These 6 Unhealthy Ingredients Should Definitely Be Avoided During Pregnancy. Number 4 Will Surprise You!

Have you been bothered by food and cosmetic advice during pregnancy? The moment you break the news of a pregnancy, advice is what you are bombarded with. And you juggle between your craving for favorite foods and developing aversions to certain ingredients for no reason!

Having said that what you consume during pregnancy is what builds your baby. So you need to be careful about what you eat or drink. But that is not all! You also need to stay away from certain chemicals that could be constituents of your beauty rituals. Before you are lost with the never-ending list of what’s good for the baby inside you, here we are listing out the top food and cosmetic ingredients that are a total no-no during pregnancy:

In This Article

1. Aspartame

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If you are a fan of artificial sweeteners, you must shun them now. Aspartame is a chief sweetener that is in no way good for your body, let alone the fetus growing inside you. Although there is a school of thought that Aspartame is safe during pregnancy provided the woman doesn’t suffer from PKU (phenylketonuria), there is enough evidence to the harm it can cause to normal women. Aspartame is known to harm the neurons – it excites the nerve cells to the point of death, impedes cognizance and emotional well-being, and it is also known to metabolise to formaldehyde that is pretty toxic to your cells. If Aspartame can cause this to you, imagine what it can do to the fetus.

2. Feta Cheese

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Who doesn’t love cheese! They make such perfect snacks with crackers or just as little chunks too. Moreover, it might be particularly hard to resist the cheesy temptation during pregnancy. But Feta cheese is an unpasteurized dairy product (and so are Blue or Brie cheese), that can be a potential carrier of Listeriosis – a foodborne illness with flue-like symptoms. The symptoms are more likely to subside soon, but can cause miscarriages, or premature labor. To satisfy your cheese indulgences, take cheese with pasteurized labels like mozzarella or cottage cheese.

3. Alcohol

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No amount of alcohol is known to be safe to the fetus. Mothers who drink excess alcohol are likely to suffer a miscarriage or risk a stillbirth. Excessive alcohol can cause fetal alcohol syndrome that result in facial deformities. Alcohol is known to increase the heart rate of your baby and can also cause mental retardation. Although one pint of drink may not have a major effect, alcohol in moderation isn’t known to be safe either. If you are a heavy drinker and need help to abstain from alcohol, then you should seek a counselor’s help to get over it.

4. Retinoids

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Found in most anti-aging creams and moisturizers, retinoids are best to be avoided during pregnancy. These are a vitamin A variant that can accelerate cell division and help in skin renewal, thereby reduce wrinkles and tone the skin. Oral retinoids are sure to cause birth defects. While topical application may not harm the baby, there is no data that can support the safety of using it under the skin during pregnancy. So when your skin-care product bears the labels of Retin-A, Renova (tretinoin),Differin (adapelene), Retinoic acid, Retinol, Tazorac and avage (Tazarotene), Retinyl linoleate or Retinyl palmitate, you must know it’s best to avoid them.

5. The Toxic 3 (Big 3)

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Toulene, Formaldehyde, Dibutyl Phthalate: Behind your beautifully painted nails are the three big culprits that have been the cause to birth deformities to mothers who were long exposed to the toxic trio. A North Carolina study has found “increased risk of spontaneous abortion among nail salon employees”. However considering you might not be exposed to nail polishes for great lengths, it does not preclude your baby from a reproductive deformity. It is best to avoid these during pregnancy. What comes as good news is that brands like OPI, Zoya, and Sheswai have been tested to be safe, so you could pick them on your next shopping spree.

6. Fragrances

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Most cosmetics bear fragrances to mask the chemical odor. On top of it most fragrances are trade secrets. So you never know the ingredients behind them that could carry potential risks. Perfumes contain phthalates (to help the fragrance last longer) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which can have an adverse effect on health. It’s best to avoid fragrances in the first trimester of pregnancy that also happens to be the period showing any direct link between perfume usage and birth defects.

It’s okay to ditch fancy foods and beauty chemicals for a while. A healthy baby is sure to bring you more happiness in life 

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