Can I eat dark chocolate 70% cocoa when pregnant ?

During your pregnancy, medical professionals often advise a diversified and balanced diet. Nevertheless, you can be lost in authorized and prohibited foods. There are a number of measures you will take during pregnancy to ensure that your baby grows as well as possible. Nevertheless, in all this, can we eat dark chocolate 70% cocoa when pregnant ? Desserts and pastries are a sweet temptation that you don’t see being banned from food. We will examine with you first of all if you can eat dark chocolate 70% cocoa when pregnant, then the measures to take for desserts and pastries and finally a slight explanation on weight during pregnancy.

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Can I eat dark chocolate 70% cocoa when pregnant ?

Pastries and desserts! Can we really do without it for 9 months? Can we eat dark chocolate 70% cocoa when pregnant ? The answer will be almost YES, you can eat dark chocolate 70% cocoa during pregnancy. BUT BE CAREFUL, there are various measures to follow to eat them correctly.

Which are the dangers associated with eating
dark chocolate 70% cocoa when pregnant ?

The risks associated with eating
dark chocolate 70% cocoa when pregnant

There are three main risks linked to two bacteria (Salmonella and Listeria) and one parasite (toxoplasmosis). The first is associated with the risk of Salmonellosis. This risk happens especially when eating raw, undercooked or not fresh eggs. The second problem is listeriosis, which is found in dairy products (milk, cream, butter) produced from raw milk that will not be cooked at more than 70°C/158°F. The third one is toxoplasmosis that may be present on fruits, which you will place on pies for example.

Suggestions to prevent contamination when eating dark chocolate 70% cocoa while pregnant

To limit the risk of Salmonella and Listeria infection, make your own pastries or desserts with boiled eggs. If you sometimes want to use them fresh, use eggs very close to the laying date and store them properly in a cool place. Preferably, choose recipes where the eggs will be cooked properly. In the same idea, use pasteurized milk and cream. To limit infection with toxoplasmosis, wash the fruit properly.
In bakery, pastry shops, restaurants or friend’s houses, avoid pastries made with snow eggs or raw or undercooked eggs, so as not to take any risks (tiramisu, meringue, lemon meringue pie). The date of laying of the eggs used to make the cake and whether the pastry was properly stored is unknown. For industrial manufacturing, there is low risk. Choose lemon pie, chocolate mousse, and many other industrial recipes rather than homemade ones.
To make it less difficult to understand everything that has just been said, eat desserts or pastries that are industrial or homemade recipes but made with cooked eggs, pasteurized cream or milk.

Weight during pregnancy

You will gain weight during your pregnancy. Nevertheless, it is recommended to limit it to a certain number of kilos (12kg on average during the entire pregnancy). You will often have cravings, think about a snack, but you preferably should choose fruits or yoghurts. Dessert or pastry will be very occasional, so you can eat dark chocolate 70% cocoa when you’re pregnant.
Ask to your doctor or midwife if you want to ask them any questions you may have.
Consider regular physical activity for your personal well-being.

You want more details on physical exercises during pregnancy :
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pregnancy-exercise/

Conclusion

For desserts and pastries, you can eat dark chocolate 70% cocoa when pregnant, but don’t forget that every precaution has been taken.
If you want to know if you can eat another food, enter it in our search bar for pregnant woman.