Pregnancy cravings are among the things that pregnant women experience during pregnancy, therefore, all pregnant mothers should pay due attention to their diet so as not to harm the mother and the child, because some foods can be harmful to the growth and health of the fetus. Mother during pregnancy is very harmful. For this reason, in this article, let’s talk about whether it is permissible to eat oysters during pregnancy and the benefits and side effects of oysters.
Oyster at a Glance
- In general, there is no problem with eating oysters during pregnancy.
- Oysters must be fully cooked and avoid eating raw or undercooked oysters.
- Oysters should be prepared fresh.
- Eat oysters in moderation.
Can Pregnant Women Eat Oysters?
Pregnant women can use oysters during pregnancy as long as they ensure that the oysters are fully cooked. Oysters can contain parasites, and bacteria such as listeria, and hepatitis virus that will cause illness, but if the oysters are cooked thoroughly they will not cause a problem.
Oysters filter the seawater that contains metals such as mercury and other toxins in the water and can store these toxins and metals that are not destroyed even by cooking, therefore it is recommended that pregnant women limit Eating oysters in moderation. Some countries do not allow trade in oysters that contain more than a certain level of toxins.
The oysters that are canned with sauce or oil are fully cooked, that’s why eating canned oysters is fine, but it should be noted that the canned can itself can contain toxic substances, and by eating the oysters, these toxic substances are harmful to the mother and child. to be transferred
Pregnant women should pay attention to not eating oysters in restaurants because they do not know how to cook or the quality of oysters.
What are the Benefits of Oysters During Pregnancy?
Seafood is rich in nutrients and omega-3 fatty acids, which are very useful for the development of the child and the health of the pregnant mother, so it is generally recommended for pregnant women to eat seafood twice a week.
- Low calorie
- Omega 3 fatty acid
- High protein: Protein is necessary for building muscles, cells, and tissues and for the growth of the fetus.
- Vitamin B1, B2, B6
- Iron: is very necessary to make red blood cells in pregnant women because the volume of blood in the body of pregnant women increases during pregnancy.
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin C
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Calcium
- Phosphorus and magnesium
Necessary Precautions for Eating Oysters During Pregnancy
It is very important to always prepare fresh oysters, especially during pregnancy, the importance of this matter is twofold. The shell of a fresh oyster will open when boiling, and if it has opened before cooking, you should avoid eating it.
Also, a fresh oyster smells of the sea and does not smell of fish or ammonia.
Frozen and organic oysters are other oysters that can be prepared and consumed safely because these oysters have been frozen and stored according to strict quality guidelines.
When cooking oysters, it should be noted that the oysters should be cooked for at least a few minutes at a temperature of 85°C in order to destroy possible pathogens in them.
Risks of eating oysters during pregnancy
Oysters can contain microbes such as echinococcus and toxoplasma, which can be found even in farmed oysters. Contaminated oysters can cause the transmission and spread of protozoa such as cryptosporidium. Also, the accumulation of oocysts in oysters can cause toxoplasmosis, which is very harmful to the fetus.
Raw or undercooked oysters can transmit infections such as vibrio to pregnant women and cause diarrhea and food poisoning. It should be noted that half-cooked or raw oysters can also cause hepatitis and jaundice can be transmitted from mother to child.
Also, the smell of shellfish and seafood in the first trimester of pregnancy can aggravate nausea and vomiting.
Healthy Ways to Eat Oysters
- Wash oysters with cold water
- Drained water from frozen oysters should not be mixed with other food
- Oysters should not be opened before cooking
- Boil the oysters for 10 minutes at 85°C
Conclusion
Pregnant women should ensure the health and safety of that food before adding food to their diet. Oysters are one of the things that pregnant women should eat in moderation because oysters, in addition to the benefits they can have for pregnant women, can also contain harmful organisms for pregnant women and fetuses.
