Im pregnant can i eat calamari

This can lead to mercury poisoning , which affects brain, kidney, lung, and heart function. Some seafood is higher in mercury. Exposure to high levels of mercury during pregnancy — such as consuming polluted shellfish or grains contaminated with mercury — can have harmful effects on fetal development and lead to cognitive impairment and increase the risk of cerebral palsy. And actually, fish consumption is known to benefit fetal development and helps promote maternal health as well, as illustrated in this study.

In fact, the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that pregnant women consume between 8 and 12 ounces of seafood every week.

Again, mercury levels vary depending on the type of seafood, with some species containing more mercury than others. According to the Food and Drug Administration FDA , pregnant women should avoid seafood containing the highest mercury levels. Calamari is actually included among one of the best seafood choices for women who are pregnant or who might become pregnant, also according to the FDA. Calamari contains 0. A serving is the equivalent of 4 ounces.

Squid is also eaten raw, and sometimes included as an ingredient in uncooked sushi. You can also sear squid, but avoid eating it this way while pregnant. While the outside might cook, the inside might remain raw, putting you and your baby at risk of illness. When left at room temperature, it only takes 1 to 2 hours for harmful bacteria to grow.

The authors came up with these conclusions:. Prieto et al. SGA was defined as birth weight below the 10 th percentile of newborns for a specific gestational age.

They made a case-control study including over five hundred pairs of women from five hospitals in Spain. Intake of shellfish more than once a week was found to have a protective benefit against having an SGA infant.

Likewise, an average intake of seafood of at least 29 grams per day or 2 to 3 servings per week was associated with reduced risk of an SGA newborn, compared with an average intake of seafood less than 8 grams per day Prieto et al. All these findings emphasize the importance of, and give evidence to, current recommendations of including fish and seafood as part of a balanced diet during pregnancy. In humans, exposure to mercury occurs mostly through consumption of seafood. A number of researches have demonstrated the association between exposure to methyl mercury in utero with fetal developmental neurotoxicity among pregnant women who consume seafood regularly, including freshwater and marine varieties, shellfish and marine mammals Sheehan et al.

Methyl mercury is considered a neurotoxin, and it is especially harmful to a developing fetal brain. Different types of seafood vary in their mercury content. Because seafood is also a source of the neuroprotective omega-3 PUFA, it is important to choose species that have low mercury content. Raw or partially cooked seafood products may contain pathogens, parasites or bacteria that may increase risk of contracting food-borne illnesses.

Therefore, immunocompromised persons, pregnant women, very young children and older adults should never eat raw or undercooked fish or seafood. Seafood is part of a healthy, balanced diet for pregnant women. Several guidelines have recommended the inclusion of fish and all other types of seafood, including squid, for this purpose.

Clearly, seafood is a source of nutrients that are beneficial both for the mother and her unborn child. However, pregnant women should not forget that not all seafood is considered safe. According to the American Pregnancy Association, you can safely eat two 6-ounce portions of calamari each week. You'll get a generous dose of nutrition while keeping your mercury intake low.

Other low-mercury choices include shrimp, crab, flounder, haddock, salmon, trout, scallops and whitefish. Consume no more than 12 ounces of these low-mercury options each week. Many restaurant versions of calamari are deep-fried, which decreases their nutritional value. Deep-fried calamari can have 6 grams or more of total fat per 3-ounce serving. Eat calamari, which cooks under steam so that the nutrients are intact in it, and is easy to digest in your digestive system.

Prepare calamari at home with fresh vegetables and other ingredients that can make tasty for you. Clean the calamari properly and cook it well.

Before you purchase calamari, check the expiry date, freshness of the product, and hygiene of the shop. If you have allergic to calamari, then stay away from eating it during pregnancy. Before you start eating the seafood, make sure to consult your doctor as the doctor can suggest to you if you need it in your diet or not during pregnancy. Given below are some simple guidelines that will help to ensure that you get maximum benefits out of this seafood when included in your pregnancy diet.

Ensure you do not eat deep fry calamari during pregnancy, as it totally reduces its nutritional value. Make sure that you do not go overboard on this tasty seafood so that unnecessary side effects can be avoided. So go ahead and lookup for some wonderful recipes that will help you to incorporate calamari into your pregnancy diet.

Did you include calamari in your diet when you were pregnant? Do leave your experience in the comments section below. Already Pregnant? Our site uses cookies to make your experience on this site even better. We hope you think that is sweet. Want curated content sharply tailored for your exact stage of parenting? Sign Up. Read this next. Load More. Related articles.