Can pregnant women eat shrimp? The benefits and harms of shrimp for expectant mothers

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The eating habits of pregnant women are an interesting and unique phenomenon. From time to time, a woman in an interesting position has a strong desire to eat a certain product, this desire is so strong that she cannot think of anything else. Of course, there are a number of restrictions, in addition, you should not eat raw meat and fish, you should refrain from eating chalk. But what if you really want shrimp? Can pregnant women eat these seafood?

Interesting to know

Shrimp are crustaceans. The length of a mature individual varies from one to two to twenty-five centimeters. They are characterized by a shade from pink to coral.

Most often they are sold frozen, as it is not recommended to store them for a long time at low temperatures. Shrimp are low in fat. These products are low-calorie, in addition, they contain iodine, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, copper, fluorine, iron, molybdenum, sodium, vitamins - A, K, E, B, D, B9, PP, B1, C, Q2.

Crustaceans have a lot of iodine and copper, but littlecholesterol.

There are about a hundred types of shrimp that enter the store shelves, the most popular are:

• Brindle - a characteristic striped color of the shell and a large size (up to 40 cm).
• Royal - individuals up to 25 cm long, have a massive tail.
• Northern shrimps are the smallest representatives of the shrimp species (the size of adults is no more than 11 cm in length).

Shops sell frozen shrimp, in tetra packs and by weight.

Shrimp for pregnant women benefit and harm

The benefits of shrimp are obvious. They do not contain carbohydrates and fats, significantly surpass meat in terms of the amount of valuable substances contained in them. This low-calorie product is well absorbed by the body, gives a feeling of satiety, and does not contribute to weight gain, which is important during pregnancy. In addition, this seafood is good at helping to overcome cravings for spicy and s alty foods.

In addition, shrimp contain:

• Zinc, copper, iron, which improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system and increase efficiency.
• Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids that improve metabolism and prevent the development of many diseases.
• Iodine, which regulates the thyroid gland.
• Phosphorus, which helps keep teeth and bones he althy.
• Zinc - helps maintain the beauty of nails and skin.
• Potassium - promotes heart he alth.
• Selenium - increases immunity, protects the body from the influenceharmful radicals.

Can pregnant women eat shrimp? Some doctors believe that the use of seafood during pregnancy should be limited, since the reaction of the body, which works for two, can be completely unpredictable. There is a risk of developing allergies or indigestion.

Shrimp in early and late pregnancy

Can pregnant women eat shrimp in the first trimester? The use of this seafood in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy is useful not only for the expectant mother, but also for the baby. Proteins, trace elements, fatty acids contribute to the formation of the baby's bones, the development of his brain and nervous system. The presence of seafood in the diet of a pregnant woman prevents the risk of preterm labor.

If before pregnancy, seafood did not cause allergies, then it is quite easy to use them during the bearing of the baby. But before eating a delicious shrimp salad, you should eat a few pieces and see how your body reacts. If itching, a small rash on the skin, sneezing, swelling, you should immediately call an ambulance.

Before you try a salad or a shrimp dish, you need to carefully study the composition. Women in position should not use vinegar, spicy and fatty sauces, spices. The surest option is to buy a fresh-frozen quality product and cook your own shrimp dish at home.

The cooking recipe is quite simple: you should wash the seafood, put them in s alted boiling water andboil for 7-8 minutes. When they float to a light pink color, they are ready to eat. They can be added to a vegetable salad or eaten on their own. It should be remembered that they quickly deteriorate, so you need to eat the dish only freshly prepared.

Eating shrimp in late pregnancy may contribute to the development of allergies in the baby. It is for this reason that after 22 weeks, when the fetal immune system is already functioning, seafood should be discarded so as not to harm the baby.

Is it allowed to eat shrimp during an interesting situation

On this score, the opinions of experts vary greatly. Some believe that if a woman used to eat seafood, then during the period of bearing a baby, she can easily enjoy this dish.

But what if you have never tried shrimp before, but during pregnancy you really want to? Is it possible for pregnant shrimp in this case? You can try a treat, but very little, and follow your reaction. You should not abuse seafood and lean on a shrimp dish without measure. It is allowed to consume from 100 to 200 grams of the product per week, it is this amount that will saturate the body with the necessary trace elements and will not harm the baby.

If you don't feel like seafood, don't eat it at all. It is quite possible to get by with other food. In no case should you forcefully eat this delicacy, it can lead to indigestionstomach and poisoning.

A few tips for those who really want to…

Here are some tips for pregnant women who decide to eat shrimp:

• They should be boiled in water for 7-8 minutes.
• They should take on an even milky hue while cooking.
• Don't eat seafood if it causes dislike.
• It is forbidden to eat canned shrimp if they have been left open in the refrigerator for more than 3 days.

Can pregnant women eat shrimp? Unfortunately, safe shrimp are practically absent on store shelves, as manufacturers have long since learned to grow them artificially. Hormones and antibiotics are the safest ingredients that can be found in this treat. It is for this reason that many doctors advise against eating shrimp during pregnancy.

Cooking secrets

In cooking, there are many recipes for dishes with shrimp, in which seafood is boiled, baked, stewed, fried. But which ones are more beneficial for pregnant women? Can pregnant women eat boiled shrimp? For pregnant women, it is the boiled food with the maximum amount of nutrients that is recommended.

Before cooking, experienced housewives recommend defrosting and peeling crustaceans. You need to cook the product in lightly s alted water for about 7-8 minutes, after which you need to drain the water. In addition, shrimp can be used to prepare salads, soups,side dishes, snacks.

Precautions

Despite the benefits of shrimp, you should not lean on them. In recent months, you should completely abandon this delicacy, as it can cause allergies in the baby.

Buy only quality seafood:

• A dark or brown head indicates that the shrimp is of very poor quality (spoiled).
• Black paws indicate the age of the product.
• Yellow spots indicate that they tried to rejuvenate the shrimp with special solutions.
• If shrimp have straight tails, dead specimens were frozen.
• White spots and stripes speak of frostbite.

When buying a product, you need to pay attention to the packaging: if there is snow inside, then the product was thawed and frozen again.

This exotic delicacy, in addition to useful minerals, may contain toxins and metals. That is why it is important to choose only a quality product and know the measure in food.

Instead of a conclusion

Shrimp is a very useful product that can be indispensable during pregnancy. The main thing is not to abuse the delicacy and follow the basic principles of eating this delicacy.

Everyone decides for himself whether to eat shrimp during an interesting situation or not. If you really want to, you can’t deny yourself, you just need to carefully choose the product, cook it correctly andtake care of your well-being.