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Pregnancy

So... is there anything we can eat?

58 replies

durness · 14/01/2014 22:55

Hello, I'm here at my wife's behest as she's about to go out of her mind (and I'm close behind). She's been trawling the internet for advice and tips regarding pregnancy (we're into the thirteenth week & just had the scan today - amazing!) and what she's found has left her fearful of eating any of the foods that she's spent her life consuming.

This is the website page that concerns her:
www.cancertutor.com/pregnant/#.UtWuQjGDQTE

Now, we both recognise that this guy is making quite a few controversial claims in the website that we don't intend to pay any heed to (concerning e.g. vaccines) so maybe this page should be taken with a gigantic snort of salt... but... we can't find anything conclusive in response.

Sticking with the MSG section as this is what is keeping my wife from her favourite foods, there are two issues here for us: one is whether or not MSG is indeed harmful to a foetus's brain development, the other is whether 'free glutamates' are just as 'bad'. We're not asking people to comment so much on MSG itself or we'll never get anywhere. Instead, our concerns are with the foodstuffs that the website claims have the same effect via free glutamates.

I've included the list of 'danger' foods below (with my exasperated annotations in {}). Worth noting that yeast extract does for a lot of stuff, ditto 'natural flavourings' (bye-bye Worcestershire sauce)... and 'Spices' (!) even rules out tomato ketchup. So not just a problem for consumers of oriental foods... if there is indeed a problem.

We'd both be enormously grateful if anyone could set our minds at rest. Or maybe you can back up the claims and my wife is going to have to put up with unseasoned tomato juice if we don't want a kid with mushy brains. But: science is good, we'd like to see lots of it.

Cheers.

PS: there's a whole 'nother issue surrounding scaremongering and such but let's save that debate for another day...!

That list:

^Food Additives That ALWAYS Contain MSG
Monosodium Glutamate [MSG]
Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein [HVP]
Hydrolyzed Protein; Hydrolyzed Plant Protein
Plant Protein Extract
Sodium Caseinate
Calcium Caseinate
Yeast Extract
Textured Protein (Including TVP)
Autolyzed Yeast
Hydrolyzed Oat Flour
Corn Oil {REALLY...?}

Food Additives That FREQUENTLY Contain MSG
Malt Extract
Malt Flavoring
Bouillon {ARGH}
Broth {ARGH}
Stock {ARGH}
Flavoring {ARGH}
Natural Flavors/Flavoring {ARGH}
Natural Beef or Chicken Flavoring {ARGH}
Seasoning {WHAT???}
Spices {OH FOR THE LOVE OF}

Food Additives That MAY Contain MSG Or Excitotoxins
Carrageenan
Enzymes {WHAT DOESN'T CONTAIN ENZYMES?!}
Soy Protein Concentrate
Soy Protein Isolate
Whey Protein Concentrate^

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mycupoffucksrunnethempty · 14/01/2014 22:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MonsterMunchMe · 14/01/2014 23:01

IMHO, don't drink, do drugs (prescription or recreational) don't eat uncooked, or out of date food, get your 5 a day. Cut out pate, soft cheese, shark, marlin and shellfish. Eat fresh home cooked meals that cover all food groups, Don't drink too much caffeine, annnnnnd that's it.

That link is awful!

Relax and enjoy the pregnancy