Q. I have been doing some research and can not find a plausable reason to why some books state pregnant women shouldnt eat sushi.
I accept that home made sushi due to uncooked fish may cause food poisioning which may make the mother sick, however reputable sushi restuarants usually freeze the freshest fish before hand to kill parasites and chill the fish.
In Japan many doctors actually encourage pregnant women to eat sushi. I actually asked my doctor and he said he didnt know of any parasites that could effect the fetus.
Can anyone give me a sensible scientific or medical reason why sushi should not be eaten when pregnant.
I accept that home made sushi due to uncooked fish may cause food poisioning which may make the mother sick, however reputable sushi restuarants usually freeze the freshest fish before hand to kill parasites and chill the fish.
In Japan many doctors actually encourage pregnant women to eat sushi. I actually asked my doctor and he said he didnt know of any parasites that could effect the fetus.
Can anyone give me a sensible scientific or medical reason why sushi should not be eaten when pregnant.
A. Excellent question.
Re. "Can anyone give me a sensible scientific or medical reason..." Well -- eh...
It seems to fall under the category of stuff you're supposed to worry about because, well, if there was something wrong with it, what would be fine for just about anybody else would be risky for a pregnant woman. You know: eat bad sushi normally, throw up, forget about it. Eat bad sushi while pregnant, throw up, sicken the foetus, etc.
"When people eat raw, uncooked, or improperly or inadequately cooked/handled seafood, they are taking health risks. Illnesses that may develop include hepatitis A, worms, parasites, viral intestinal disorders, and other diseases." (from http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/1464.html)
Yeah, great. So?
"...because pregnancy suppresses your immune system a little, you're much more susceptible to serious illness from any food-borne organism. A parasitic infection probably couldn't get through the placental barrier since the placenta is a pretty good filter for blocking out things. But a parasitic infection could cause you liver or gastrointestinal problems that would then affect your baby. Some parasitic infections can lead to anemia or serious malnourishment in the mother or even cause miscarriage."
(from http://www.babycenter.com/plus/safe/quest.jhtml?iisQuestId=1137129)
It seems to be an entirely theoretical risk. Anybody who's not looking to cover themselves in case somebody wants to sue says stuff like "There is no good reason to avoid sushi in pregnancy. No studies exist that show that it's bad for expecting mothers or fetuses. Thousands if not millions of Japanese women have eaten sushi during pregnancy with no ill effects. I'm eight weeks pregnant myself, and I asked my (Guatemalan MD) midwife, who has attended 500 births, about sushi. She said it was fine." (from http://www.xtcian.com/arch/001974.php)
There was a person here a little while ago whose doctor told her to avoid "delis." Deli meat? Deli cheese? Deli potato salad and soda pop? What on earth? Clearly, some people are a bit too paranoid.
Yet more anecdotal what-not: a friend of mine, with a PhD in biological chemistry, happily ate it throughout her pregnancies. Not without having looked in to it first.
The 'some parasites can cause miscarriage' idea does not sound sensibly scientific and medical. Which parasites? Are these magical miscarriage parasites present exclusively in sushi?
How often does one hear of _anybody_ getting sick from sushi? Hmm.
"In the past five years, 21 cases of fish-carried roundworm were reported to the California Department of Health Services. In 1980, four L.A. physicians came down with tapeworm after eating sushi, but no other outbreaks have been reported since then." http://www.metroactive.com/papers/cruz/05.08.02/sushi-fish-0219.html
Not exactly conclusive, but rather telling that they had to go back to 1980.
I'm a vegetarian so not worried myself; just interested in the topic because it strikes me as yet another bit of pregnancy nonsense along the lines of "NO amount of alcohol is safe!" -- you know, bullsh!t.
Two things I did find interesting: home freezers are supposedly inadequate -- "Canada's Health Protection Branch recommends using only commercially frozen fish in raw fish dishes because home freezers will not kill the parasites" -- and some species of fish are thought to be more of a risk than others.
I'd stop worrying and use it as an excuse to only eat the very best sushi. You have my sympathy for having to worry about it only because thousands of people, professionals included, shut their brains down a bit when it comes to pregnancy.
Re. "Can anyone give me a sensible scientific or medical reason..." Well -- eh...
It seems to fall under the category of stuff you're supposed to worry about because, well, if there was something wrong with it, what would be fine for just about anybody else would be risky for a pregnant woman. You know: eat bad sushi normally, throw up, forget about it. Eat bad sushi while pregnant, throw up, sicken the foetus, etc.
"When people eat raw, uncooked, or improperly or inadequately cooked/handled seafood, they are taking health risks. Illnesses that may develop include hepatitis A, worms, parasites, viral intestinal disorders, and other diseases." (from http://www.goaskalice.columbia.edu/1464.html)
Yeah, great. So?
"...because pregnancy suppresses your immune system a little, you're much more susceptible to serious illness from any food-borne organism. A parasitic infection probably couldn't get through the placental barrier since the placenta is a pretty good filter for blocking out things. But a parasitic infection could cause you liver or gastrointestinal problems that would then affect your baby. Some parasitic infections can lead to anemia or serious malnourishment in the mother or even cause miscarriage."
