Can pregnant women eat oysters?

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Oysters are delicious and rich in nutrients. But can pregnant women eat oysters? The following article will help you understand the effects of eating oysters and how to eat oysters for pregnant women.

1. Benefits of eating oysters during pregnancy

Oysters contain many vitamins and minerals, many of which are beneficial for pregnancy. They are an excellent source of omega 3 fatty acids, zinc, copper, selenium, manganese, iron and vitamin B12 and vitamin D. All these ingredients are highly recommended for pregnant woman, they keep her heart healthy and can also prevent any symptoms of encephalitis. Among the multitude of elements needed to keep a child's neurological development developing in the right direction, zinc is one of the most important. Although it can be present in small amounts in various foods, oysters contain a significant percentage, making it a great choice during pregnancy Oysters are generally low in fat (about 3 grams per oyster) and have about 7 grams of protein as a complete protein, which means they contain all the amino acids needed by humans.

2. Is it safe to eat oysters during pregnancy?

It is possible to eat oysters during pregnancy. As long as they are cleanly prepared and fully cooked, the heat will kill most bacteria or toxins.
Pregnant women must absolutely avoid raw or undercooked meat products. If eating raw oysters during pregnancy can lead to some of the following effects:
Risk of some gastrointestinal diseases: If oysters are not cooked, there is a high chance that the bacteria in the oysters still contain bacteria. lead to infection of the gastrointestinal tract and other areas of the body. Sometimes, the bacteria and fungi that cause infections can harm an unborn baby, leading to miscarriage or brain damage. One of the known pathogens is enteritis caused by infection with the bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Also, if you have any unusual symptoms after eating raw oysters, such as: Vomiting, diarrhea, gastrointestinal upset, signs of dehydration, ... see your doctor right away. .

3. A few notes when eating oysters during pregnancy

Best to eat oysters during pregnancy needs to be cooked, in addition when eating oysters need to pay attention:
Prioritize using fresh oysters instead of oysters in the freezer While cooking oysters, make sure they are thoroughly cooked. , no unusual smell.

4. Some recipes and ways to eat oysters

Fried Oysters: Oysters are breaded and then deep fried. To ensure that the inside of the oyster is cooked, for large oysters, you can cut the oysters in half and then process. Steamed oysters: This is also a very nutritious dish, for large, fat and plump oysters, it will take longer to cook. So check that the biggest ones are done by cutting the middle. When steaming oysters, you should add accompanying spices such as: Lemongrass, chili, ginger... to make the dish more delicious. Grilled oysters: Grilled oysters with onion fat is also an attractive and very nutritious dish for pregnant women. Ingredients to prepare: Fresh oysters with part of the shell, chopped green onions, non-yellow onions and roasted peanuts. Oysters are placed on the grill when almost cooked, put the ingredients in, wait for the oysters to be fully cooked and enjoy.

5. Choosing an alternative nutritional source for oysters

Eating oysters during pregnancy is a good nutritional choice. However, it is necessary to choose fresh oysters and process cooked oysters, in addition to oysters, you can choose foods to replace oysters such as: Fish oil supplements, peanuts, and pumpkin seeds that contain zinc in a good ratio. , along with flaxseed oil or certain grains that contain omega-3 acids.
To ensure the safety of the baby and a healthy pregnancy should limit the use of raw oysters, or oysters that are not fresh.

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References: Healthline.com, Pregnancyfoodchecker.com