What foods should pregnant women avoid eating?

Aug 30, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Zhang Lu

Introduction

Under normal circumstances, there are no absolute foods that pregnant women cannot eat. However, it is not recommended to consume raw fish slices, undercooked soft-boiled eggs, alcohol, hawthorn, or untreated raw soy milk. In addition, pregnant women should also try to avoid eating foods such as crab and coix seed. At the same time, attention should be paid to food hygiene in daily life, selecting fresh and easily digestible ingredients to ensure balanced nutrition.

Generally speaking, there are no absolute foods that pregnant women must avoid entirely. However, it is not recommended for pregnant women to consume raw fish (sashimi), undercooked soft-boiled eggs, alcohol, hawthorn, or untreated raw soy milk. Detailed explanations are as follows:

1. Raw Fish (Sashimi)

Raw fish may carry parasites and bacteria. Due to the relatively unique immune status during pregnancy, ingesting such parasites or bacteria could lead to gastrointestinal discomfort or even infection. In severe cases, it may affect fetal development. Therefore, it is not recommended.

2. Undercooked Soft-Boiled Eggs

Undercooked soft-boiled eggs may contain Salmonella, a type of bacteria that cannot be killed by insufficient heating. Pregnant women may experience symptoms of food poisoning, such as vomiting and diarrhea, after consumption. Severe infections may affect the fetus through the placenta. Therefore, it is best to avoid consuming them.

3. Alcohol

Alcohol can pass through the placenta into the fetus's body, interfering with the development of the fetal nervous system. It may cause problems such as abnormal intellectual development, growth retardation, and increase the risk of miscarriage or premature birth. It poses significant risks to both maternal and fetal health. Therefore, alcohol consumption should be strictly avoided.

4. Hawthorn

Hawthorn can promote uterine contractions. Consumption by pregnant women may stimulate frequent uterine contractions, especially increasing the risk of miscarriage in early pregnancy. Consumption in mid or late pregnancy may also affect fetal stability, compromising pregnancy safety. Therefore, it is best to avoid it.

5. Untreated Raw Soy Milk

Untreated raw soy milk contains harmful substances such as saponins and trypsin inhibitors. These substances can irritate the gastrointestinal tract, causing nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and other discomforts in pregnant women. These harmful substances can only be neutralized after thorough boiling. Therefore, untreated raw soy milk is not recommended.

In addition, pregnant women should also try to avoid eating foods such as crab and coix seed (Job's tears). Furthermore, attention should be paid to food hygiene in daily life, with fresh and easily digestible ingredients selected to ensure balanced nutrition.

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