Pregnancy is indeed a delicate period in a woman’s life.
And when it comes to eating, you need to make sure that what you consume is indeed safe for you.
Thus, some expecting moms ask – is it safe to eat crawfish during pregnancy? Or are you better off not eating this type of food at all?
Before you go ahead and buy this food, let us check out what experts say about it. This way, you can prevent any health issues or risks that may come with it.
Let us go on a deep dive into consuming crawfish during pregnancy. More on that in the next sections below.
Crawfish During Pregnancy – Is it Harmful?
Crawfish or crayfish are generally safe to consume.
That is the bottom line.
But there are exceptions to that…
For instance, you should go for a farm-grown crawfish to be completely safe. This is a good way to ensure that there are no questionable chemicals or substances in this food.
And yes, it is all about the proper cooking and preparation of this food.
When cooked thoroughly, crawfish should be safe for pregnant women to consume.
Moreover, it makes sense to limit your consumption to a few ounces a week. In fact, the ideal amount is not over 12 ounces each week, which is great when you want to stay on the safe side.
For the most part, crawfish can be eaten cold or hot. But when it comes to eating this food during your pregnancy, it is best to eat it thoroughly cooked.
Pregnant women should never eat raw crawfish or even undercooked ones. Otherwise, you run the risk of ingesting harmful bacteria found in it.
Bacteria and Mercury Content in Crawfish
For the most part, raw seafood contains pathogens and bacteria. There are also parasites in these that can cause diseases to your body.
This is particularly true when it comes to wild-caught seafood.
Thus, you should always make it a point to cook the crawfish well to ensure their safety to your body.
In addition to bacteria, there is a danger with mercury.
But here is the good news – crawfish is naturally very low in its mercury content. In fact, it does not even hit the “low’ range. This is why there is no issue with mercury poisoning when it comes to consuming crawfish.
It is also important to note that wild and farmed crawfish is generally safe to consume. These varieties are low in their mercury content. As a result, you should not have any problem with this food.
However, if you decide to catch crawfish yourself, it makes sense to stay informed. You need to be aware of potential pollution or issues with the water where you are fishing for this marine creature. This way, you can prevent any health risks linked with it.
Read More: Can Pregnant Women Have Clam Chowder? What Every Expecting Moms Should Know
How Much is Too Much?
As we have mentioned earlier, the ideal limit on the amount of crawfish to eat per week is 12 ounces. Even better at 8 ounces.
When you are pregnant, it is best to stick to the limit to avoid any potential health risks.
Basically, when we talk about 12 ounces of crawfish, this would mean about 3 up to 4 servings of cooked crawfish tails. It could also be a tray with just one serving of this seafood.
In the US, you should be able to find shelled and peeled frozen crawfish meat. This comes in a plastic pouch that is usually 12 ounces in size.
But when it comes to a whole crawfish, it usually yields a small amount of meat. In fact, you would need about 7 pounds of one whole crawfish to obtain a total of 12 ounces of its meat, depending on the size.
Health Benefits of Crawfish
What’s great about crawfish – aside from the flavor – is the nutritional value it has.
For instance, crawfish contains protein. It is rich in protein, in addition to being low in fat.
Moreover, you will love the good amount of niacin, selenium, copper, and iron that you can get from crawfish.
Additionally, there are some vitamins C and A from this seafood, too.
But one important thing to note is the cholesterol level. Keep in mind that crawfish have some cholesterol in it. So, if you are watching your cholesterol, you should keep your intake to a minimum to avoid health concerns.
Fun Way to Eat Crawfish
With all these things in mind about crawfish and its nutritive value, let us talk about different ways to enjoy it.
For instance, you should be able to enjoy munching crawfish in a sandwich.
In fact, you can cook it and mix it with your favorite spread to make a hearty sandwich for lunch or snacks.
There is also such a thing as a crawfish boil. Just be sure to cook the crawfish completely to make sure all pathogens are killed well before you consume it.
Then, you can also season the crawfish with your favorite spices to give it a delectable flavor and aroma. Add in some vegetables to further enhance its nutritional value. This way, not only are you able to enjoy the taste but the health benefits of the crawfish at the same time.
Conclusion
Is it safe to eat crawfish during pregnancy?
The short answer is yes. As long as you cook it very well and buy from a reliable source, you can have peace of mind each time you consume this food.
For a fun recipe to make with crawfish, check out this cool video. This is a great way to enjoy this nutritious and tasty food without causing any risks to your health and also to the health of your unborn child.
