Bratwurst is a German sausage that is usually cooked in beer. You may be skeptical about consuming Bratwurst during pregnancy despite its nutritional value. Meat, if undercooked, is a source of infection-causing bacteria that may be harmful, especially during pregnancy. However, if properly cooked, they may serve to provide for the increased nutritional demands of the body during this time. In this post, we tell you whether or not it is safe for pregnant women to eat Bratwurst, its health benefits and side effects.
What Is Bratwurst?
Bratwurst is a traditional German cuisine. The meat sausage comprises pork, veal, and beef. Typically, it is cooked in broth or beer. Bratwurst offers several nutritional benefits, but it has a high-calorie and high-fat content, so you should eat it in moderation (1).
Is It Safe To Eat Bratwurst While Pregnant?
Yes! It is safe to eat bratwurst during pregnancy. However, you need to cook it thoroughly, and avoid cooking it in beer. You need to heat to a temperature of at least 165°F. Raw or undercooked brat sausage may contain harmful bacteria like Listeria, which can cause serious complications during pregnancy. Listeria leads to muscle aches, nausea, fever, and headaches. So, you should avoid raw or undercooked bratwurst. Cooking the sausage at high temperature rids it of bacteria. Also, have a word with your doctor before you eat bratwurst during pregnancy (2).
Health Benefits Of Eating Bratwurst During Pregnancy
Here are some of the health benefits of eating bratwurst while pregnant:
1. Boosts Immunity:
Bratwurst is a rich source of the mineral selenium. A healthy selenium intake will boost your immunity during pregnancy. Eating bratwurst can also improve thyroid function and protect your cells from disease-inducing free radicals. This property makes bratwurst and effective cancer inhibitor (3).
2. Provides Sufficient Calories:
Just 100 gms of bratwurst provides a whopping 297 calories. So eating 200 or 250 gms of bratwurst helps you achieve a huge amount of daily calorie intake. Thus, eating bratwurst offers pregnant women necessary amounts of calories even if they consume a limited amount of the dish (4).
3. Provides A Gluten-Free Food Option:
Doctors often advise you to avoid gluten-free food items during pregnancy if you are gluten sensitive. Bratwurst sausage is a healthy gluten-free food choice to enjoy while expecting. Since the dish is gluten-free, you won’t be at risk of developing celiac disease (5).
4. Provides High Amount Of Proteins:
Proteins are extremely important for your body during pregnancy. Every 100 gms of bratwurst provides you 12 gms of proteins, which is about 8% of daily protein intake. Eating the sausage helps you fulfill the protein requirement during the pregnancy and ensure good growth and development of your unborn baby (6).
5. Provides B Vitamins:
Bratwurst is also rich in vitamin B6 and vitamin B12. Both the vitamins are quintessential during pregnancy. Vitamin B12 helps prevent the risk iron deficiency or anemia while you are expecting. Vitamin B6 helps boost your immunity and promotes metabolism of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. The vitamin is a vital nutrient for the development of your unborn baby’s brain and nervous system (7).
Side-Effects Of Eating Bratwurst During Pregnancy
It is quite safe to eat bratwurst during pregnancy, but eating raw or undercooked bratwurst can harm you and the baby as it may contain listeria. However, do not cook it in beer. Potential side-effects of eating undercooked or raw brat containing listeria include: • Risk of miscarriage • Infection • Premature delivery • Stillbirth (8) To avoid these side-effects, ensure you heat the sausage at a high temperature before you eat it. Being a non-vegetarian food, bratwurst is a good source of vitamin B12, protein and iron. But due to its high calories, it should be consumed in moderation.
