Can You Eat Cream When Pregnant?

Pasteurized cheeses or dairy products can be consumed during pregnancy as they have less risk of containing bacteria, although some prefer to avoid them completely to be safe. However, if they are made with fresh unpasteurized milk, they can contain bacteria that can cause diseases such as listeria or listeriosis that harm the fetus.

Cream, for its part, is a dairy derivative like yogurt and therefore you have to be careful. Currently they sell cream of almost all types, with more or less fat, for cooking or whipping, preferably for pastries or pasta, even lactose-free cream. All these products are nothing more than raw cream. Let’s see what the cream is made of and if it is possible to consume it during pregnancy depending on the type of cream.

Cream is the fatty substance found in an emulsified form in freshly milked milk. In the past, the milks did not have so many additives or were so processed, so the milks contained much more fat (cream). It was especially visible when you heated the milk and the cream was separated on the surface forming a fabric. Currently the milks are processed and we can even find skimmed or defatted milks.

As you can see, the cream is really a part of raw milk , it has not gone through any process. However, the liquid creams that we buy in the supermarket have been obtained through procedures , but we are going to see what types of cream we can find and which ones are recommended during pregnancy.

Pasteurized cream and pregnancy

It is the cream that has been treated with very high temperatures (between 75 ° C and 85 ° C). This is done for a short time, about fifteen seconds, but they are enough to eliminate the bacteria that may be there since the organisms do not withstand high temperatures, therefore, you can eat pasteurized cream during pregnancy . Their physicochemical properties and nutritional value are not modified and they usually last approximately 25 days.

Sterilized cream

On the other hand, there is the sterilized cream, which has also been subjected to hot temperatures, but much higher, higher than 100 ° for set times depending on the temperature. This process is called sterilization, and it ensures complete elimination of germs. It lasts longer than the previous one but must be consumed in a year.

UHT cream and pregnancy

The acronym UHT in English stands for Ultra High Temperature – very high temperatures or ultra high temperatures-, which means that if the previous two had been effective in eliminating bacteria, UHT milk or creams are the best to avoid bacterial diseases . Their high temperatures destroy germs and their forms of resistance and, in addition, they are packaged in aseptic conditions. They usually last, like sterilized ones, a maximum of 12 months.

Normally the liquid creams sold in supermarkets are pasteurized or UHT, most of them, however it is advisable that you look at it before using any . Especially if you are going to use them to make whipped cream since in this way you will need to use it as is, without heating. In the case of liquid cream that will be used to cook hot foods, such as a sauce for pasta, in addition to being UHT, you will be imposing high temperatures in the cooking so there will be no problem.

When you go to any restaurant, ask before what type of cream they have used and what is the treatment they have given it in the kitchen, although if you want to avoid problems or be safer, do not consume cream outside the home .

In the case of whipped cream, the same thing happens. Whipped cream or whipped cream, as it is called in some countries, is nothing more than milk fat (cream) that has been vigorously whipped in such a way that it has taken on consistency and air. In this way, a spongy texture has been left.

If you consume whipped cream you must make sure, as with liquid cream, that it is UHT . In addition, to whip the cream, it is necessary that it has at least 35% fat and sugar is added to its preparation. It will always be healthier to make it yourself at home since you can add another sweetener and it will not have additives, such as the purchased one that can include powdered milk so that the consistency will hold.

If the bottle says that it contains powdered cream as an additive, you should not worry, as this is nothing more than the powder obtained from dehydrating the pasteurized cream.

However, in either case, the problem with whipped cream is its high fat and sugar content, so it is not the best option during pregnancy as it could lead to overweight or gestational diabetes . That is why it is better to avoid this type of cream during pregnancy, although if you have a craving you already know that you should check that it is UHT.

In the case of liquid cooking creams, they usually do not have as much fat (with a minimum of 12% and less than 30% fat). They are also known as light cream and are usually 18% fat. Although on the market, as we have said, there are many different creams and currently you can find some much lighter with 5% fat. The same does not happen with liquid pastry or whipping cream, which requires a minimum of 35% fat.

Listeriosis is an infection caused by a bacteria called listeria . It is contracted by eating food contaminated with this bacteria, including unpasteurized milk . Listeria, unlike other germs, can survive in very cold, freezer temperatures. However, it does not resist high temperatures.

Pregnant women, fetuses, newborns, or the elderly are more prone to this infection. Mothers can transmit the infection to the fetus through the placenta even if the placenta has no symptoms and can cause serious problems for the baby.

The symptoms are very similar to those of a flu with fever, headache or chills, but there may also be diarrhea or stomach pain and can appear days after eating the food or even weeks. To treat it, antibiotics are used to kill this bacteria. But better than a treatment, it is much more important to avoid contagion, which is why you should avoid taking unpasteurized dairy during pregnancy.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

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