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Eating for Two: Pregnancy Traditions and Superstitions Around the World

Here we take a look at what pregnant women around the globe are enjoying — and avoiding — during those precious nine months.

By Sahara Borja
Zulu healers provide women with a herbal concoction called "Isihlambezo," a nutritional supplement during pregnancy. The make-up varies from region to region and has been known to include fish heads, lizards or snakeskin, dried hyrax urine, mercury, clay, and sand. The mixture is believed to help improve fetal conditions and make labor easier for the mother. If you can ingest this mixture, you're probably already as strong as you're gonna get!
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Around the world, women of every cultural background try to choose the best foods to suit their pregnancy needs. In the past and today, some women are swayed by particular beliefs about pregnancy diet that are popular in their regions. Here we take a look at what some pregnant women around the globe are enjoying — and avoiding — during those precious nine months.

Note: This piece is purely informational and should not be read as guide for your pregnancy diet. If you have questions about nutrition during pregnancy, consult your doctor.

1

South Africa

Zulu healers provide women with a herbal concoction called "Isihlambezo," a nutritional supplement during pregnancy. The make-up varies from region to region and has been known to include fish heads, lizards or snakeskin, dried hyrax urine, mercury, clay, and sand. The mixture is believed to help improve fetal conditions and make labor easier for the mother. If you can ingest this mixture, you're probably already as strong as you're gonna get!
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Zulu healers provide pregnant women with an herbal concoction called "Isihlambezo," which is meant to provide nutritional benefits. The recipe varies from region to region and has been known to include fish heads, lizard or snakeskin, dried hyrax urine, mercury, clay, and sand. The mixture is believed to help improve fetal conditions and make labor easier for the mother.

Source: Handbook of Nutrition and Pregnancy, edited by Carol J. Lammi-Keefe, PhD, RD; Sarah C. Couch, PhD, RD; and Elliot H. Philipson, MD

2

Mexico

mexico eggs
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"Pulque," a low-alcoholic, beer-like beverage brewed from the sap of Agave, is a staple of the Mexican diet. It is said to be high in iron and riboflavin, which are necessary components of diet, particularly for pregnant women.

It's also been reported that some women in Mexico decide to reduce the number of eggs they eat to prevent their babies from being born with bad body odor.

Source: Handbook of Nutrition and Pregnancy, edited by Carol J. Lammi-Keefe, PhD, RD; Sarah C. Couch, PhD, RD; and Elliot H. Philipson, MD

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3

Bali

In Bali, difficult deliveries are said to be caused by eating octopus! For this reason, many traditional Balinese stay away from the 8-armed sea-creatures.
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In Bali, difficult deliveries are said to be caused by eating octopus. For this reason, many traditional Balinese stay away from the eight-armed sea creatures during their pregnancies.

Source: pnmag.com

4

Guatemala

In Guatemala, mothers-to-be are given a strange concoction of beer flavored with a boiled purple onion. It's believed that the pungent cocktail can induce a speedy delivery. Whatd'ya think?
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In Guatemala, mothers-to-be are given a concoction of beer flavored with a boiled purple onion. It's believed that the pungent cocktail can induce a speedy delivery.

Source: pnmag.com

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5

Nigeria

Years ago, women believed that they should not eat slimy food as it may cause cerebral palsy in their babies. In the rural village of Shao, Nigerian healers warn expecting mothers of eating meat; It is understood that the behavioral characteristics of the animal will be bestowed on the fetus.
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Years ago, women believed that they should not eat slimy food because it could cause cerebral palsy in their babies. In the rural village of Shao, Nigerian healers warn expectant mothers about eating meat, explaining their belief that the behavioral characteristics of the animal will be bestowed on the fetus.

Source: Handbook of Nutrition and Pregnancy, edited by Carol J. Lammi-Keefe, PhD, RD; Sarah C. Couch, PhD, RD; and Elliot H. Philipson, MD

6

China

Chinese folklore says that women should not eat rabbit or chicken when pregnant or her baby will be born with a hoarse voice. Chinese women are also supposed to avoid crab and squid, as it's believed that crab with make the child mischievous and squid causes the uterus to sick during delivery! Yipes. Cold foods like bean sprouts and bananas should be avoided during the first trimester, the folklore continues, and eating light colored foods will result in fair-skinned babies!
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Chinese folklore says that women should not eat rabbit or chicken when pregnant or their babies will be born with hoarse voices. Some advisors to pregnant Chinese also warn against consuming crab and squid, as it's believed that crab will make the child mischievous and squid will cause the uterus to be sticky during delivery. Cold foods, like bean sprouts and bananas, are often avoided during the first trimester, and some folklore maintains that eating light-colored foods will result in fair-skinned babies.

Source: hawcc.hawaii.edu

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7

Japan

Americans are usually warned to stay away from sushi when pregnant but not in Japan.  The high levels of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and lean fat make it an ideal food as long as it has been flash frozen and high mercury fish is avoided like shark, swordfish, and tilefish. Japanese women are also advised not to eat eggplants since the vegetable is of the nightshade family, which is high in water content and has a "yin" — or cooling effect — on the body.
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Americans are usually warned to stay away from sushi when pregnant, but that's not the case in Japan. The high levels of protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and lean fat make it an ideal food for Japanese pregnant women, provided it has been flash frozen and doesn't contain fish with high mercury levels, such as shark, swordfish, and tilefish. In the past, some Japanese women have avoided eggplants since the vegetable is of the nightshade family, which is high in water content and has a "yin" — or cooling effect — on the body.

Source: health.qld.gov.au

8

India

According to Ayurvedic beliefs, pregnant women are not allow to eat hot foods, like soup and curries. This no-no-list also extends to animal products, spices, eggs, mangoes, papayas, bananas, and sesame seeds, which are all believed to induce early termination. What's on the pregnancy diet, we wonder!
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According to Ayurvedic medicinal beliefs, pregnant women should avoid hot foods, like soup and curries. Other avoided foods include animal products, certain spices, eggs, mangoes, papayas, bananas, and sesame seeds, which some believe could induce early termination. (Ayurvedic medicine is a form of alternative medicine that is native to India.)

Source: Food Culture in India, by Collen Taylor Sen, PhD

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