Pregnancy is a crucial phase when it comes to food cravings and choices. It is essential to give close attention as it shows a direct impact on her and the fetus. Consuming junk food such as pizza, burger, chocolates, ice cream or sodas during pregnancy should be restricted or completely avoided since it lacks nutritional value. So, if your diet is full of junk foods, there shall be hardly any space for healthy food!!
While some cravings are fine, cravings for junk food can be hazardous to both mother and fetus. So if you are pregnant and love to indulge in your favorite fast food, you will gain unwanted and unhealthy weight which is a triggering factor during delivery. Read on in depth to understand more.
In This Article
- What are Junk Foods?
- Are Junk Foods Safe During Pregnancy?
- 10 Reasons Junk Or Fast Food Should Be Avoided During Pregnancy
- Why Should You Limit Eating Junk Food During Pregnancy?
- How To Control Junk Food Cravings?
- FAQ’s
What are Junk Foods?
Junk Foods are foods easy to prepare and easy to consume. The term Junk Food was given by Micheal Jacobson in 1972. Junk foods includes refined products made from refined flour, sugar, trans fat and food additives- Tartrazine and MSG. Junk Food is gaining popularity these days as it is easy to make, easy to consume and has a longer shelf life. Starting from French Fries to Pizza, PaniPuri to Pav Bhaji and Pakora, all are supplied in the cafes and streets in different variations. (1)
Are Junk Foods Safe During Pregnancy?
Junk foods may sound great as an appetizer but it is harmful as eating trash especially during pregnancy. The unhealthy choices negatively affect both mother and fetus. When an expectant mother eats all those sugar and salt-rich foods, it is absorbed by placenta (2)which interferes with healthy development of the fetus and resulting in detrimental consequences such as mental retardation and obesity (3). Not just this, even mothers face most acute to chronic health complications which can be carried post delivery.
10 Reasons Junk Or Fast Food Should Be Avoided During Pregnancy
If you find your cravings for fat and sugar are too hard to resist then here you can find the list of the probable risks of eating junk food while you are pregnant. Keep them in mind when next time you have strong junk food cravings-
1. Chemical Acrylamide
Acrylamide is a chemical found in French fries, bread, and potato chips. It forms when they are cooked at high temperatures. Recent studies suggest that higher levels of acrylamide in developing babies may result in low birth weight and smaller head circumference (4). Prenatal exposure to acrylamide is associated with weight gain post delivery and severe disturbances in the nervous system, reproductive system and digestive system (5). Refer here
2. Obesity
During pregnancy, consuming junk food can lead to excessive weight gain which can cause various complications such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and preterm labor. It is important to monitor weight and food habits to avoid such risks. While weight gain is necessary during pregnancy, it should be from healthy foods to ensure the safety of both the mother and baby (6).
3. Zero Nutritional Value
Junk food has hardly any nutritional value which will benefit the mother or the unborn child. However these foods are full of salt, sugar, fats and cholesterol which generally come under the category of “foods to be avoided during pregnancy”. Your baby needs certain nutrients for his proper growth and development which junk food can never provide
4. Long Term Health Hazard in Baby
There are various studies which support the fact that women who ate more junk food during pregnancy are more likely to have children who will have more chances to develop obesity, heart disease and diabetes in their near future.
5. Pre-Mature Baby
Women who eat more junk food during pregnancy have higher risk of giving birth to premature babies and these prematurely born babies have a higher risk of many serious complications such as low blood sugar, cerebral palsy, breathing related problems and many times they may require monitoring in intensive care
6. Your Child Will be “Junk Food Junkie”
Expectant Mothers who gorge on more junk food are setting up their children to be addicted towards junk food. As a result, your baby will develop health implications such as obesity which is challenging to maintain health in the long-term. Intrauterine exposure to poor nutrition is believed to lead to hypertension and coronary heart diseases
7. Your Baby Can Lack Proteins
A junk food diet is full of fat, sugar and unnecessary calories, but it does not provide essential nutrients like proteins and vitamins which are needed for fetal development during pregnancy. Lack of protein during pregnancy can show a large negative impact on the development of kidneys in your baby and can cause high blood pressure and renal diseases in them once they reach their adulthood.
8. Low Birth Weight
Eating junk food while you are pregnant increases the chances that your child will be born prematurely (7) and thus will have a low birth weight and may develop numerous health problems such as infections, breathing related disorders or even allergies.
