(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) marked the World Health Day by encouraging women to be particularly cautious about their nutrition during pregnancy.
Dr Faten al-Taher, senior consultant at HMC's Women's Hospital, said: "The consumption of safe food and maintaining a healthy diet is important at all times. However, during pregnancy, it becomes much more important since women undergo hormonal changes that affect their immune system. This means that it becomes harder for their bodies to resist infections and they are at an increased risk of developing certain kinds of food-borne illnesses."
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the consumption of unsafe food can lead to a range of health problems including reproductive and developmental complications. In some cases, food-related diseases may lead to a miscarriage, stillbirth or serious health troubles for the baby after birth.
"One of the easiest safety measures is to ensure that mothers practise personal hygiene. This includes washing hands well with soap and warm water for a minimum of 20 seconds, before touching any food items, after using the toilet, and after touching pets," she added.
"In order to avoid cross-contamination, all knives, cutting boards and food preparation counters should be washed and disinfected with soap and warm water, specifically after touching raw poultry, meat and seafood. All fresh produce such as fruits and vegetables, including those with skin, should be thoroughly rinsed before eating," Dr al-Taher said.
A healthy diet is an important part of a healthy lifestyle at any time, but especially during pregnancy women should eat a wide variety of nutritious foods and aim to be as healthy as possible, said Rihab Alsanosi, dietitian supervisor, Dietetics and Nutrition Department, HMC.
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