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Experts recommend pregnant women stop eating specific food type
Experts have warned that pregnant women should avoid eating ultra-processed food due to the risk of ingesting chemicals associated with plastics.�
Theres a lot of contradictory information out there, especially for pregnant women who want to give their babies everything they need. In fact, 86% of women reported that they felt overwhelmed by the amount of pregnancy information available.�
Plastics are everywhere
In a new report published in the Environmental International journal in January, and funded by National Institutes of Health, experts delved into the subject of fast food. While other studies looked at the food itself, senior author Dr. Sheela Sathyanarayana and her team looked at the packaging.�
Research showed that phthalates, a class of chemicals related to plastics, can be shed from packaging and even the gloves worn by food handlers. It should not be surprising, given that even water contains millions of microplastics.�
Once ingested, these chemicals can travel through the mothers bloodstream, into the placenta, and into the fetal bloodstream. Researchers said that this could cause oxidative stress and inflammation.�
“When moms are exposed to this chemical, it can cross the placenta and go into fetal circulation,” said Doctor Sathyanarayana.�
What foods did researchers identify as problematic?
The team noted that its often easy to dictate what foods should and should not be eaten, after all, every single expecting family has a series of factors to consider including location, price, and availability.�
“We don’t blame the pregnant person here,” said another member of the team. “We need to call out manufacturers and legislators to offer replacements, and ones that may not be even more harmful.”
If they can, pregnant people were encouraged to seek out fresh ingredients instead of processed and packaged items. This could include meats, veg, and fruits.�
