Written By: Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti | Published : October 16, 2017 4:19 PM IST
Added sugars can alter the behaviour of intestinal bacteria, which in turn increases blood sugar levels.
Given the cases of food adulteration and health complications, especially during the festivals Diwali, it becomes important to check what we eat to stay safe. And when it comes to pregnant women, it becomes even more important to take care of the food. While we do not impose strict guidelines on pregnant women for eating sweets, care needs to be taken that they steer clear of the adulterated food products which might cause harm to them and their unborn child. Dr Rita Bakshi, Chairperson, International Fertility Centre, New Delhi shares few common foods that could be adulterated and hence, might be taken with caution!
1. Sweets
During Diwali, sweets are the most sought-after food products and some of the vendors have been known to add adulterants deliberately to cut costs exposing the pregnant women to the harms of these potentially dangerous chemicals. The milk can be adulterated with water, chalk, urea, soap & chemical whiteners. Khoya might contain paper & starch. Vark could be aluminium instead of silver. Ghee can contain vanaspati or animal fat. These adulterants may sometimes be harmless, but the chemicals can especially be dangerous for the pregnant women. Here are 5 tips for pregnant women to enjoy a healthy and safe Diwali.
2. Chocolates
In the recent times with more awareness about the adulteration in sweets, people have begun opting for chocolates instead. It is important to know that chocolates are made of cocoa which may contain copper and lead. Both these chemicals are especially harmful to pregnant women and may even cause miscarriages. The only way to make sure that you get the real thing is to buy branded chocolates.
3. Packaged juices
Packaged juices are quite popular as a gifting item during Diwali. However, not all juices are 100% natural or pure and may contain additives like artificial colouring, thickeners, emulsifiers, or added flavours to maintain uniformity. Read labels carefully and avoid consuming unnecessary chemicals from packaged juices. Here are five regular food items you should avoid or eat less during pregnancy.
4. Dried fruits
Size and colour of the dry fruits are determinants of the prices they carry. Some of the sellers are known to soak dry fruits in acetic acid or citric acid to increase their size. Other dry fruits like shelled pistachios and raisins are coloured artificially. These colours are not fit for consumption and some of them may impact the unborn foetus, induce nausea & vomiting. So be careful before you buy adulterated dry fruits, especially during Diwali.
5. Packaged snacks & cookies
A convenient option, that is often considered more hygienic than sweets are packaged snacks and cookies, and hence must be bought with caution. As a rule, check the packaging for contents and do not buy something that lists ingredients you wouldn t use in your kitchen like fructose syrup, protein isolates, bulking agents, thickeners, emulsifiers, colourants and flavour enhancers. Also read about chandi-ka-vark (silver leaf) on sweets significance and side effects.
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