You love your chips and dip, and you ask yourself, “Can I eat sour cream while pregnant?”
This has been a question many expecting moms ask. After all, there are definitely some restrictions when it comes to food that pregnant women can and cannot eat.
This is why we need to get the facts down since it impacts your health. Running on just assumptions can leave you wondering for what really is the truth.
Thus, we present to you these important facts linked with eating sour cream during pregnancy. Have a look at these interesting details on what sour cream is, what it does, and if it impacts your pregnancy at all or not.
Let’s dive deep into it right now!
Sour Cream Facts You Should Know
Basically, sour cream is a dairy product.
It contains bacteria that produce lactic acid. Then, it is mixed in with the dairy cream. As a result, this favorite dip receives its thick texture and slightly tart flavor. It is a popular addition to your nachos, burritos, and a well-loved dip for chips and fries.
As for the other ingredients, sour cream contains corn starch, carob bean gum, monosodium phosphate, rennet, trisodium citrate, and locust bean, to name a few. Other brands may add some stabilizers, thickeners, and additives.
Sounds quite interesting, isn’t it?
But it is not just about a fascinating combination of ingredients that makes sour cream famous throughout the world. It is also the nutritional facts it contains.
For instance, sour cream is rich in vitamin A, thiamine, calcium, zinc, phosphorus, vitamins B 12 and B6, riboflavin, copper, vitamin C, and sodium, among a few others. Thus, it is not only tasty but also loaded with nutrients.
Can I Eat Sour Cream While Pregnant
Just because you are pregnant does not mean you should stop eating your favorite foods completely.
This includes sour cream.
In fact, it is not at all that bad…. As long as you choose the right product you buy.
Keep in mind that pasteurization is a buzzword when it comes to eating dairy during pregnancy. Primarily, this is the process linked with the killing of harmful bacteria. So, when something is pasteurized (cheese, sour cream, milk), it means there are less risks of a bacterial infection.
Listeria is one of the main concerns during pregnancy. This organism can result in issues during pregnancy such as premature birth, miscarriage, and other complications to your baby’s growth and development.
Therefore, you should select the best kind of sour cream if you really want to eat this food. You should make sure it is from a pasteurized source. You should be able to find out more about it by checking the ingredients list.
Other Things You Should Know about Sour Cream
Well, aside from pasteurization, there are some things you should take note of consuming sour cream during pregnancy.
One, you need to keep your calories in check.
Keep in mind that sour cream is quite loaded with fat. This is why it is easy to gain weight during your pregnancy by simply loading on fatty food.
You should be keener on choosing the food you eat well. Although there is such a thing as “eating for two”, you should not forget about maintaining the ideal weight.
You would not want your baby to get fat or for you to go beyond the ideal weight. Otherwise, you may run the risk of a complication before and during birth. Thus, it is very important that during your pregnancy, you should eat healthy and wholesome foods.
Most importantly, you should try to stick to a desirable weight that will not cause you to become obese.
Read More: Craving Sweet And Salty During Pregnancy – The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Smart Alternatives to Sour Cream
Let us say you don’t really want to give up sour cream.
But at the same time, you know that you need to be more careful about your calorie intake.
Well, fortunately, there are some healthy alternatives to sour cream. You can use Greek yogurt, coconut milk, and perhaps organic cultured sour cream for your dips and burritos.
Then again, you don’t necessarily need to stop eating sour cream, as long as you go for the right source.
We recommend that you check the quality of the sour cream you are planning on buying. For instance, you may go for the herb-based ones with a pasteurized dairy. In case you prefer to buy cheese-based ones, make it a point to check the safety of the cheese for your condition.
Also, you should go for commercial sour cream that is produced by a reputable company. This way, you can be sure that it is indeed safe and healthy for you and your baby.
Additional Tips You Should Know about Sour Cream
We get you completely – sour cream is definitely an amazing addition to your chips and snacks.
And luckily, you don’t have to give it up completely during your pregnancy.
But you need to be sure that you follow the right steps and guidelines when consuming it.
Make sure that the sour cream you buy is from a highly-regarded and reputable source. It is important that it is from a pasteurize dairy to eliminate harmful bacteria in it.
Additionally, check the nutrition facts on the label. You should opt for a low-fat and low-calorie sour cream. This is particularly true if you are trying to stick to the desired weight.
Next, you should consume sour cream immediately upon opening. If not, you should put it in the refrigerator but don’t let it sit there for too long. Otherwise, it can lead to bacteria growth, which can make it harmful to eat.
For more guidelines on food to avoid during pregnancy, check out this video to learn more about this topic:
