People just love mayonnaise and they can add it to a variety of recipes. In most cases, you can eat this scrumptious food without any problem. However, many women still wonder if they can eat mayonnaise when they're pregnant. It is true that you need to be extremely careful while eating anything in pregnancy. You have to consider how it is going to affect your unborn baby. Let's find out if you can include mayonnaise in your pregnancy diet.

Can I Eat Mayonnaise While Pregnant?

Yes, you can eat mayonnaise if you are sure it is made from pasteurized eggs. It is important to be very careful when eating mayonnaise made using raw eggs. Your immune system becomes weak during pregnancy, so you are at a greater risk of catching infections. Eating the kind of mayonnaise that is made using raw eggs will expose you to hazardous bacteria like salmonella which is not visible to the naked eye but can survive inside as well as outside the egg. In fact, the salmonella bacteria can survive even after the mayonnaise is made using those contaminated eggs, and that can lead to food poisoning.

How to Select Mayonnaise While Pregnant

Can I eat mayonnaise while pregnant? You may have gathered the fact that the answer to this question depends on the type of mayonnaise you eat during pregnancy. Here are a few things to keep in mind to select the best type of mayonnaise.

• Be sure to find out more about how the mayonnaise was prepared.
• Pay attention to the label and check if the mayonnaise has raw eggs. Avoid it if it contains raw eggs, and say no to it if there is no information available on the label.
• Do not shy away from asking the farm shops and restaurant owners if their mayonnaise contains raw eggs.
• Always opt for the mayonnaise made using pasteurized eggs. Look for the ones packed in jars because these types of mayonnaise are treated using heat.
• Do not eat the homemade and traditional varieties of mayonnaise. Avoid the ones sold as fresh products at food markets, delis, and restaurants.

What to Avoid While Pregnant?

You already know the answer to "can I eat mayonnaise while pregnant", but it is equally important to learn what other things you should avoid during pregnancy. Here is what you need to know.

1. Seafood High in Mercury

While seafood provides you with protein and the beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, you may want to avoid it in case you are not sure about the presence of mercury. Some shellfish and fish may contain dangerous levels of mercury that can harm your baby's nervous system. The bigger and older fish are more likely to contain higher levels of mercury. The FDA encourages pregnant women to avoid shark, swordfish, tilefish, and king mackerel. However, you can eat 8-12 ounces of pollock, salmon, shrimp, trout, catfish, or anchovies a week. Avoid eating more than 6 ounces a week of tuna steak.

2. Raw or Contaminated Seafood

Seafood is healthy for pregnant women, but you should avoid contaminated and raw seafood at all cost. Do not go for raw shellfish and fish in the form of sashimi, sushi, clams, scallops, or raw oysters. You should not eat uncooked, refrigerated seafood–you can enjoy shelf-stable versions though. You may want to check local fish advisories before eating fish from local waters. Also, be sure to cook seafood properly if you want to eat it during pregnancy–cook it to at least 145F and keep cooking lobster, shrimp, and scallops until they are milky white.

3. Undercooked Meat

Eating undercooked meat during pregnancy puts you at a greater risk of developing bacterial food poisoning. Be sure to cook meats and poultry thoroughly before eating–you can use a meat thermometer for reference. Always cook luncheon meats and hot dogs until they are steaming hot–avoid them completely when not sure about how well they are cooked. While you can enjoy canned and shelf-stable versions of meat spreads, you should refrigerate pates and spreads. You can eat eggs, but be sure to cook them until the yolks and whites are firm. Since you know the answer to "can I eat mayonnaise while pregnant", you may know that foods made with raw eggs, such as raw batter and eggnog should be avoided.

4. Unpasteurized Foods

It is important to stay away from unpasteurized foods, including low-fat dairy products, such as mozzarella cheese, skim milk, cottage cheese, or anything that may contain unpasteurized milk. You should avoid soft cheeses, such as feta, Brie, and blue cheese and never drink unpasteurized juice during pregnancy.

5. Alcohol

You will be better off staying away from alcohol completely during pregnancy. At least, you should never drink it during the first three months of pregnancy. Even after that, do not drink more than two units once a week.

6. Caffeine

Found in coffee, tea, chocolate, cola, and other soft drinks, caffeine consumption can lead to miscarriage and low birth weight. You can have it during pregnancy but never exceed 200 mg a day while pregnant. Keep in mind that a can of cola offers about 40 mg of caffeine, whereas a bar of plain chocolate contains about 50 mg. A cup of instant coffee offers about 100 mg of caffeine, whereas a regular mug of filter coffee has 140 mg.