Should Pregnant Women Eat Snails?
There is a belief in folklore that pregnant women should not eat snails as it is not good for the fetus. It is said that if pregnant women consume snails, the baby will suffer from diarrhea, delayed speech, or a hot body temperature due to the spicy sauce often served with snails. However, there is no scientific evidence to support these rumors.
From the third month of pregnancy until delivery, the energy and nutrient needs of pregnant women increase significantly. Among many food groups such as lean meat, nuts, eggs, and broccoli, dishes made from clams, oysters, snails, and mussels are good choices.
In traditional medicine, snail meat is sweet, cool in nature, and has the ability to treat conditions such as edema, liver disease, yellow skin, infections, and hemorrhoids. Snails are a natural remedy that helps restore health quickly and promote blood circulation.
When pregnant, mothers’ bodies are generally lacking in nutrients, so they often have a craving for snails. Snail dipping sauce has a sour, spicy, and sweet taste that is easy to eat and does not cause nausea like other foods, so snails are suitable for pregnant women.
Considerations for Pregnant Women Eating Snails
Although snails are good for the body of pregnant women and the fetus, there are some things that women should keep in mind when eating snails.
– Snails living in deep mud environments often contain many harmful parasites. Each snail can contain 3,000-6,000 tapeworm parasites. If snails are not properly processed before consumption, it can lead to food poisoning, digestive tract infections, and intestinal diseases such as typhoid, diarrhea, and food poisoning. This can be extremely harmful to pregnant women and the fetus.
Therefore, it is necessary to clean the snails before cooking and then soak them for about two hours in rice water, lemon, and vinegar. You can also add some chili peppers to the soaking water to make the snails release any dirt or impurities. Cook the snails thoroughly and do not eat them undercooked, as they may contain live parasites that are not good for the health of pregnant women.
– It is not advisable to eat too many snails as it can lead to bloating and digestive disorders. Therefore, no matter how much pregnant women crave them, they should only eat 1-2 servings per week.
– Some types of snails contain high levels of toxins, such as moon snails, Japanese horned turban, cone snails, hot mud snails, etc. Pregnant women should avoid eating such types of snails.
