Ceviche is one of the perfect dishes that can be enjoyed with raw fish or any other seafood. But can you eat ceviche while pregnant? That comes as a surprise (not pregnancy though) things change all towards the other end when you get pregnant. The rules of eating change suddenly, and certain foods start to react differently in this condition as well.
It is suggested that you should not eat ceviche or raw seafood when you are pregnant.
What is Ceviche?
Ceviche is a tasty dish that is cooked with raw fish. It consists of your favorite raw fish that is cut into cubes and soaked in lime juice or lemon. These lime and lemon juices help the fish become hard and white the same way when it becomes while you cook them.
Is it safe to eat Ceviche while you are pregnant?
When a woman becomes pregnant, she gets prone to bacteria and allergies. The reason why you should not eat Ceviche when you are pregnant is, while making Ceviche, no heat is used to cook ceviche that burns out the bacteria in the raw fish, for which pregnant women should look for. Many people assume that there’s no harm in eating Ceviche while you are pregnant. However, things do not go the same way every time.
Do you need to avoid every raw seafood while pregnant?
Now you know the primary reason for not eating Ceviche while pregnant, but do you know that there’s no evidence that supports the validity of the concern. According to some doctors from different countries, they state that raw seafood does not harm your body or your baby in any way.
However, except for those doctors, some also say that it will. So there’s a mixed chance that if it will hurt your body or if it will not. The chances are not to threaten women with pregnancy, but to keep them away from the risk of harm to the baby and to themselves.
When you are pregnant, you become vulnerable
When you are expecting, your immune system tends to work less than it normally does. That means that you become prone to illness from the food you eat or from someone else around.
As far as Ceviche is concerned, it is said that uncooked raw seafood may contain parasites, or it may have parasites as well when it is not properly cooked. If you still consume raw or non-properly cooked raw seafood, then you are not only making your stomach sick but also putting your baby in danger.
When you get affected by foodborne illness, the baby may have delays in its development, plus you put yourself at risk of premature labor.
What should you look for other than Ceviche?
If your favorite seafood has a high mercury content, then you should leave that too until you deliver your baby safely. Certain fish like tuna contains more mercury than any other seafood. So as to avoid any future complications regarding your baby and labor, you should avoid eating fish with high mercury content.
Fish with high levels of mercury include:
- Big-eyed tuna
- Tilefish
- Swordfish
- Shark
- Orange roughy
- Marlin
- Swordfish
If you crave fish while pregnant, stick to the fish that have mercury at their lower levels. Fish with low levels of mercury include:
- Clams
- Scallops
- Oysters
- Sardines
- Shrimps
- Salmon
- Tilapia
- Flounder
- Carbs
You can have this seafood, but after ensuring that they are cooked properly. Otherwise, it is recommended to have all the benefits from seafood by eating them twice a week.
How to eat Ceviche safely?
If you can’t imagine your life without eating ceviche for the rest of your nine months, then there are ways that you can try to add ceviche to your meals.
By making some alterations, you can make your ceviche deliciously beneficial for your meal. Here are some options to keep you and your baby safe from bacterial invasion.
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Make your own
Skip the habit of ordering meals from the restaurants especially when you are expecting. Make ceviche for yourself at home. When you order seafood from a restaurant, they may send you undercooked food or this could have done because they serve ceviche in their restaurant in the same way.
They might not cook it at all to give it a traditional taste and send you after the soaking process. Both reasons can trigger complications, so it is best to cook your food on your own.
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Select appropriate Seafood
It is not necessary to use the same ingredients that the recipe suggests. You can replace fish with any seafood like some people like to add tuna in ceviche. Shrimp is also a popular selection for the dish as it is low in mercury levels as well.
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Marinade it in Lime Juice or Lemon
Many ceviche dishes use lemon or lime juice in order to denature the fish as a substitute for cooking. To have the ideal taste of lime juice and lemon cook the fish properly after marinating. It may not bring a taste similar to the original ceviche but if you are pregnant, you don’t need to risk your health in search of taste.
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Cook the Fish
You can use butter to make your fish healthy and full of taste. Fry your marinated fish in the butter with lemon or lime juice. Use the food thermometer to ensure that your meat is properly cooked.
When you are pregnant, you have to be more conscious about everything from your mood swings to your food cravings. Try not to override healthiness over pleasing your taste buds.