Important to Know, Pregnant Women Should Limit Consumption of Chicken Liver

Eating chicken liver once or twice a month is not dangerous for pregnant women. But this type of food should not be consumed every day because of the risk of causing interference with the fetus. Chicken liver is actually a food that is rich in protein, minerals and vitamins, including vitamin A. This vitamin is a type of fat-soluble vitamins and is stored in the liver. Not only during pregnancy, vitamin A is important to help heal postpartum tissue and prevent infection.

The content of Retinol in Chicken Livers

Chicken liver consumption should be limited because it contains retinol, which is a type of vitamin A, in high levels. High levels of retinol can accumulate in the body and can cause birth defects in the baby in the womb. Chicken liver has a high retinol content, in contrast to vegetables and fruits which also contain vitamin A but in much smaller amounts. Therefore, consuming vegetables and fruits as a source of vitamin A is considered safe without any specific restrictions. Also be wary of products made from chicken liver such as sausages, generally high in retinol content.

Pay Attention to Supplements

In addition to limiting consumption of chicken liver, pregnant women should also be wary of consuming multivitamin supplements and fish liver oil which are high in vitamin A content, such as cod liver oil. Women aged 19 years and over, regardless of whether they are pregnant or not, are advised not to take vitamin A for more than 10,000 IU per day. However, that does not mean pregnant women should really avoid vitamin A. This vitamin is still needed to maintain the baby's immune system, as well as eye and skin health. Pregnant women can get vitamin A intake from vegetables and fruits. For example, broccoli and carrots that contain lots of beta carotene which is important for the development of the respiratory system, nerves and organs of infants. Other examples of safe sources of vitamin A for pregnant women are spinach, kale, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, vitamin A fortified cereals, mangoes, and nonfat milk. Pregnant women can also continue to meet the needs of this vitamin by including cheese, fish oil, eggs, and butter which also contain low levels of retinol in your daily menu. For pregnant women, you should limit consumption of chicken liver as much as 1-2 servings per month, to avoid excess vitamin A which is harmful to the baby in the womb. Consult further with your doctor about the recommended food choices for vitamin A.