Pregnancy foods: Medanta Gurugram doctor advises balance over bans

Dr Pooja Mittal, associate director of obstetrics and gynaecology at Medanta Gurugram, says pregnancy does not mean doubling food intake. In the first trimester, women generally do not need additional calories; later increases are relatively modest, she said.

Mittal advised putting variety and nutrient density ahead of larger portions. Eggs, leafy greens such as spinach and methi, dairy or fortified alternatives, pulses and lentils, and low-mercury fish such as salmon or sardines can contribute protein, folate, calcium and other nutrients.

On papaya, she said the concern is mainly with unripe or semi-ripe fruit, which has higher levels of latex and papain. There is limited human evidence that normal quantities of fully ripe papaya are harmful during pregnancy, and it can generally be eaten when properly washed and prepared.

Mittal said alcohol should be avoided completely, as no safe amount has been established in pregnancy. She also advised avoiding raw or undercooked meat, poultry, eggs and seafood; unpasteurised milk and dairy; raw fish or shellfish; shark, swordfish, king mackerel and bigeye tuna; and vitamin A supplements containing retinol. She advised discussing individual dietary needs with a healthcare professional.