As much as you enjoy fries and burgers, paediatricians warn against eating ultra-processed or fast food during pregnancy since it poses health concerns to the foetus.
According to a University of Washington School of Medicine study published last month in the journal Environment International, the risk comes not only from fat and calories but also from chemicals that frequently end up in hamburgers and fries.
Known as phthalates, these chemicals are often released from fast food wrappers or workers’ protective gloves and have been linked to autism, ADHD, premature birth and low birth weight.
When food is contaminated with these harmful microplasticizers, the chemicals can enter a pregnant woman’s bloodstream.
“When pregnant women are exposed to this chemical, it can cross the placenta and enter the foetal circulation,” explained the study’s lead author, paediatrician Sheela Satyanarayana.
Researchers studied over 1,000 pregnant women in their second trimester and discovered that eating more ultra-processed meals was connected with greater quantities of one of the most common and hazardous phthalates. The researchers cautioned that, in addition to traditional fast foods like fries, hamburgers, and soda, ready-made cake mixes pose considerable danger.
Satyanarayana advises pregnant women to avoid fast and processed foods as much as possible. Instead, instead of fat and sugar, they should consume fruits, vegetables, lean meats and energy bars made with organic fruits, such as dates.
After reading this text you can also read about: There Are More Varieties Than You Thought: Why Should You Eat Radishes?
