What Fish to Avoid During Pregnancy?

We all know that fish is healthy and it is rich in omega 3 fatty acids.

Although you need these during your pregnancy, there are some fish to avoid during pregnancy because of the mercury levels. You could eat other kinds of fish, but make sure that you don’t have any of these.

Fish to Avoid During Pregnancy

What kind of fish not to have during your pregnancy?

The kinds of fish to avoid include shark, king mackerel, swordfish, tilefish, Spanish mackerel, tuna steak, grouper, marlin, small and large mouth bass, northern pike, walleye, salmon coming from the Great Lakes, lake whitefish, gar, bowfin, and the toxic species.

You might have noticed that the fish you shouldn’t have during your pregnancy are all on top of the food chain. As a result they contain the highest levels of mercury. The good news is that there are different kinds of other tasty fish that you can have when you are pregnant (within certain limits of course).

Why to have fish?

Even though you are thinking about the fish to avoid during pregnancy, you should know that fish is an important source of iron and protein that are important for the development and growth of the baby. The fish’s omega 3 fatty acids contribute to the brain development of the little one.

If we aren’t talking about the fish to avoid when being pregnant, adults don’t have to be worried about the mercury levels. However if you often have fish high in mercury, it can accumulate in your bloodstream and this can affect the brain development of the baby.

How much seafood to have?

In case you are thinking about the fish to avoid during pregnancy you should know that according to official information you should have maximum 12 ounces of fish per week. This means that you can have two average meals consisting of seafood. However, not all the specialists agree with these guidelines.

Fish safe to eat

Now that you know about the fish to avoid while being pregnant, you should also know about those that are safe to eat. These include salmon, sardines, farmed trout, pilchards, herrings, sole and flounder, farmed catfish, haddock, cod, mahi mahi, crab, perch, shrimp, clams, scallops, mussels, and oysters.

One of the best options you have when you aren’t thinking about what fish to avoid during pregnancy is canned light tuna. Nonetheless you should limit the intake of tuna steak, white tuna, and albacore tuna intake to 6 ounces per week.

Raw fish and shellfish

Shellfish and raw fish are among the fish you shouldn’t have while you are pregnant. This is because they might contain viruses and bacteria if they come from polluted water. The smoked and refrigerated fish is off-limits for you as well during your pregnancy.

It is important to think about the fish to avoid during pregnancy because these could turn out to be dangerous for the baby and this is something you should avoid. You can survive nine months without eating the fish you shouldn’t eat.

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