Mushrooms in Pregnancy: Safety Tips and Nutritional Benefits

If you also have a doubt in your mind whether you should eat mushrooms during pregnancy or not and whether mushrooms will cause any harm to your unborn child? So the answer is that eating mushrooms during pregnancy is completely safe. But the most important thing here is how you consume these mushrooms. Raw mushrooms should not be eaten at all during pregnancy because it can harm you as well as the baby growing in your womb.

Mushrooms are the fruit of mold or fungus that grows on soil, wood or other plants. Therefore, consuming raw mushrooms can be harmful for both you and the baby growing in your womb. Apart from this, raw mushrooms are carcinogenic, which means that by eating them, the mother and the fetus growing in the womb are also at risk of getting cancer. By cooking mushrooms, its carcinogenic effects are greatly reduced. Also, the nutrients of mushrooms are not released until they are cooked properly.

(Read more: Diet during the first month of pregnancy)

So, only cooked mushrooms should be consumed during pregnancy and that too only if you do not have any kind of allergy to mushrooms. Although mushrooms are generally considered safe for pregnant women, you should still consult your doctor or dietician once before consuming them. Apart from this, while buying mushrooms, keep in mind which mushroom you are buying because there are some mushrooms that contain toxic substances which can cause harm in pregnancy.

The food-related disease that affects pregnant women the most is listeriosis, which enters the body of a pregnant woman through listeria bacteria. Listeria is usually found in raw foods or undercooked foods. When a pregnant woman eats such food, she starts feeling nauseous, starts vomiting and has other digestive problems. Therefore, pregnant women should not eat raw mushrooms even by mistake.

(Read more: Hydration and Nutrition: Fruits for Pregnant Women)

If you want to eat mushrooms during pregnancy, then always remember one thing: do not eat raw mushrooms at all. Wash the mushrooms thoroughly, cook them and then only consume them. By doing this, the harmful fungus present in the mushroom will not be able to cause any harm to your digestive system by going into the stomach. Apart from this, if you do not know whether you are allergic to mushrooms or not, then eat a little cooked mushroom during pregnancy and then see how your body reacts against it. If any kind of allergic reaction is seen, then immediately consult a doctor and never consume mushrooms in the future.

The white button mushroom, cremini and oyster mushroom commonly found in the market which looks clean are considered safe to eat during pregnancy. Apart from this, Shiitake mushrooms, turkey tail and reishi mushrooms which are known as medicinal mushrooms are also considered safe to eat during pregnancy.

Apart from raw mushrooms, magic mushrooms are also a type of mushroom which should not be consumed by pregnant women. Magic mushrooms are wild mushrooms which can cause problems like muscle weakness, dizziness, nausea, vertigo and vomiting. Therefore, any kind of wild mushroom should not be consumed during pregnancy.

(Read more: Benefits Of Watermelon For Pregnancy)

Mushroom is a source of vitamin D
Mushrooms are rich in vitamin D and hence it should be consumed during pregnancy. Actually, vitamin D helps in absorbing calcium, which makes the bones and teeth of the fetus growing in the womb strong. Up to 12.6 units of vitamin D is found in 1 cup of Shiitake mushrooms.

Mushrooms rich in protein and fiber
Mushrooms are an excellent vegetarian source of protein. Protein is very important for the development of the baby in the womb, so protein-rich mushrooms must be consumed during pregnancy. Apart from this, fiber is also found in mushrooms, which not only removes the problem of constipation and gas in the stomach, but also removes fatigue and gives you energy throughout the day.

(Read more: Pregnancy Nutrition: What to Eat)

Mushrooms contain iron and antioxidants
Iron helps in producing hemoglobin in the red blood cells of the blood, which is very important during pregnancy so that you can avoid the problem of anemia during pregnancy. Mushrooms are rich in iron. Apart from this, the antioxidants present in mushrooms strengthen the immune system and help protect against common diseases.

Mushrooms are a good source of vitamin B
Mushrooms are a natural source of nutrients like vitamin B1, B2, B3 and B5. All these elements of vitamin B make the baby's skin healthy, increase eyesight, and help in strengthening bones and muscles. Therefore, mushrooms should also be consumed to get the benefits of vitamin B during pregnancy.

(Read more: Should Probiotics Be Taken During Pregnancy?)

If you have taken permission from your doctor and dietician to consume mushrooms during pregnancy, then also you should keep some things in mind before consuming mushrooms, otherwise you may see some side effects. Such as nausea and vomiting, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, increased body temperature, feeling weak in muscles, dizziness, difficulty in balancing the body, etc. So keep these things in mind before consuming mushrooms during pregnancy:

• Always buy fresh mushrooms and consume only those
• Avoid consuming processed and frozen mushrooms. If you have to eat, then eat in small quantities and definitely check the expiry date
• Do not consume raw mushrooms at all
• While buying mushrooms, make sure that there are no scratches or signs of rotting on it
• Pregnancy is not the right time for experimenting with food. So if you did not eat mushrooms before, there is no need to start it during pregnancy.

(Read more: Loss of appetite during pregnancy)

Eating mushrooms during pregnancy can be safe and beneficial, provided they are cooked properly. Mushrooms are a nutrient-rich food, containing vitamin D, B vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals such as iron, selenium, and zinc. These nutrients are important for the health of both the mother and the baby. However, raw or wild mushrooms should be avoided, as they may contain harmful bacteria or toxins. It is advisable to consult a doctor before consuming mushrooms in pregnancy to ensure that they are not harmful in any way.