Can You Eat Oysters While Pregnant? Benefits, Risks, & Precautions to Maintain

Can you eat oysters while pregnant? Yes. But hear me out.  

While you may have been eating them before pregnancy, it’s common to get those second thoughts when pregnant.  

It’s rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Plus, oysters are great sources of protein and vitamin D. 

But you can only eat them if you are sure about the cooking process. Usually, oysters are something people eat raw. However, for pregnant women, raw oysters may not be safe. 

But are oysters safe to eat during pregnancy if they are cooked?  

This article solves all your concerns about eating both raw and cooked oysters. Keep reading to learn the best practices for eating raw oysters.  

Can You Eat Oysters While Pregnant

Answering the first question: yes, you can eat oysters while pregnant., you can eat prawns without worrying too much If they are cooked thoroughly. How do you know if the prawn or oyster you eat is thoroughly cooked? Well, when a prawn is cooked, it turns gray or pinkish-red in color.  

You can eat cold, pre-cooked prawns to have something tasty. Those are also healthy and tasty enough for you to eat.  

But in all seriousness, refrain from eating raw oysters when pregnant. Typically, the best prawns are served in a raw form. If you must eat them, eat them only when properly cooked. But are there any side effects of eating prawns during pregnancy? 

Side Effects of Eating Raw Oysters

According to the FDA of the USA, it’s against the best health practice to eat raw oysters during pregnancy. Raw oysters have the highest chance of containing harmful bacteria. Once these bacteria reach your system during pregnancy, they can cause infections and harmful diseases. 

1. Digestive Problems 

The most common form of infection from bacteria spread by oysters includes listeria. You cannot ingest oysters when they are undercooked. That will cause bacteria like listeria to reach your digestive tract and affect your digestion. It can result in mild to severe illness. 

2. Pregnancy Complication 

Women with a low immune system must be susceptible to c illness and stay safe from food like oysters. They are the most susceptible to foodborne illness, and oysters can cause one. Such illness can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or the death of a newborn baby.  

If you are prone to foodborne disease, steer clear of food like oysters, especially if you think of eating it raw. But, if you enjoy eating oysters and if your doctor permits, remember to cook it well until it is gray or pinkish-red in color.  

Benefits of Having Oysters During Pregnancy

Eating oysters might cause certain physical harm under different circumstances. However, it has several health benefits you can enjoy during pregnancy. There’s one condition, though: you must cook your oysters properly.  

Now, if we are out of the danger-zoned mindset, here are different benefits of eating oysters during pregnancy – 

Protein:  

Your body needs protein during pregnancy, and you can keep well-cooked oysters in your diet. It’s a great alternative protein source if you are tired of eating fish or meat every day. Plus, oysters are great for boosting fetal tissue growth. It also protects your breast and uterine tissues.  

Omega 3 Fatty Acid:  

Your body needs Omega 3 fatty acids. It is crucial for the brain development of your baby. Plus, adding foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids to your diet helps avoid pregnancy risks like preeclampsia. It also helps improve the weight of the baby during birth. Guess what? Oysters are great sources of omega-3 fatty acids.  

Sodium & Potassium:  

These are some of the most crucial and essential electrolytes that help your body function properly during pregnancy. These are also crucial nutritional elements that help maintain the volume of blood and bodily fluid.  

Zinc, Selenium, and Iodine:  

Oysters are great sources of Selenium, iodine, and zinc. These elements help support the endocrine system and improve the growth of the fetus. In such cases, you need micronutrients in smaller amounts.  

Pregnant moms need food that is rich in iron. Well-cooked oysters are a great source of iron and can also help reduce the chances of developing anemia.  

Vitamin D:

Among many other benefits of oysters, vitamin D is a good reason to keep it in your diet. Your body doesn’t require any supplement or food to develop vitamin D. But it does require sunlight.  

Your body gains all the nutritional values described here just by eating oysters. But it shouldn’t necessarily prompt you to eat oysters. There are other foods with the same nutrients and even more nutritional values.  

There’s no compulsion to eat oysters during pregnancy. You can avoid eating them if your healthcare provider tells you to. But, even if you want to eat it, be cautious and eat it once it is well-cooked.  

Eating Raw Oysters During Pregnancy

Can you eat oysters while pregnant? Now that you know the answer, you may want to find the best way to eat it. There are several recipes you may try. You can eat them after frying, steaming, or grilling.  

Here are the processes for preparing oysters if you want to eat them – 

Fried Oysters: you must break them If you want to eat fried oysters. Next, you must cut the oysters into two different parts and eat them after processing them.   

Steamed Oysters: Oysters taste amazing after you steam them for eating. Especially if you have oysters that are fat and plump in size, these do take a long time to cook. On top of steaming them, add tasty spices to the oysters to enhance the taste. Adding Lemongrass, chili, and ginger will make it extremely tasteful.  

Grilled Onions: You can also eat oysters after grilling them properly. It is an attractive and nutritious dish for anyone. In fact, pregnant women can eat oysters (if it’s grilled properly). You will need fresh oysters with the shells intact.  

The other ingredients needed for this dish include green onions, non-yellow onions, and roasted peanuts. But it’s best to ensure that the oysters are properly grilled for pregnant women. 

Can You Eat Oysters while Pregnant? Precautions to Take

Oysters are healthy and good protein sources and many other important nutrients, as mentioned above. But, even with the best recipes ready, you must consider a few precautions if you want to eat them during pregnancy.  

Here are a few things you must know before you eat oysters during pregnancy– 

• When buying oysters to eat, buy the ones with closed shells. The ones with an open shell aren’t fresh and don’t have the saltwater flavor and taste inside.  

• Oysters are something you cook with the shells on. But before you cook them, clean the shells using a brush and remove the contamination.  

• Don’t leave the oysters to store or leave them in the refrigerator. It’s best to eat them fresh. So, buy them only when you can cook and eat them.  

• But, if you want to fry oysters or sauté them, first, start by boiling them. It will help you remove the bad odor if you are boiling using some herbs. In addition, once you boil the oyster thoroughly before sauteing, it will cook the meat inside properly.  

• Completely cook your oysters if you are making them for a pregnant woman. As per the FDA, it’s best to cook oysters at a minimum temperature of 145° F. to kill all the harmful bacteria that may still be present.  

Your Takeaway

As per the FDA guidelines, it’s best to steer clear of oysters (especially when considering eating them raw). Seafoods contain dangerous bacteria and can be dangerous to pregnant women.  But if you are eating it, it’s best to cook them properly.  

You can also consult with your healthcare provider to learn how to use oysters during pregnancy.  

 
For the time being, this article is your guide to choosing what’s best for your health. Please note that we have suggested what most nutritionists are suggesting. If you want to eat oysters, do so at your discretion.

Read Also:

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• What Causes Miscarriage And How To Cope With It? 10 Risk Factors