Pregnancy is a sensitive period women should be sensitive to the smallest food they consume during this period.
Tuna is one of the foods that may be a large percentage of women enjoy eating, but because it is canned and also the possibility of mercury in it, its consumption should be minimized.
Tuna At a glance
- Pregnant women can eat tuna once in a while, but the less the better.
- Although tuna contains nutrients, the amount of mercury in it is high.
- Also, if tuna is consumed, it must be heated before consumption.
Can Pregnant Women Eat Tuna During Pregnancy?
Although fish contain useful nutrients, eating tuna during pregnancy is not recommended. Because there is a significant amount of vitamins and nutrients in fish, which can cause irreparable damage to the fetus. affect the development of the brain and nervous system of the fetus.
Benefits of Eating Tuna During Pregnancy
Tuna contains useful nutrients that are important for the body. These nutrients are:
Protein
It is necessary and essential for body growth at all ages, and if pregnant women do not get enough of it, it can cause miscarriage, reduced growth of the fetus in the womb, and birth of a child with low weight.
Just as a small amount of it is harmful, its high consumption can also have similar effects.
EPA.DHA
Long chain omega-3 is necessary for the development of the child’s eyes and brain, and it also causes the risk of premature birth. It reduces poor fetal growth, maternal depression, and childhood allergies.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D plays a role in body immunity and bone health. Also, the presence of vitamin D reduces the risk of miscarriage and placental abruption.
If the required amount does not reach the body, it shows itself in the form of high blood pressure in pregnant women.
Iron
Iron plays an important role in the body in the healthy development of the brain and nervous system, and if it reaches the required amount in the body, it reduces the risks of premature birth and the risk of low birth weight and maternal mortality.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 plays a role in the production of protein and red blood cells, as well as optimizing the functioning of the nervous system, and if the required amount does not reach the body, it can cause miscarriage, early birth due to birth defects and other pregnancy complications.
Risks of Eating Tuna
There is a certain amount of mercury in tuna, which causes this amount to be more or less. for example; If the fish is bigger because it has caught a lot of small fish, it will have more mercury, or as it gets older, more mercury is present in its meat.
High consumption of mercury causes many problems for children, the most common of which include;
- Learning problems
- Research in motor skill development
- Impaired speech, memory and attention
- Poor visual and spatial abilities
- Low IQ
- High blood pressure and heart problems in adulthood
But if the amount of mercury is very high, it can cause severe complications including loss of sense of smell, vision, hearing in the baby, as well as birth defects, seizures, coma and death of the baby.
Apart from the high risks of its nature, it can cause infection with Listeria monocytogenes, so not eating it minimizes the risk of infection.
Also, the mercury in its nature can cross the blood-brain barrier of the child and directly enter the child’s brain and disrupt the child’s brain.
According to the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, the less tuna eaten during pregnancy, the better.
Conclusion
Tuna is one of the useful nutrients that can be called as a complete meal. This food is very popular among people and pregnant mothers are very likely to eat it. But along with the nutrients in it, there is some mercury in it, which can cause irreparable risks to the fetus.
If they are interested in it, they should have some of it at least once a month, and when eating it, it should be heated before eating, so that the excess of the fat contained in it will be lost.