(from http://www.babycenter.com/plus/safe/quest.jhtml?iisQuestId=1137129)
It seems to be an entirely theoretical risk. Anybody who's not looking to cover themselves in case somebody wants to sue says stuff like "There is no good reason to avoid sushi in pregnancy. No studies exist that show that it's bad for expecting mothers or fetuses. Thousands if not millions of Japanese women have eaten sushi during pregnancy with no ill effects. I'm eight weeks pregnant myself, and I asked my (Guatemalan MD) midwife, who has attended 500 births, about sushi. She said it was fine." (from http://www.xtcian.com/arch/001974.php)
There was a person here a little while ago whose doctor told her to avoid "delis." Deli meat? Deli cheese? Deli potato salad and soda pop? What on earth? Clearly, some people are a bit too paranoid.
Yet more anecdotal what-not: a friend of mine, with a PhD in biological chemistry, happily ate it throughout her pregnancies. Not without having looked in to it first.
The 'some parasites can cause miscarriage' idea does not sound sensibly scientific and medical. Which parasites? Are these magical miscarriage parasites present exclusively in sushi?
How often does one hear of _anybody_ getting sick from sushi? Hmm.
"In the past five years, 21 cases of fish-carried roundworm were reported to the California Department of Health Services. In 1980, four L.A. physicians came down with tapeworm after eating sushi, but no other outbreaks have been reported since then." http://www.metroactive.com/papers/cruz/05.08.02/sushi-fish-0219.html
Not exactly conclusive, but rather telling that they had to go back to 1980.
I'm a vegetarian so not worried myself; just interested in the topic because it strikes me as yet another bit of pregnancy nonsense along the lines of "NO amount of alcohol is safe!" -- you know, bullsh!t.
Two things I did find interesting: home freezers are supposedly inadequate -- "Canada's Health Protection Branch recommends using only commercially frozen fish in raw fish dishes because home freezers will not kill the parasites" -- and some species of fish are thought to be more of a risk than others.
I'd stop worrying and use it as an excuse to only eat the very best sushi. You have my sympathy for having to worry about it only because thousands of people, professionals included, shut their brains down a bit when it comes to pregnancy.
Is it safe to eat sushi or raw fish while being pregnant?
Q. I was recently at a Chinise Buffet and I was at the sushi bar and over heard someone saying "She can't eat that, shes pregnent. Is this true? If so, why? I am 3months pregnant and love to eat sushi but I would stop if it harms the unborn child.
A. Mercury and such in the fish is bad for the baby. You also have the fact that the fish is uncooked and could contain parasites and disease.
That said, sushi at a chinese buffet is never really all that safe. If you come at an odd time, you never know how long it has been sitting out there. Or how long it sat prepared in the back room before they brought it out. A lot of the chinese buffets in my town have a bad rep.
If you insist on sushi during pregnancy, you should have it at a high end sushi bar that specializes in sushi and gets daily fresh shipments. Being that sushi has been eaten forever in Japan and they seem to have no problem with it, I think it is more of just a blanket warning.
That said, sushi at a chinese buffet is never really all that safe. If you come at an odd time, you never know how long it has been sitting out there. Or how long it sat prepared in the back room before they brought it out. A lot of the chinese buffets in my town have a bad rep.
If you insist on sushi during pregnancy, you should have it at a high end sushi bar that specializes in sushi and gets daily fresh shipments. Being that sushi has been eaten forever in Japan and they seem to have no problem with it, I think it is more of just a blanket warning.
What sushi rolls use cooked or smoked fish?
Q. I am 28 weeks pregnant and would like to have a roll or two. I have read that it is safe to have sushi rolls if you eat cooked or smoked fish. I know that there are rolls that use this, but don't know the names. Anyone know of any?
LOL. I feel bad-and my husband and I have talked about if I can or can't since I have been pregnant. I have done some research-and it says cooked you can have-and smoked-but other than the cali I have no idea what else that includes. Thanks for your help.
LOL. I feel bad-and my husband and I have talked about if I can or can't since I have been pregnant. I have done some research-and it says cooked you can have-and smoked-but other than the cali I have no idea what else that includes. Thanks for your help.
A. Actually, if your sushi restaurant is scrupulously clean and you get there while the fish are very fresh, you can have anything that doesn't have a high mercury content.
Japanese women have eaten sushi during pregnancy for centuries! I also ate sushi throughout three of my four pregnancies with no ill effect, although the wasabi gave me miserable heartburn with the twins.
Interesting side note, my oldest daughter adored her breastmilk on the days I'd eaten wasabi - she'd nurse 3 or 4 times more frequently. It was hilarious.
Japanese women have eaten sushi during pregnancy for centuries! I also ate sushi throughout three of my four pregnancies with no ill effect, although the wasabi gave me miserable heartburn with the twins.
Interesting side note, my oldest daughter adored her breastmilk on the days I'd eaten wasabi - she'd nurse 3 or 4 times more frequently. It was hilarious.
What is the nutrional value of a california roll and philadelphia roll during pregnancy?
Q. Both are made with imitation crab, but is sushi healthy? I would think so..
A. Yes, sushi is fine, just don't eat sushi with raw fish in it. California and Philadelphia rolls are good for calcium, not sure what else.
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