, it is better not to order dishes with raw fish at all.
But sauces and other “snacks” for sushi are also not as simple as they seem. Spicy seasonings are not suitable for you because:
- pickled ginger and wasabi are very spicy, which means they can cause disruptions in the gastrointestinal tract;
- also, it is an allergen, and even if it did not cause reactions in your body before pregnancy, it is not a fact that it will not harm now;
- classic soy sauce is a fermentation product, and it can be called healthy... but unfortunately, what most restaurants serve is a cheap “powdered” version, maybe not terribly dangerous, but definitely devoid of benefits.
Are there any rolls that pregnant women can safely enjoy?
Yes. These are vegetarian sushi, as well as rolls, fish (or chicken or other meat) for which they are fried or boiled. But of course, it’s better to make sure that you don’t have an allergy to seafood before doing this.
Since there are now, if not thousands, then hundreds of sushi restaurants, each one is trying to invent its own dish, wrapped in the same nori leaf. Therefore, you shouldn’t fall for catchy names, and don’t trust well-known, proven names either. Before placing an order, ask the waiter carefully about the dish you are interested in - they must know not only all the ingredients, but also how they are processed. Well, it’s even easier - personally buy products from a trusted store and prepare sushi according to a safe recipe.
Have you been invited to a Japanese restaurant and you don’t want to refuse? On the menu, choose hot rolls or exclusively vegetable rolls, which do not contain hot sauces. By the way, such dishes contain fewer calories, which is also a plus for you.
Of course, sometimes there is a temptation to “break loose”, and come what may. However, remember: your task now is to bear a healthy child. Think about the fact that you will soon give birth, breastfeed your baby - and all the sushi in the world will be yours!
Is it possible to eat sushi and why are they dangerous?
Sushi is a Japanese dish that has long been part of our diet. There are many types and names of them. Young girls simply adore them. But can pregnant women eat sushi? Let's try to figure it out.
The benefits of sushi
The benefits of sushi and rolls are obvious. Algae are rich in a large number of micro and macroelements, and most importantly iodine. We need it for the normal functioning of the thyroid gland, the full development of brain and mental activity. Sea and ocean water is rich in B vitamins, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, iodine and many other useful elements. It also contains protein, which is doubly necessary for the expectant mother. And, of course, rice, everyone’s favorite dietary product, rich in potassium, a source of complex carbohydrates, and therefore energy. Rolls may also include ingredients such as: avocado, cucumber, some types of cheeses, caviar, wasabi, etc. At first glance, a completely harmless and even healthy dish. But expectant mothers have serious reasons for refusing sushi
Prepare them yourself from quality ingredients.