When you get pregnant, there are many restrictions on what you should eat, and what you should not. But there is actually not much difference, as you would continue eating many meals you usually consume before getting pregnant. But one category of food which is very tricky and tends to cause confusion, is the consumption of seafood.
The presence of Mercury, and the impact it may have on you and your child, is why many people usually have doubts on eating sea food especially when pregnant. But there are actually many seafood that are actually low in Mercury.
The concerns on the effects of Mercury and the impacts it may have on your unborn baby, is the reason why many medical practitioners usually frown at eating sea food when pregnant. But there are actually some seafood that contain low amounts of mercury, and if prepared correctly, can be eaten.
In this article, we will be learning about the crawfish, and if it can be eaten while pregnant.
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Is It Safe To Eat Crawfish While Pregnant
If you enjoy eating crawfish, well it is no one of those fishes you have to put off your list. The crawfish can be eaten during pregnancy as it contains low amounts of mercury. When cooked properly, it is actually very safe to eat. The crawfish has 0.033 parts per million of mercury.
When compared with other seafood, this is actually very low, as seafood with 0.1 parts and below are seen as safe for consumption by the FDA. So it is safe to eat your crawfish if it is properly cooked. The only issue you might face, is if you do not feel like eating it, or you are craving for some other meal.
When is it unsafe to eat crawfish while pregnant?
While it is very okay to eat this during your pregnancy, you should ensure that you cook it properly and in the right fashion. If you undercook seafood like the crawfish, there are many issues it could give you.
You cannot actually eat the crawfish raw, so it actually has an advantage, but if it is not cooked properly, you might expose your baby to many things like bacterial infections, and other pathogenic diseases. You should also avoid crawfish that are imported, as their mercury levels are usually unknown.
Cooking your crawfish at home
When preparing the crawfish, you should ensure that you follow some procedures to help you successfully cook the meal. Try to avoid contamination as much as possible, and ensure that you utensils are well kept and neat.
Ensure that you thoroughly wash and sterilize the utensils and ensure that you do not contaminate the utensils or tools with the raw crawfish.
You should understand that pregnant people have an immune system lower than that of a normal human. This is because their bodies cater for the health of two people, and not the normal one person, and this makes their immune system work more.
This makes bacterial related infections to cause more harm than normal, and these people infections do not only attack you, but your unborn baby is not left out as well. When cooking the crawfish, you should ensure that it reaches an internal temperature level of 165°F for the best results.
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You can get a cooking thermometer to carefully ensure that your treats have reached the required temperature for consumption.
What are the benefits of eating crawfish while pregnant?
When you take crawfish while pregnant, you are taking a good which is very rich in various nutrients. The crawfish is classified as lean protein and it is low in various fats. Some examples of nutrients you can get when eating the crawfish are;
- Iron
- Selenium
- Copper
- Niacin
- Some amounts of vitamin A and C
You should know that the fact that crawfish is an okay food, does not mean that you can start eating it without restrictions.
What do you do if you are allergic to crawfish?
When you are pregnant, it is not advised that you start facing your allergies, so you should wait till after you have recovered from your pregnancy before you start facing your allergic reaction to eating crawfish.
To avoid complications, you should totally avoid trying crawfish when pregnant if you are allergic to it. And when eating the crawfish, you should always be weary of not eating too much as it can also affect you and negatively.
Where can you find the crawfish?
You can get the crawfish in many places that have fresh water. It is usually found in the United States and it is being regulated there. This is why it is sure that those ones gotten there are low in mercury. The imported ones, are not well regulated so the level of mercury contained, are usually not known.
For your safety and that of your unborn baby, you should stick with the domestic and regulated crawfish, as it is the safest known option. If you eat crawfish that has been raised or caught in the United States, it should be safe for your consumption.
Catching your own crawfish is also an option as it is in the same region as it should be low in mercury levels. But while catching your own crawfish, you should try to be vary of the place you get these fishes from, as there is a possibility that that place might be polluted.
You should check for various advisories on the marine aspect, to confirm the safety of that aquatic center or habitat.
Signs that show that you may have consumed unsafe crawfish
If you are considering the fact that you may have consumed unsafe seafood, the main concern on your mind should be the risk of food poisoning. Some o these symptoms are;
- Abdominal cramps
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Appetite loss
- Fever
- Migraines
- Body weakness
- Nausea
Your body system is usually weaker when pregnant, so if you get these symptoms, you should see your doctor right away as you might have food poisoning.
What other seafood are low in mercury?
Most seafood bought in restaurants are usually safe for consumption. There are seafood high in mercury, and they should be avoided especially by women and children. Seafood like shrimps, oysters, tilapia, catfish, Pollock are also low in mercury.
Is it safe to eat crawfish while breastfeeding a child?
Yes you can eat crawfish while breastfeeding. But you should always check your child for signs of an allergic reaction. If your child starts vomiting, it could be as a result of an allergy. But you should always consider a balanced diet while breastfeeding over your favorite meals.
Can I drink coffee while breastfeeding?
Yes you can take coffee while breastfeeding. But you should not go over 300mg of caffeine on a daily basis while nursing a child. Caffeine affects some children, and it can be passed to your baby through traces in your breastmilk.
It is reassuring that the crawfish is not one of those meals you would have to avoid when pregnant. But you should ensure that it is properly cooked before eaten. And if you want to get crawfish, you should try to get the domestic ones and avoid the imported ones. Mercury poisoning is not something you want to experience while pregnant.
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