Bresaola during pregnancy: is it safe to eat without consequences?
Bresaola during pregnancy is part of the list of foods that every expectant mother should note and keep in mind, because they could be dangerous if consumed during gestation. The connected risk is that of toxoplasmosis, a "rather serious and harmful infection for the fetus. Before going into the matter and deepening together, here is a video with all the foods to watch out for especially when you discover you are pregnant.
Everything there is to know about bresaola in pregnancy
Bresaola during pregnancy is considered a food not to be consumed if you are pregnant, as it increases the risk of Toxoplasmosis, a disease well known and feared by all future mothers.
In any case, there are some exceptions that allow you to eat bresaola in total safety, let's see what they are.
Bresaola is a typical salami from Northern Italy, highly appreciated and often found on the tables of all Italians. Specifically, the cold cut known and purchased at the fresh counter of the supermarket, is obtained from the muscles of the hind legs of the horse or beef.
Bresaola has an unmistakable taste, because it is processed and left to mature for at least 30 days, and therefore belongs to all effects in the sausage group.
While the advice not to eat bresaola during pregnancy remains valid, let's see what its benefits and nutritional values are.
Among all the cold cuts, bresaola is one of the lighter alternatives, compared to other more famous sausages, it is often also included in the diet of those who follow a low-calorie diet. But what are the calories of bresaola and the nutritional values per 100g of this salami?
- 150 calories
- 32 grams of protein
- 2.60 grams of fat
- 60 grams of water
- salt
- vitamins B1, B2, B3
One of the first reasons to pay attention to the consumption of bresaola is the often high quantity of salt, which is harmful to the body regardless of pregnancy.
The type of bresaola also affects the final nutritional values. Here are some examples: horse bresaola (which is prohibited in pregnancy) has fewer calories, but more protein and iron than beef.
Bresaola in pregnancy and toxoplasmosis risk
Whatever the type of bresaola, eating it during pregnancy is always and in any case not recommended, because as anticipated, there is a strong risk of contracting toxoplasmosis.
It is an infection caused by a microorganism that takes the name of Toxoplasma gondii, and if in normal conditions it is not dangerous, the same cannot be said when it is contracted by a pregnant woman.
The symptoms of toxoplasmosis are in fact mild and very common, in a nutshell the classic flu symptoms, which include:
- headache;
- feeling of pain in the bones;
- sore throat;
- tiredness.
Those just mentioned are also the symptoms of toxoplasmosis in pregnancy, but in this case the infection is much more dangerous for the survival of the fetus. The baby in the womb may also have no repercussions if the mother contracts toxoplasmosis during gestation. , but in other cases a miscarriage can occur to other problems such as the intracranial calcification, hydrocephalus, the chorioretinitis, and other disorders and pathologies related to the correct development of the systems.
Bresaola is not the only sausage to blame in the event that toxoplasmosis is caught. In fact, among the prohibited foods during pregnancy, we find:
- eat undercooked or raw meat (find out more in the article: raw ham during pregnancy)
- come into contact with cat feces (see also: toxoplasmosis in pregnancy)
- eat vegetables that have not been washed thoroughly (read more in the article: mushrooms in pregnancy)
If the mother already knows she is immune to toxoplasmosis, then she can safely consume bresaola during pregnancy, obviously always without exaggerating the doses and after having ascertained immunity with the advice of her doctor.
Can I eat bresaola when pregnant? And the other raw cured meats?
Let's try to answer the main question of the whole article: so can you eat bresaola when you are pregnant or does it affect the health of mother and baby? We have already anticipated it, in fact the answer is no! In addition to toxoplasmosis, another of the risks associated with this food, considered light and healthy, is the non-cooking of the sliced meat. Along with raw ham, salami and speck, bresaola is also not cooked, but left to dry with the help of salt, so essentially it is not subjected to a temperature that kills the bacterium responsible for toxoplasmosis; if the test says that you are not immune to the infection, you must absolutely avoid this and other raw cured meats during the 9 months that divide you from birth.
Green light therefore, only to well-cooked foods, to avoid any kind of problem for the unborn child and the future mother. In general, pregnant meat can be included in the diet, the important thing is to make sure it is well cooked.
Even cured meats such as cooked ham or mortadella during pregnancy can be safely consumed, always paying attention not to exceed the quantities.
