Brief Answer:
further necessary clarification

Detailed Answer:
Dear
Thanks for raising your concern

1. One can take non vegetarian diet but with caution:

2. It is best to eat a variety of different foods everyday to get right right balance of nutrients required for mother and baby such as vitamins and minerals [eat plenty of fruits and vegetables which helps digestion and provides fibre which prevents constipation] but extra supplements have to be taken [iron /calcium from yogurt-cheese-milk-spinach-carrots-beetroot-dates or taking Tablet prescribed from Attending Physician]

3. Prefer starchy food which are satisfying without containing too many calories like potato, cereals,rice,bread,cornmeal,oats,sweet potato,maize.

PS. Avoid high calories food: [sugar/soft drinks/fat] which can contribute to weight gain [gestational diabetes] and tooth decay

4. PROTEIN is essential thus take:
. MEAT [not liver], EGGS ,fish,beans,pulses,nuts
. chicken has the lowest amount of fat and is rich in proteins and is best preferred during pregnancy
. It is best to have boiled or scrambled eggs [eggs white is ideal]
. Fish is rich source of omega 3 fatty acid which is very much required by pregnant women thus sea food is also helpful but avoid excess of tuna,shrimps.

PS. As they tend to produce heat, balance the same with vegetables and fruits [coconut water is best to cool the body]

. It is ideal to avoid red meat as it is often under cooked/overcooked and may cause bacterial infection

5. Do discuss with a certified Nutritionist or an experienced OB/GYN Doctor for other Supplements which are essential during this period.

Dr. Munish Sood
Consultant Physician
Naimittika

direct online link: bit.ly/drmunishsood

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Brief Answer:
clarification of doubts

Detailed Answer:
Dear
Thanks for reverting back

1. Although Liver is a rich source of
- folic acid [which helps prevent certain birth defects],
- Iron [helps prevent anemia] and
- Vit. A [needed for normal fetal growth and development] BUT As Liver is the storehouse of Vitamin A [liver is the only food which that provides very high amount of Vit. A] which some studies suggests that taking liver [high doses of Vit. A] in pregnancy can cause birth defects.

PS. According to the Institute of Medicine [IOM] the recommended daily allowance [RDA] of Vit. A in pregnancy is 2,565 IU per day whereas taking/eating liver the dose of Vit. A goes upto nearly 10,000 IU [which is four times the recommended dose] in the first two months of pregnancy has more than double the risk of having a baby with birth defects, thus the safest approach will be to minimize the consumption of liver

2. Regarding consumption of prawns/shrimps it is suggested that since they are type of sea food thus can be taken after consulting your health care provider since:
- Sea food contains high amount of mercury which is thought to affect nervous system of baby
- Avoid consuming them in restaurants since they are likely to be under cooked and may pose a risk for food poisoning
- One has to take into account other factors like: water pollution, contaminated rivers and marine life [which means they might be affected with certain parasites which may harm the digestive system]
PS. Listeria contamination is on example

3. Properly cooked prawns with suitable salting and pickling makes them safer to consume

Dr. Munish
Naimittika

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