Can I eat beef during early pregnancy?

We know that the early stages of pregnancy are more critical for pregnant women, as this is the critical moment for fetal development. You should pay attention to your diet, achieve a balanced diet, and supplement some protein, minerals, and vitamins in time. Beef is relatively nutritious and has a good effect of strengthening muscles and bones, and replenishing qi and blood. It is beneficial to eat some beef in the early stages of pregnancy.

Can I eat beef during early pregnancy?

Pregnant women can eat beef in moderation, which is beneficial to the body and not harmful. The reason why many pregnant women feel entangled about this issue is that there is a superstitious belief among the older generation that if a pregnant woman eats beef, the baby she gives birth to will be very dark. Some people even say that if a pregnant woman eats beef, the baby she gives birth to may not be able to speak or have thick body hair. This confuses pregnant mothers. Can they still eat beef?

In fact, these statements of the elderly have no scientific basis. Pregnant women can eat beef, and the nutrients in beef are very beneficial to the health of pregnant women. As for the nutritional value of beef, pregnant women should eat lean beef 3 to 4 times a week, 60 to 100 grams each time, which can not only prevent iron deficiency anemia, but also enhance the immunity of expectant mothers.

Pregnant women's needs for iron and zinc are 1.5 times that of the average person. Beef is rich in iron and zinc. Every 100 grams of beef tendon contains 3 mg of iron, which is about 10% of the recommended amount of iron during pregnancy; and 8.5 mg of zinc, which is about 77% of the recommended amount of zinc during pregnancy. Therefore, eating beef is better for pregnant women to supplement iron and zinc than any other food. Beef also has the effects of nourishing the spleen and stomach, replenishing qi and blood, and strengthening tendons and bones. Overall, it is a nourishing food suitable for pregnant women.

Does eating beef during pregnancy have any effect on the fetus?

Pregnant women are particularly cautious in choosing their diet during pregnancy, mostly because they are worried that eating the wrong things will affect the growth and development of the fetus. So, does eating beef during pregnancy have any impact on the fetus? Pregnant mothers can rest assured that eating beef not only has no adverse effects on the body, but is also very beneficial to the growth and development of the fetus. If a woman is iron deficient during pregnancy, she should supplement it in time, otherwise the deficiency in the body after delivery may be difficult to make up for. If pregnant women lack nutrients such as iron, it will directly affect the growth of the fetus.

Earlier, there were claims that women who ate too much beef during pregnancy had their sons' sperm counts 25% lower than normal, and their risk of infertility was three times higher than normal. But this is actually a statement that has no scientific basis. The zinc in beef is not only beneficial to the development of the fetal nervous system, but also to the immune system, and helps maintain the health of the skin, bones and hair.

When zinc is deficient, a person's immunity is weakened, making them more susceptible to illness, which can have an adverse effect on the fetus's neurological development. The human body's absorption rate of zinc in beef is 21% to 26%. It can be seen that zinc in beef is easier to be absorbed by the human body than zinc in plants. Therefore, eating beef for pregnant women will not only not have adverse effects on the fetus, but eating it in moderation can also supplement the necessary nutrients needed for fetal development, which is very beneficial to the health of both mother and baby.