You’re pregnant and you’re craving oysters, what should you do?
Cook them. This is the least you can do if you must eat oysters when pregnant. Raw seafood, especially shellfish, can be risky during your pregnancy and it’s best to be safe and opt for cooked ones.
If you’re cooking oysters at home then you can supervise the process yourself and make sure they are well cooked. If you’re eating out then it’s a good idea to choose a popular place known for its seafood, because this way you’re eliminating the chance of eating stale oysters. Also, ask the chef about the oysters, things like how long they’ve been sitting there, and inform them about your pregnancy, so they too are careful.
It’s a good idea to ensure all of this because infection or food poisoning from oysters can be lethal. It’s not something you want in your pregnancy, of course. Raw and even undercooked oysters can harbor harmful bacteria, such as Vibrio vulnificus which flourish in the brackish waters where oysters are found. Summer is a great time for these bacteria because the heat causes them to multiply by the millions.
Also, there are certain regions where these bacteria are found, more than the others. For instance, the Gulf of Mexico is said to be one such area where the oysters are often found to be contaminated with these lethal bacteria. This is not to say, however, that you don’t find them anywhere else, which is why, as a rule of thumb, you must only eat cooked seafood during your pregnancy.
Can I Eat Oysters While Pregnant? Answer: As Long as They’re Cooked
Food-poisoning from oysters can have harmful effects on your baby. It can lead to severe diarrhea, acute abdominal pain and fever. Another possible illness caused by the Vibrio vulnificus bacteria is Septicemia, or blood-poisoning. This is an extremely serious condition that can develop quickly and can prove fatal. Symptoms include high fever, chills, rapid breathing, rapid pulse, skin lesions – red spots or blisters.
Not that this is going to happen to you if you eat oysters, but it is in your interest to know what the potential risks are. You can then make up your own mind about what you want to eat, or not eat. Also, Hepatitis A is another illness that can be caused by oysters.
Now For the Good Stuff
Not all is bad with oysters though. They are a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, iron Vitamin D, phosphorus as well as magnesium. Also, unlike a lot of other sea food, oysters are low in mercury content, making them extremely attractive in terms of nutrition. Also, they have a remarkable balance of fat, carbohydrates, and protein.
So, while there may be risks associated with eating raw oysters, they do have benefits as well. In your pregnancy, it may be best to ask a nutritionist how much you can cook the oysters to obtain that fine balance between killing the bacteria but not the nutrition. This may be hard to do, but it’s definitely worth a try.
What Else to Avoid
Usually ready-to-eat foods are best avoided during pregnancy. Other culprits that lead to infection as well as poisioning are: Salads, fresh-juices made in an unhygienic environment, certain cheeses, especially soft-ones as Brie and Camembert. The list could be endless, so what you should consider before you put anything in your mouth is: the date, or how fresh it is, how it’s been prepared, if it’s raw, even if it’s a vegetable, then it’s best avoided since cooking kills a lot of bacteria.
Your Immunity
What you must remember is that throughout your pregnancy your immunity is at an all time low. This is nature’s way of ensuring that your body adapts, or accepts, the fetus and protects it. But, this also makes you susceptible to infections.
What you can do is eat certain foods that build your immunity and still do not harm you baby. Fruits and vegetables are great for this, as long as they are clean and have not been cut in advance. Cut fruit can be a hotbed of bacteria, so cut and eat it right away.
Enjoy this time, but exercise caution when your instinct tells you to.
