Written By: Debjani Arora | Updated : January 4, 2017 10:04 AM IST
Diet during pregnancy is really crucial as what you eat can make a huge difference in your baby s growth and development. One thing that most pregnant women are advised against is to be off Chinese foods, even if it is your favourite cuisine. So, what if you crave for it during your pregnancy? And we all know it is difficult not to give in to your cravings during these crucial months. But if it is Chinese that you are craving be a bit cautious. There are a few reasons why Chinese food is considered unsafe during pregnancy due to MSG and high sodium content.
MSG or monosodium glutamate that is widely used in Chinese foods or other Asian dishes is thought to be detrimental to fetal health. More so for mothers who are allergic to MSG. While there are no concrete studies to show if MSG really affects the fetus, a study done on rats showed that intake of MSG during pregnancy retards fetal growth and shuns weight gain after birth [1]. Some experts also believe that MSG can cross the placenta and disrupt development of nervous system in the fetus. Even if you aren t pregnant, it is advisable to stay away from foods that are loaded with MSG like your favourite instant noodles Maggi.
Apart from that, Chinese recipes are also high in sodium content. Continuous intake of high sodium through diet could also lead to bloating, nausea and worse pre-eclampsia. Even if you are not fond of Chinese food, it is advisable to keep a check on your sodium intake for the same reasons.
However, eating Chinese once a while might not harm you or your baby if you can ask the chef to avoid MSG in your food. But our expert Sonali Shivlani opines that Chinese food, the way it is cooked in the Indian restaurants is unhealthy for anyone, leave alone a pregnant woman. Moreover, most Chinese dishes are made of refined flour and is fried which just piles more calories and not to forget the sodium content.
So, if you want to practise clean eating during pregnancy, it is better to stay off Chinese cuisine. But if your craving gets the better of you choose the healthy foods: rice, noodles, steamed vegetables, lean meat, and fish. Avoid the fried stuff and ask your chef not to add MSG to your food.
Reference
1. von Diemen V, Trindade MR. Effect of the oral administration of monosodium glutamate during pregnancy and breast-feeding in the offspring of pregnant Wistar rats. Acta Cir Bras. 2010 Feb;25(1):37-42. PubMed PMID: 20126886.
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