9. Digestive Problems
Eating junk food during pregnancy can be a little too much for your digestive system to deal with. Being limited in fiber content, It can upset your stomach and cause bloating and indigestion. Read more about gas and bloating during pregnancy here.
10. Greater Risk of Gestational Diabetes
Having too much sugar in the blood during pregnancy can cause gestational diabetes. Eating junk food such as potato chips, chocolates, doughnuts and regular intake of soda can put them in higher risk of obtaining gestation diabetes as all these food items are rich in calories and sugar (8). Read more about gestational diabetes here.
Why Should You Limit Eating Junk Food During Pregnancy?
During pregnancy, mothers should be cautious while eating to ensure health and safety of both her and the fetus. Junk foods should be avoided as they are high in sugar, trans and saturated fats, salt, and low in essential nutrients, posing a risk to maternal health and fetal development. To avoid these risks, pregnant women should prioritize whole, unprocessed foods abundant in vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. Look for nutrient-dense options such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
How To Control Junk Food Cravings?
There would be days and nights where you may crave unhealthy food during pregnancy. However, there are some ways to do when you think of pasta or sodas
Stock up on Healthy Snacks
Sources such as Dates, anjeer, fruits, avocados, peanuts, boiled eggs, puffed makhanas are best to consider. This fulfills nutritionally with great taste. Look for different healthy substitutes to satiate food cravings during pregnancy such as Fruity yogurt instead of ice-cream.
Cook at Home
This saves your health and wealth! Make baked foods over fried substances for optimal nutrition and well-being with minimum cost.
Distract Yourself
Distract from cravings by going for a walk or doing something else like meditation or play music. This will dissipate cravings slowly, and you’ll be off the vicious junk food addiction cycle.
Plan your Meals Ahead
Always Plan your daily meals for the week. The advantage is you’ll be out of guilt and stay healthy!
Go for Small Meals
Eat small meals at regular intervals. This satiates appetite, fulfills stomach and regulates metabolism. This way you eliminate your mind to think of unhealthy food cravings.
Relax a little
Practice mindfulness by opting for yoga or meditation. Peaks of stress lead to junk food cravings, and by reducing stress, everything is in your control.
During pregnancy, it’s important to pay close attention to food cravings and choices since it directly impacts the mother and fetus. While some cravings are acceptable, indulging in unhealthy food can lead to unwanted and unhealthy weight gain, which is a triggering factor during delivery. It’s crucial to opt for healthy foods instead of junk food during pregnancy.
FAQ’s
1. How Is Junk Food Harmful To Pregnant Mother?
Junk food during pregnancy is harmful as it increases the pregnancy-related symptoms such as heartburn, fatigue, gestational hypertension, diabetes and stretch marks. Mothers may also put up extra weight than recommended which pose a problem during delivery. It has long-term effects on fetal growth also.
2. Will My Junk Food Cravings Go Away During Pregnancy?
Cravings for Junk food starts by the end of the first trimester, peaks at the second trimester and gradually drops by the end of the third trimester and delivery. This happens due to hormonal changes.
3. Can Junk Food Lead To Pregnancy Complications Or Birth Defects?
Consuming junk food may lead to pregnancy induced hypertension and diabetes. It makes the body devoid of essential nutrients. It increases birth defects, genetic abnormalities, stillbirth or even miscarriage.
References –
- Junk Food: Impact on Health [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/308384822_JUNK_FOOD_IMPACT_ON_HEALTH]
- Effects of Maternal Dietary Patterns during Pregnancy on Early Childhood Growth Trajectories and Obesity Risk: The CANDLE Study
[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7071328/] - Birth Weight, Head Circumference, and Prenatal Exposure to Acrylamide from Maternal Diet: The European Prospective Mother–Child Study (NewGeneris)
[https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/full/10.1289/ehp.1205327] - Maternal acrylamide and effects on offspring [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B978032399119300022]
- Maternal obesity, gestational weight gain and diet as determinants of offspring long term health [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1521690X1200029]
- Maternal nutrition in early and late pregnancy in relation to placental and fetal growth [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8601112/]
- Effect of nutrient intake during pregnancy on fetal and placental growth and vascular development [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0739724004000906]
- Pre-Pregnancy Fast Food Consumption Is Associated with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus among Tehranian Women
[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/314201387]
