One day! A pregnant woman comes to me on her beach vacation with her husband. At that time, I worked in a clam chowder restaurant.
When she discovers and craves clam chowder, her husband asks me, ‘Can pregnant women eat clam chowder?’
I said `Yes, experts recommend pregnant women can eat clam chowder.’
Just like any other food, make sure the clam chowder is carefully cooked and not too salty. Pregnant women need to eat a variety of healthy food to give her little one a good start in life.
Wow, some pregnant women want to know the best way to introduce pancake syrup to their babies! What a great question! As far as I know, there are lots of ways to do it. If you want details, click here!
Clam chowder is low in fat and calories and is a good source of protein, vitamins, and minerals for the body.
Quick Safety Tips:
Few facts to consider before deciding whether chowder is safe for pregnant women:
- First, it’s important to know that different chowders may contain different levels of contaminates.
- Second, the ingredients list on most chowders may not be completely accurate.
- Finally, how pregnant women react to certain foods may vary significantly.
Controversy about pregnant women eating clam chowder!!
Is it safe clam chowder while pregnant?
Clams contain iron and vitamin C, a combination which can be found in Manhattan Clam Chowder. This soup is perfect to eat while pregnant as it helps you absorb the iron found in clams.
But for food safety reasons, avoid raw shellfish like oysters on the half shell.
Pregnant women should take all reasonable measures to protect both themselves and their unborn child. If they’re pregnant, they’re advised not to eat specific types of seafood.
As a pregnant woman, you’ll both be healthier and avoid mercury poisoning if you eat just one type of seafood a week or so.
Can pregnant women eat Clam Chowder? Tell me the truth?
Pregnant women should consume 8 ounces of seafood per week, with low mercury content to support optimal fetal brain development.
Clam can be eaten during pregnancy, as long as it’s cooked properly. No one can eat clam unless raw. It’s safe to eat clam-chowder with the addition of other ingredients, such as pasteurized milks and creams.
Raw seafood can be dangerous to consume, whether you are pregnant or not. This is because raw seafood can harbor bacteria and pathogens such as Vibrio vulnificus which is a type of bacteria found in salt water.
If you consume more than two dozen oysters at a once (unless they’re small), according to CDC, you’ll get severe symptoms including vomiting, diarrhoea, severe weakness, Skin rash & blister, chills, High fever, and stomach aches.
Make sure you are not undergo those raw seafood. Pregnant women should avoid this. Certain types of fish and shellfish are filled with bacteria, which can cause serious infections in babies.
How to have clams safely when pregnant?
Procedure, time, and temperature for cooking clams:
- 3 minutes minimum for boiling (even in broth or soup).
- At least 3 minutes at 190oC for the frits.
- Cook for 3 minutes on the grill, 7 cm away from the heat.
- Baked for ten minutes at 230°C in the oven.
- A clam should be steamed for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on its size.
Culinary thermometers can be useful if you’re unsure of the temperature of your food. While pregnant, they are extremely beneficial.
Clams: nutritional values
Clams are a favorite delicacy of Mediterranean cuisine. Especially in the various recipes that feature them: spaghetti, risotto, and soups.
Several clams are often confused with clams but are actually from a distinct family.
The benefits of clams are:
- a sufficient level of vitamins A, B12, and D are present
- rich in iodine, essential for fetal development and the proper functioning of the thyroid gland;
- they are low in fat and many fat-soluble vitamins.
Prevention Tips:
Clams and pregnancy: yes or no?
Clams are safe to eat during pregnancy due to their high nutritional value. So to have it, follow the below safety precautions and prevention tips:
1. Cook it well:
At least cooking the shellfish will negate the possibility of trichinosis. Clams can be very beneficial as long as they are thoroughly cooked.
2. Take it moderately:
Taking large amounts of clam chowder, like five bowls. That can lead to a toxic accumulation of mercury and toxins in the body. This can be dangerous so it’s very important to limit intake. One bowl of clam chowder is enough by itself!
3. Eat in Intervals:
It’s okay to eat clam soup every day, but you should keep in mind that it’s not always healthy. If you’re concerned about your health, limit your clam chowder intake because it’s high in cholesterol and fats.
4. Safe to eat:
Be sure that the clams you choose are safe to eat, just like any food! There are certain signs to look for in order to know when a clam is fresh and healthy. When the clam is raw, it should smell of saltwater and have a clean shell that’s full and white. In addition, its meat should be creamy-white and firm. It’s more like a hardboiled egg as opposed to being pale grey or brown.
5. Check out additional ingredients:
If you’re eating outside at a restaurant, be sure to ask your server what types of extra ingredients they add to the soup.
6. You don’t want to put too many clams in your soup:
More veggies can be substituted for the meat. Only a very small amount of it is required to get a genuine flavor.
Is Mercury level in clams are deadly?
Clams are very popular and common seafood choices. Because they are mostly easy to find and easy to collect. You can find clams not only in the sea but also in lakes and rivers. Clams are a simple and healthy type of food. There are numerous species of clams around the world, that vary in size, shape, color and taste.
For example, some clam species can be toxic or deadly. If you eat them without proper preparation as well as restraint level.
But lots of other species like for example the littleneck clam, one of the most beloved types of shellfish around, is relatively safe to eat (but not if you eat it raw!).
Be careful to choose only those species that you know whether they’re dangerous or not!
Final Verdict
Clams can be found in the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Gulf of Mexico as well.
Clam chowder is a soup that is traditionally made from clam broth, diced clams, cream, potatoes and onions.
These shellfish are cooked using a variety of culinary techniques. When it comes down to making them into fun dishes for one to enjoy.
Its meat is sweet and chewy when eaten raw but sweeter still after being baked!
This soup has been around for a very long time and used to be consumed by pregnant women in the 1800s.
Enjoy but avoid raw!