Pregnant women are often advised against eating certain foods. These foods are known to cause health problems such as the development of gestational diabetes and weight loss in their future children. Fried eggs are one of these foods. If a woman is pregnant, does she still have to avoid fried eggs? Here’s what your doctor says:
Can You Eat Fried Eggs When Pregnant?
The risks of eating fried eggs increase if you already have high cholesterol or if you’re overweight. In addition, if you consume too much cholesterol during pregnancy, it can also cause problems for your unborn child’s growth and development. WebMD says that daily intake of 300 mg or more of dietary cholesterol can increase the risk of gestational diabetes by two times in pregnant women. Gestational diabetes is a condition wherein the mother’s body does not produce enough insulin to regulate the amount of sugar in her blood. The baby also suffers from high blood sugar which may lead to long-term health problems such as obesity and heart disease.
What Do You Need To Know About Fried Eggs?
1. Fried eggs are high in protein
Fried eggs are rich in protein. You can have a fried egg for breakfast and you’ll be able to stay full for hours. It is also believed that eating food rich in protein will help you lose weight and maintain a healthy body during pregnancy.
2. Fried eggs are high in cholesterol
Egg yolks are high in cholesterol and that’s why pregnant women are advised to limit their intake of fried eggs to only one per week. Doctors also suggest that pregnant women should take care not to eat egg whites as they may lead to constipation, as well as other health problems.
3. Fried eggs contain choline
Choline is a nutrient that promotes brain development and strengthens the nervous system of babies in the womb. Choline is found in egg yolk and it’s an essential nutrient that pregnant women need during pregnancy because babies develop their nervous system while they’re still inside the womb.
4. Fried eggs contain Vitamin K
Vitamin K is also found in egg yolk and helps in the formation of strong bones. Vitamin K is also essential for pregnant women as it helps to prevent the formation of blood clots in the placenta and which may lead to complications during delivery.
5. Fried eggs are high in iron
Iron is an essential mineral for pregnant women because it helps them maintain their energy levels throughout their pregnancy. Iron also aids the development of red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout the body.
6. Fried eggs are high in Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats that are essential for your child’s brain development and eye health. Mothers who eat fried eggs regularly have a higher chance of having children with better vision, as well as intelligence.
7. Fried eggs contain vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is a vitamin that aids red blood cell production, which carries oxygen to all parts of your body. It also helps to maintain a healthy nervous system.
8. Fried eggs are high in selenium
Selenium is an essential mineral that is found in egg yolks and it promotes the growth of your baby’s immune system. Selenium also helps your body fight against infections.
9. Fried eggs are high in vitamin A
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps boost your child’s immune system, as well as their vision and skin health. Vitamin A is also essential for pregnant women because it helps to prevent night blindness, which may lead to other complications during pregnancy.
10. Fried eggs are high in vitamin D
Vitamin D aids the absorption of calcium, which makes it important for pregnant women to include more fried eggs in their diet. It also aids the development of strong teeth and bones for your child.
How Does Frying Food Affect Pregnant Women?
- You should be careful of the type of oil that you are using for frying. You should use cooking oil that is healthy and doesn’t contain trans fats.
- Make sure that your food is thoroughly cooked before you eat it. The color of the food will tell you if it is ready or not.
- The temperature at which you fry the food should be moderate and not too high so as not to burn the food and also not too low so as to make it soggy and greasy.
- You should also watch out for how much oil you are adding to your pan or wok while frying your food because sometimes, we tend to add more oil than required which just increases the number of trans fats in our body system.
- You should be careful about how much salt you add while preparing fried foods because it can increase your blood pressure which is already high due to pregnancy, causing further complications during delivery time.
- You should also be careful about how much time you fry your food for because sometimes, it may be better to cut down on frying time rather than adding more oil or salt.
- You should avoid over-frying your food because it can cause the formation of acrylamide which is a chemical that can cause harm to both you and your baby. 8. You should avoid deep-fried foods completely as they contain trans-fats which are harmful to both you and your baby’s system.
- You should avoid sharing cooking utensils with other people because they may have bacteria that may harm you and your baby during this delicate period of pregnancy
- If possible, don’t eat fried foods during pregnancy at
all as they tend to cause hormonal imbalances in your body system which may lead to complications during the delivery time
5 Risks Of Consuming Fried Eggs
1. Increased risk of gestational diabetes.
A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that pregnant women who ate fried eggs had higher blood sugar levels than women who did not eat eggs during their pregnancy. The study also found that those women had an increased risk of getting gestational diabetes, a condition where high blood sugar levels cause complications for both the mother and baby during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes can increase the risk of having a child with birth defects and other health problems.
2. Increased risk of obesity in children.
According to research published in the journal Pediatrics, children whose mothers ate fried eggs while pregnant were more likely to be obese by age 7 than children whose mothers did not eat fried eggs while pregnant. This is because trans fats, which are found in fried foods, interfere with insulin regulation and cause insulin resistance in children, leading to obesity and type 2 diabetes later on in life. As a result, it may be better for pregnant women to avoid fried foods, such as eggs and French fries.
3. Increased risk of cardiovascular disease in children and mothers.
A study published in the journal Atherosclerosis found that children whose mothers ate fried eggs while pregnant were more likely to develop atherosclerosis, or plaque buildup on the walls of their arteries, as adults than children whose mothers did not eat fried eggs during pregnancy. Additionally, a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that women who ate fried eggs while pregnant had increased blood pressure levels during pregnancy and an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease later on in life than women who did not eat fried eggs while pregnant. Therefore, it may be best for both expectant mothers and their children to avoid eating fried eggs entirely when pregnant.
4. Increased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).
A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that pregnant women who ate fried eggs had higher blood sugar levels than women who did not eat eggs during their pregnancy. The study also found that those women had an increased risk of getting gestational diabetes, a condition where high blood sugar levels cause complications for both the mother and baby during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes can increase the risk of having a child with birth defects and other health problems.
5. Increased cancer risk in children.
A study published in the journal Cancer Causes & Control found that children whose mothers ate fried eggs while pregnant were more likely to develop colorectal cancer later on in life than children whose mothers did not eat fried eggs while pregnant. This is because trans fats, which are found in fried foods, interfere with insulin regulation and cause insulin resistance, which has been linked to colorectal cancer development. Therefore, it may be better for expectant mothers to avoid eating fried foods, such as eggs, while pregnant to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer in their children.
Conclusion
Fried eggs carry the risk of developing gallstones, which can cause pain and inflammation. However, it’s okay for a woman to eat some foods that contain fat when pregnant. A woman will know if she needs to avoid certain fried egg types because her body will let her know. As for a woman’s diet, it will vary depending on whether she is breastfeeding or not.
So while you may need to avoid fried eggs due to the risk of gallstones, it’s okay to eat some foods that contain fat while pregnant.