Being pregnant is an unforgettable experience.
It's an exciting time in a woman's life.
Changes occur each day.
Hormone levels increase.
Your body and attitude change.
It's a time filled with new things.
In fact, given all these changes, the topic of what's permissible to eat and what's not becomes a significant question that most pregnant women find themselves grappling with.
Food, both during and after pregnancy, is a big issue.
What one does eat affects the child inside, after all.
The information that surrounds food and pregnancy can be pretty fuzzy.
The good news is, however, generally what you can and cannot eat stays the same, except for some notable exceptions.
Most nutritionists suggest that pregnant women beware of certain foods, while completely steering clear of others.
A lot of this is general knowledge, but when you delve into the exact details, the fine print as it were, it can get rather confusing.
It becomes difficult to decipher what's actually bad for you.
The matter gets more convoluted when family and friends are so keen on offering their own tips and advice.
Even strangers like to get in on the game and tell you what you should and shouldn't eat, often without your solicitation.
This extra information can become quite disconcerting.
The facts are confounded with urban myths and folklore.
Indeed, matters aren't helped by the fact that it seems like every time you turn around there's a new article published in some obscure scientific journal that purports such and such food is actually bad for you or vice versa, it's actually really good for you.
Reports often contradict each other.
This mishmash of information only ends up making more women even more confused.
Often when it comes down to it, this wealth of extraneous and incomplete knowledge leaves you more confused than you started off.
The question of what one can eat and what one shouldn't eat when pregnant can be boiled down to a few basic guidelines.
The thing to remember is that you should be smart.
Eat in moderation and put your common sense to work.
Don't over indulge.
There are some general guidelines you should keep in mind when pregnant.
Most of these actually apply to every day situations, whether you are or aren't pregnant.
You should always remember to wash all fruits and vegetables before you eat them.
Remember too, to be careful with foods such as cantaloupe and water melon-the rinds can actually contain harmful bacteria that may be transferred to the fruit, so do wash them before you cut into them.
Always cook food carefully.
This rule applies especially to poultry, meats and eggs.
Play it safe and go for well done.
When handling meat and poultry products, don't forget to wash your hands.
Don't indulge in high fat junk food.
Remember moderation is key.
Be wary of seafood.
Certain fatty fish like shark and tile-fish contain dangerous amounts of mercury.
Women should stick to shell fish, canned fish and smaller ocean fish.
Alcohol should be avoided.
It's an exciting time in a woman's life.
Changes occur each day.
Hormone levels increase.
Your body and attitude change.
It's a time filled with new things.
In fact, given all these changes, the topic of what's permissible to eat and what's not becomes a significant question that most pregnant women find themselves grappling with.
Food, both during and after pregnancy, is a big issue.
What one does eat affects the child inside, after all.
The information that surrounds food and pregnancy can be pretty fuzzy.
The good news is, however, generally what you can and cannot eat stays the same, except for some notable exceptions.
Most nutritionists suggest that pregnant women beware of certain foods, while completely steering clear of others.
A lot of this is general knowledge, but when you delve into the exact details, the fine print as it were, it can get rather confusing.
It becomes difficult to decipher what's actually bad for you.
The matter gets more convoluted when family and friends are so keen on offering their own tips and advice.
Even strangers like to get in on the game and tell you what you should and shouldn't eat, often without your solicitation.
This extra information can become quite disconcerting.
The facts are confounded with urban myths and folklore.
Indeed, matters aren't helped by the fact that it seems like every time you turn around there's a new article published in some obscure scientific journal that purports such and such food is actually bad for you or vice versa, it's actually really good for you.
Reports often contradict each other.
This mishmash of information only ends up making more women even more confused.
Often when it comes down to it, this wealth of extraneous and incomplete knowledge leaves you more confused than you started off.
The question of what one can eat and what one shouldn't eat when pregnant can be boiled down to a few basic guidelines.
The thing to remember is that you should be smart.
Eat in moderation and put your common sense to work.
Don't over indulge.
There are some general guidelines you should keep in mind when pregnant.
Most of these actually apply to every day situations, whether you are or aren't pregnant.
You should always remember to wash all fruits and vegetables before you eat them.
Remember too, to be careful with foods such as cantaloupe and water melon-the rinds can actually contain harmful bacteria that may be transferred to the fruit, so do wash them before you cut into them.
Always cook food carefully.
This rule applies especially to poultry, meats and eggs.
Play it safe and go for well done.
When handling meat and poultry products, don't forget to wash your hands.
Don't indulge in high fat junk food.
Remember moderation is key.
Be wary of seafood.
Certain fatty fish like shark and tile-fish contain dangerous amounts of mercury.
Women should stick to shell fish, canned fish and smaller ocean fish.
Alcohol should be avoided.